Skip to main content
Applied Microbiology logoLink to Applied Microbiology
. 1975 Apr;29(4):540–545. doi: 10.1128/am.29.4.540-545.1975

New Method for the Isolation and Identification of Methanogenic Bacteria

T Edwards 1, B C McBride 1
PMCID: PMC187022  PMID: 804855

Abstract

A new technique is reported for the rapid growth and detection of methanogenic bacteria by using petri plates. The method employs an anaerobic glove box containing an inner chamber with separate gas-flushing facilities. The numbers of methanogenic bacteria recovered from domestic sewage sludge are comparable to those recovered by other methods. The methanogenic organisms isolated from sludge include Methanosarcina, Methanospirillum, Methanobacterium strain M. o. H., and Methanobacterium formicicum. Identification of colonies containing methanogenic bacteria is facilitated by taking advantage of the unique fluorescence properties of these organisms. Colonies as small as 0.5 mm can be detected by exposing them to long-wave ultraviolet light.

Full text

PDF
542

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Aranki A., Freter R. Use of anaerobic glove boxes for the cultivation of strictly anaerobic bacteria. Am J Clin Nutr. 1972 Dec;25(12):1329–1334. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/25.12.1329. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bryant M. P., McBride B. C., Wolfe R. S. Hydrogen-oxidizing methane bacteria. I. Cultivation and methanogenesis. J Bacteriol. 1968 Mar;95(3):1118–1123. doi: 10.1128/jb.95.3.1118-1123.1968. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Cheeseman P., Toms-Wood A., Wolfe R. S. Isolation and properties of a fluorescent compound, factor 420 , from Methanobacterium strain M.o.H. J Bacteriol. 1972 Oct;112(1):527–531. doi: 10.1128/jb.112.1.527-531.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. HUNGATE R. E. The anaerobic mesophilic cellulolytic bacteria. Bacteriol Rev. 1950 Mar;14(1):1–49. doi: 10.1128/br.14.1.1-49.1950. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. WOLIN E. A., WOLIN M. J., WOLFE R. S. FORMATION OF METHANE BY BACTERIAL EXTRACTS. J Biol Chem. 1963 Aug;238:2882–2886. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Wolfe R. S. Microbial formation of methane. Adv Microb Physiol. 1971;6:107–146. doi: 10.1016/s0065-2911(08)60068-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES