Award details

Primary colonization of plant biomass in grazing ruminants; the role of anaerobic fungi and anaerobic fungal cell wall degrading enzymes

Reference	BBS/E/G/00003201
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Michael Theodorou
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res
Department	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	205,748
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1997
End date	31/03/1999
Duration	24 months

Abstract

This research is collaborative with Prof. A.P.J. Trinci and Dr. Jayne Brookman of the University of Manchester and is conducted at both sites by jointly supervised postgraduate and postdoctoral research students. The research team have an international reputation for their pioneering studies on the rumen anaerobic fungi. In previous research, indirect evidence was obtained to support the hypothesis that anaerobic fungi are the primary colonisers of plant biomass in the digestive tract ecosystem. Monoclonal antibody probes and gene specific probes have been developed for the anaerobic fungi and are being used together with isozyme profiles for the purposes of molecular phylogeny. In further studies, these molecular tools will be used to investigate the temporal and spatial colonisation of freshly ingested `living' plant biomass in the rumen. Studies on the life cycle of anaerobic fungi, on their activity and on the anaerobic fungal survival structure, will continue to provide information on the contribution made by these organisms to rumen function. Work on anaerobic fungal enzymes is ongoing, funded by Gencore FFI and is of a confidential nature.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Animal Sciences (AS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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