@article{mbs:/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-5-5-869, author = "Sijpesteijn, A. Kaars", title = "On Ruminococcus flavefaciens, a Cellulose-decomposing:Bacterium from the Rumen of Sheep and Cattle", journal= "Microbiology", year = "1951", volume = "5", number = "5", pages = "869-879", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-5-5-869", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-5-5-869", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1465-2080", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "Summary: Two strains of Ruminococcus flavefaciens, an important cellulose-decomposing bacterium, were isolated, one from the rumen of a sheep, the other from the rumen of a cow. Pure cultures were obtained by using the dilution method in agar media containing a strip of filter-paper. These strictly anaerobic, Gram-positive streptococci attack cellulose and cellobiose, but not starch, maltose, lactose or xylose. Only one strain could use glucose. Colonies on cellulose media were characterized by the formation of a yellow pigment; in cellobiose media the colonies were white. Growth on cellulose was favoured by addition of Clostridium sporogencs or a certain amount of sterilized medium in which Cl. sporogenes had previously grown. Estimations of the end-products of fermentation of cellulose and cellobiose showed that at least 25% of the carbon could be recovered as succinic acid, c. 23% as acetic acid and c. 10% as formic acid; ethanol was absent and gas formation very limited. A description of the genus and the species is given.", }