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Isolation and characterization of a new, methylotrophic, acidogenic anaerobe, the marburg strain

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Abstract

The cellular characteristics of a new methylotrophic, acidogenic, anaerobic bacterium that was first isolated from a sewage digestor in Marburg, Federal Republic of Germany, is described. The Marburg strain is a mesophilic, Gram-positive, nonmotile, pleomorphic rod that performs homoacetic, homobutyric, or heteroacidic fermentations. Cell morphology varies from single or paired straight rods to rudimentary branched rods, club-shaped cells, or oval refractile cells. Cell heat resistance correlated with the presence of a few refractile cells. Electron micrographs of thin sections revealed a thick monolayered cell wall and an atypical spore structure. The DNA base composition was 48.8±0.2 mol% guanosine plus cytosine. Growth required factors in yeast extract; methanol, H2/CO2, glucose, fructose, lactate, and pyruvate were fermented as energy sources. Corrinoid levels varied from 0.35±0.16 to 7.9±1.6 μg/mg cell dry weight when cells 0.1% yeast extract, N2/CO2, 100 mM methanol, and 50 mM Na acetate displayed a 20h doubling time, finalA 540 of 0.9, butyric acid yield of 25 mM, and ≈stoichiometry of 3 mol butyrate formed per 10 mol methanol fermented. The nameButyribacterium (emend.)methylotrophicum sp. nov. is proposed for the Marburg strain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin, 53706, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    J. G. Zeikus, Lee H. Lynd, T. E. Thompson, J. A. Krzycki, P. J. Weimer & P. W. Hegge

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  1. J. G. Zeikus
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  2. Lee H. Lynd
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  3. T. E. Thompson
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  4. J. A. Krzycki
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  5. P. J. Weimer
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  6. P. W. Hegge
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Zeikus, J.G., Lynd, L.H., Thompson, T.E. et al. Isolation and characterization of a new, methylotrophic, acidogenic anaerobe, the marburg strain. Current Microbiology 3, 381–386 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02601907

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