Buffalo rumen microbiome experiences a variety of diet stress and
represents reservoir of Dormancy and Sporulation genes. However, the
information on genomic responses to such conditions is very limited. The
Ion Torrent PGM next generation sequencing technology was used to
characterize general microbial diversity and the repertoire of microbial
genes present, including genes associated with Dormancy and Sporulation
in Mehsani buffalo rumen metagenome. The research findings revealed
the abundance of bacteria at the domain level and presence of Dormancy
and Sporulation genes which were predominantly associated with the
Clostridia and Bacilli taxa belonging to the phyla Firmicutes. Genes
associated with Sporulation cluster and Sporulation orphans were
increased from 50% to 100% roughage treatment, thereby promoting
sporulation all along the treatments. The spore germination is observed to
be the highest in the 75% roughage treatment both in the liquid and solid
rumen fraction samples with respect to the decrease in the values of the
genes associated with spore core dehydration, thereby facilitating spore
core hydration which is necessary for spore germination.
© 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access