Abstract
Proteins, metabolites, and 16S rRNA measurements were used to examine the community structure and functional relationships within a cellulose degrading anaerobic bioreactor. The bioreactor was seeded with bovine rumen fluid and operated with a 4 day hydraulic retention time on cellulose (avicel) as sole carbon and energy source. The reactor performance and microbial community structure was monitored during the establishment of the cellulose-degrading community. After stable operation was established in the bioreactor, the mixing intensity was increased in order to investigate the effect of a physical disruption of the microbial community structure. Finally, the original conditions were re-established to understand the stability of the microbial community after a perturbation. All factors measured were found to be inter-correlated during these three distinct phases of operation (establishment, perturbation and re-establishment). In particular, the return of community structure and function to pre-perturbed conditions suggests that propionate fermentation and acetate utilization were the explanatory factors for community establishment and re-establishment.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Acetates / chemistry
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Anaerobiosis
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Animals
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Bacteria / classification*
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Bacteria / genetics
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Bacteria / isolation & purification
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Bacteria / metabolism
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Bacterial Proteins / analysis*
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Bioreactors / microbiology*
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Caproates / chemistry
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Cattle
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Cellulose
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DNA, Bacterial / genetics
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DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
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Fermentation
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Metabolomics
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Metagenomics / methods
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Propionates / chemistry
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Proteomics / methods
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics*
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Rumen / microbiology
Substances
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Acetates
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Bacterial Proteins
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Caproates
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DNA, Bacterial
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DNA, Ribosomal
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Propionates
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
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hexanoic acid
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Cellulose
Grants and funding
Partial support for this research was provided by the Microbial Communities Initiative (MCI), Microbiomes in Transition Initiative (MinT), and by the Department of Energy Office of Biological and Environmental Research under the Pan-omics project. Research was performed at the Bioproducts, Sciences & Engineering Laboratory (BSEL) located on the campus of Washington State University Tri-cities, Richland, WA. And, a portion of this research was performed using EMSL (grid.436923.9), a DOE Office of Science User Facility sponsored by the Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located on the campus of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, WA.