Journal Article

In Vitro Response of Rumen Microbiota to the Antimethanogenic Red Macroalga Asparagopsis taxiformis

de Nys, Rocky, Magnusson, Marie, Tomkins, Nigel, Midgley, David J., Rosewarne, Carly P., Machado, Lorenna

2018

Overview

The red macroalga Asparagopsis taxiformis has been shown to significantly decrease methane production by rumen microbial communities. This has been attributed to the bioaccumulation of halogenated methane analogues produced as algal secondary metabolites. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of A. taxiformis supplementation on the relative abundance of methanogens and microbial community structure during in vitro batch fermentation. Addition of A. taxiformis (2 % organic matter) or the halogenated methane analogue bromoform (5 µM) reduced methane production by over 99% compared to a basal substrate-only control. Quantitative PCR confirmed that the decrease in methane production was correlated with a decrease in the relative abundance of methanogens. High-throughput 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that both treatments reduced the abundance of the three main orders of methanogens present in ruminants (Methanobacteriales, Methanomassiliicoccales and Methanomicrobiales). Shifts in bacterial community structure due to the addition of A. taxiformis and 5 µM bromoform were similar and concomitant with increases in hydrogen concentration in the headspace of the fermenters. With high potency and broad-spectrum activity against rumen methanogens, A. taxiformis represents a promising natural strategy for reducing enteric methane emissions from ruminant livestock.

• Publisher: Springer Science + Business Media,Springer US,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Abundance / Algae / Animals / Asparagopsis / Asparagopsis taxiformis / Bacteria - classification / Bacteria - drug effects / Bacteria - metabolism / bacterial communities / batch fermentation / Bioaccumulation / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Communities / Community structure / DNA / DNA, Bacterial - genetics / Ecology / Fermentation / Fermenters / Gene sequencing / genes / Geoecology/Natural Processes / Halogenation / headspace analysis / HOST MICROBE INTERACTIONS / hydrogen / Hydrogen - metabolism / In Vitro Techniques / Life Sciences / Livestock / Livestock - microbiology / macroalgae / Metabolites / Methane / Methane - analogs & derivatives / Methane - metabolism / methane production / Methanobacteriales / Methanobacteriales - drug effects / Methanobacteriales - metabolism / Methanogenic bacteria / methanogens / Methanomicrobiales / Methanomicrobiales - drug effects / Methanomicrobiales - metabolism / Microbial activity / Microbial Ecology / Microbial flora / Microbiology / Microbiomes / Microbiota / Microbiota - drug effects / Microbiota - genetics / Microorganisms / Nature Conservation / Nucleic acids / Nucleotide sequence / Organic matter / PCR / quantitative polymerase chain reaction / Relative abundance / Rhodophyta - metabolism / Ribonucleic acid / ribosomal RNA / RNA / RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics / rRNA 16S / Rumen / Rumen - microbiology / rumen microorganisms / ruminants / Seaweed - metabolism / Seaweeds / Secondary metabolites / Substrates / Trihalomethanes - pharmacology / Water Quality/Water Pollution