Genome Sequence of Mycoplasma feriruminatoris sp. nov., a Fast-Growing Mycoplasma Species

Members of the “Mycoplasma mycoides cluster” represent important livestock pathogens worldwide. We report the genome sequence of Mycoplasma feriruminatoris sp. nov., the closest relative to the “Mycoplasma mycoides cluster” and the fastest-growing Mycoplasma species described to date.

The horse genome project - sequence based insights into male reproductive mechanisms

The growing knowledge on physiology, cell biology and biochemistry of the reproductive organs has provided many insights into molecular mechanisms that are required for successful reproduction. Research directed at the investigation of reproduction physiology in domestic animals was hampered in the past by a lack of species-specific genomic information. The genome sequences of dog, cattle and horse have become publicly available in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. Although the gene content of mammalian genomes is generally very similar, genes involved in reproduction tend to be less conserved than the average mammalian gene. The availability of genome sequences provides a valuable resource to check whether any protein that may be known from human or mouse research is present in cattle and/or horse as well. Currently there are more than 200 genes known that are involved in the production of fertile sperm cells. Great progress has been made in the understanding of genetic aberrations that lead to male infertility. Additionally, the first genetic mechanisms are being discovered that contribute to the quantitative variation of fertility traits in fertile male animals. Here, I will review some selected aspects of genetic research in male fertility and offer some perspectives for the use of genomic sequence information.

Mycoplasma feriruminatoris sp. nov., a fast growing Mycoplasma species isolated from wild Caprinae

Five Mycoplasma strains from wild Caprinae were analyzed: four from Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) which died at the Berlin Zoo between 1993 and 1994, one from a Rocky Mountain goat collected in the USA prior to 1987. These five strains represented a population different from the populations belonging to the 'Mycoplasma mycoides cluster' as tested using multi locus sequence typing, Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene (rrs), genomic sequence based in silico as well as laboratory DNA-DNA hybridization, and the analysis of phenotypic traits in particular their exceptionally rapid growth all confirmed that they do not belong to any Mycoplasma species described to date. We therefore suggest these strains represent a novel species, for which we propose the name Mycoplasma feriruminatoris sp. nov. The type strain is G5847(T) (=DSM 26019(T)=NCTC 1362(T)).

Dietary inclusion of feathers affects intestinal microbiota and microbial metabolites in growing Leghorn-type chickens.

Feather pecking in laying hens is a serious behavioral problem that is often associated with feather eating. The intake of feathers may influence the gut microbiota and its metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 2 different diets, with or without 5% ground feathers, on the gut microbiota and the resulting microbial fermentation products and to identify keratin-degrading bacteria in chicken digesta. One-day-old Lohmann-Selected Leghorn chicks were divided into 3 feeding groups: group A (control), B (5% ground feathers in the diet), and C, in which the control diet was fed until wk 12 and then switched to the 5% feather diet to study the effect of time of first feather ingestion. The gut microbiota was analyzed by cultivation and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of ileum and cecum digesta. Short-chain fatty acids, ammonia, and lactate concentrations were measured as microbial metabolites. The concentration of keratinolytic bacteria increased after feather ingestion in the ileum (P < 0.001) and cecum (P = 0.033). Bacterial species that hydrolyzed keratin were identified as Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus reuteri-like species (97% sequence homology), and Lactobacillus salivarius-like species (97% sequence homology). Molecular analysis of cecal DNA extracts showed that the feather diet lowered the bacterial diversity indicated by a reduced richness (P < 0.001) and shannon (P = 0.012) index. The pattern of microbial metabolites indicated some changes, especially in the cecum. This study showed that feather intake induced an adaptation of the intestinal microbiota in chickens. It remains unclear to what extent the changed metabolism of the microbiota reflects the feather intake and could have an effect on the behavior of the hens.