Butyrivibrio bacteria
Butyrivibrio is a genus of bacteria in the family Lachnospiraceae. Members of
this genus are considered both gram-positive and gram-negative and are involved in anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is the conversion of a variety of compounds, ranging from insoluble compounds (e.g. cellulose) to soluble ones, and the subsequent conversion of these compounds to produce methane and carbon dioxide. The conversion of complex insoluble compounds to soluble simple compounds occurs predominantly through the action of
extracellular enzymes (cellulases, lipases and proteases); thus, members of the
genera Bacillus, Clostridia, Butyrivibrio and other anaerobes are involved in the initial step.[5]
Gram-negative staining of Butyrivibrio organisms does not reflect the true
nature of their cell wall structure. Chemical and electron microscope analyses
revealed an unusually thin gram-positive structure. The genus is composed of two
species, B. fibrisolvens and B. crossotus. The flagellar
arrangement in B. crossotus is differeent from that of B.
fibrisolvens and is characterized by the presence of "tasseled" multiple
flagella.
Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens represents a significant part of the
microbial population in the rumen of cattle and other ruminant animals. These
bacteria produce butyric acid (butyrate) and degrade various plant fibers. The
main role of butyrate is to fuel enterocytes, covering 70% of their energy needs
and contributing to the regulation of epithelial cell growth and
differentiation. Butyrate also exerts anti-inflammatory effect.[6]
Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens strain 3 utilizes fructose polymers for
growth. It synthesizes an enzyme specifically digesting Β-2,6 glycosidic
linkages between fructose residues and also an enzyme splitting Β-2,6 and Β-2,1 linkages. Carbon can be the factor inducing the synthesis of some fructanolytic
enzymes.[4]
References: 1. The desk encyclopedia of
microbiology By Moselio Schaechter, Joshua Lederberg
2. Molecular detection of
the ruminal bacterium, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, in feces from rural residents
of southern India by Ramadass Balamurugan1 et al.
3. The Family
Lachnospiraceae, Including the Genera Butyrivibrio, Lachnospira and Roseburia
Michael Cotta and Robert Forster
4. Preliminary assessment of the capability of
the rumen bacterium, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, to utilizefructose polymers for
growthM. Cendrowska, A. Kasperowicz and T. Michalowski
5. Effect of
sulfur-containing compounds on Bacillus cellulosome-associated CMCase and
Avicelase activities by Natasha Beukes, Brett Ivan Pletschke; 6. Evidence on the
role of gut microbes in obesity by Yolanda Sanz, Arlette Santacruz
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