Prevotella ruminicola

Prevotella ruminicola is a species of obligately anaerobic bacterium in the family Prevotellaceae. It is associated with the rumen of cattle and other ruminants, where it contributes to the fermentation of plant-derived substrates. The species was originally described from the bovine rumen as Bacteroides ruminicola in 1958 and was later transferred to the genus Prevotella.

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1958 as Bacteroides ruminicola, one of several succinic acid-producing anaerobic bacteria isolated from bovine rumen material. In 1990, the genus Prevotella was proposed for several species formerly classified in Bacteroides, including the transfer of B. ruminicola to Prevotella ruminicola.

In 1997, ruminal isolates previously assigned to P. ruminicola were re-examined. This work led to the proposal of Prevotella brevis, Prevotella bryantii, and Prevotella albensis, and to a narrower definition of P. ruminicola.

A later genome-based taxonomic study proposed the combination Xylanibacter ruminicola. The List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature currently lists Prevotella ruminicola as the correct name and treats Xylanibacter ruminicola as a synonym.

Characteristics

P. ruminicola is an obligately anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. The species name ruminicola means "inhabitant of the rumen".

The species is saccharolytic and has been studied for its ability to use non-cellulosic plant polysaccharides. P. ruminicola has been reported to contribute to hemicellulose utilization in the bovine rumen, including the degradation of xylan.