|Forster, Robert - AG CANADA|
Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: May 11, 2000
Publication Date: N/A
Technical Abstract: The family Lachnospiraceae contains the genera Butyrivibrio, Lachnospira, and Roseburia. All are anaerobic bacteria that are usually isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of mammals. These organisms are motile, curved rods, and usually stain Gram negative or weakly Gram positive. However, this staining may not be reflective of the true nature of the cell wall structure. Although the members of Butyrivibrio, Lachnospira, and Roseburia appear to be easily differentiated based on a variety of phenotypic traits, other traits such as cell morphology or kinds of fermentation products suggest that these bacteria may have some common relationships. Based on comparisons of 16S rDNA sequences, these bacteria form a large group of species and strains that are part of the Gram-positive cluster, indicating that they are phylogenetically related to Gram-positive bacteria. The physiology, ecology, and genetics of this group of organisms are reviewed in this chapter. Methods for isolation, identification, cultivation, and preservation are also delineated.