Isolation and characterization of a hemicellulose-fermenting bacterium from the sheep rumen

Abstract

A strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-like organism was isolated from sheep rumen liquor by culture in hemicellulose medium. The organism fermented several carbohydrates, including hemicellulose, producing acetic and lactic acids as the main end-products. Some biochemical characteristics of the organism are described and its taxonomic placement is discussed.