Genomic insights into the physiology of Quinella, an iconic uncultured rumen bacterium

Sandeep Kumar (), Eric Altermann, Sinead C. Leahy, Ruy Jauregui, Arjan Jonker, Gemma Henderson, Sandra Kittelmann, Graeme T. Attwood, Janine Kamke, Sinéad M. Waters, Mark L. Patchett and Peter H. Janssen ()
Additional contact information
Sandeep Kumar: Grasslands Research Centre
Eric Altermann: Grasslands Research Centre
Sinead C. Leahy: Grasslands Research Centre
Ruy Jauregui: Grasslands Research Centre
Arjan Jonker: Grasslands Research Centre
Gemma Henderson: Grasslands Research Centre
Sandra Kittelmann: Grasslands Research Centre
Graeme T. Attwood: Grasslands Research Centre
Janine Kamke: Grasslands Research Centre
Sinéad M. Waters: Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co
Mark L. Patchett: Massey University
Peter H. Janssen: Grasslands Research Centre

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Quinella is a genus of iconic rumen bacteria first reported in 1913. There are no cultures of these bacteria, and information on their physiology is scarce and contradictory. Increased abundance of Quinella was previously found in the rumens of some sheep that emit low amounts of methane (CH4) relative to their feed intake, but whether Quinella contributes to low CH4 emissions is not known. Here, we concentrate Quinella cells from sheep rumen contents, extract and sequence DNA, and reconstruct Quinella genomes that are >90% complete with as little as 0.20% contamination. Bioinformatic analyses of the encoded proteins indicate that lactate and propionate formation are major fermentation pathways. The presence of a gene encoding a potential uptake hydrogenase suggests that Quinella might be able to use free hydrogen (H2). None of the inferred metabolic pathways is predicted to produce H2, a major precursor of CH4, which is consistent with the lower CH4 emissions from those sheep with high abundances of this bacterium.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34013-1

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