Molecular characterisation of the fibre-digesting bacteria isolated from the ostrich (Struthio Camelus var. Domesticus) hindgut

Eleven bacterial strains that have been isolated from the ostrich hindgut, have successfully been identified with the aid of PCR amplification of the 16S rDNA genes and sequence analysis using the BLASTN search of the GenBank database. The nucleotide sequences were determined either through direct sequencing of the PCR products or after cloning the products into the plasmid vector pBluescript (SK). The results obtained from the 16S rDNA sequence homologies strongly suggests that the newly identified bacteria should be assigned to three major bacterial genera, namely, Ruminococcus, Buryrivibrio and Bacteroides. Four highly cellulolytic strains were identified as ruminococci while two weakly cellulolytic strains, showed highest homology to members of the genus Butyrivibrio. Another weakly cellulolytic strain showed closest identity to the sulfur reducing bacterial genus Desulfovibrio. Four non-cellulolytic strains showed highest homology to the genus Bacteroides.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Year dc:date.issued

2000

Author dc:creator

• Russouw, Tracy Karen Joe

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Thomson, Jennifer Ann
• Reid, Sharon J

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9740

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9740