To date, a total of 608 and 48 whole genomes belonging to
bacteria and archaea, respectively, have been completely
sequenced (http://cmr.jcvi.org/tigr-scripts/CMR/shared/
Genomes.cgi?archaea_only01; accessed 31 March 2012).
However, only few rumen microbes find a place in this list.
A joint venture between J Craig Venter Institute and the
North American consortium for genomics of fibrolytic rumen
bacteria has sequenced the whole genomes of F. succinogenes
S85, R. albus, and Prevotella bryantii. In a
significant achievement, research group led by Graeme
Attwood from Ag Research Ltd., New Zealand has, for the
first time, sequenced the whole genome of a rumen methanogen,
M. ruminantium (Leahy et al. 2010). The wholegenome
sequencing of Piromyces E2 and Orpinomyces
strain OUS1 is underway (Griffith et al. 2010; http://
genome.jgi.doe.gov/genome-projects). The different ongoing
or completed rumen bacteria genome sequencing projects
are also reviewed elsewhere by Morgavi et al. (2012).
The sequencing data generated through these projects will
provide huge impetus to rumen microbial diversity studies
and open new avenues for targeting the genes responsible
for methane production and ruminant nutrition.