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. 1980 Sep;40(3):626–632. doi: 10.1128/aem.40.3.626-632.1980

Propionate-Degrading Bacterium, Syntrophobacter wolinii sp. nov. gen. nov., from Methanogenic Ecosystems

David R Boone 1,, Marvin P Bryant 2
PMCID: PMC291629  PMID: 16345640

Abstract

A new genus and species of a nonmotile gram-negative rod, Syntrophobacter wolinii, is the first bacterium described which degrades propionate only in coculture with an H2-using organism and in the absence of light or exogenous electron acceptors such as O2, sulfate, or nitrate. It was isolated from methanogenic enrichments from an anaerobic municipal sewage digestor, using anaerobic roll tubes containing a medium with propionate as the energy source in association with an H2-using, sulfate-reducing Desulfovibrio sp. which cannot utilize fatty acids other than formate. S. wolinii produced acetate and, presumably, CO2 and H2 (or formate) from propionate. In media without sulfate and with Methanospirillum hungatei, a methanogen that uses only H2-CO2 or formate as an energy source, acetate, methane, and, presumably, CO2 were produced from propionate and only small amounts of Desulfovibrio sp. were present. Isolation in coculture with the methanogen was not successful. S. wolinii does not use other saturated fatty acids as energy sources.

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Selected References

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