This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kobayashi, H. A. Articles by Macario, A. J. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kobayashi, H. A. Articles by Macario, A. J. L. Agricola Articles by Kobayashi, H. A. Articles by Macario, A. J. L.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1988 March; 54(3): 693-698
Copyright © 1988, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Direct Characterization of Methanogens in Two High-Rate Anaerobic Biological Reactors

Hester A. Kobayashi, Everly Conway DE Macario^*, Regan S. Williams and Alberto J. L. Macario

¹ BP America, Cleveland, Ohio 44128, and Wadsworth Center for Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, and School of Public Health Sciences, State University of New York, Albany, New York 12201²

ABSTRACT

The methanogenic flora from two types of turbulent, high-rate reactors was studied by immunologic methods as well as by phase-contrast, fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy. The reactors were a fluidized sand-bed biofilm ANITRON reactor and an ultrafiltration membrane-associated suspended growth MARS reactor (both trademarks of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, Pa.). Conventional microscopic methods revealed complex mixtures of microbes of a range of sizes and shapes, among which morphotypes resembling Methanothrix spp. and Methanosarcina spp. were noticed. Precise identification of these and other methanogens was accomplished by antigenic fingerprinting with a comprehensive panel of calibrated antibody probes of predefined specificity spectra. The methanogens identified showed morphotypes and antigenic fingerprints indicating their close similarity with the following reference organisms: Methanobacterium formicicum MF and Methanosarcina barkeri W in the ANITRON reactor only; Methanosarcina barkeri R1M3, M. mazei S6, Methanogenium cariaci JR1, and Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus AZ in the MARS reactor only; and Methanobrevibacter smithii ALI and Methanothrix soehngenii Opfikon in both reactors. Species diversity and distribution appeared to be, at least in part, dependent on the degree of turbulence inside the reactor.

^* Corresponding author.

Present address: Biology Department, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.