Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of l-aspartate, fumarate, l-malate, and an Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract (Amaferm) on growth on lactate as well as lactate uptake by Selenomonas ruminantium HD4. Growth of S. ruminantium in medium that contained 2 g of dl-lactate per liter was stimulated approximately twofold by 10 mM l-aspartate, fumarate, or l-malate after 24 h. Both l-aspartate and fumarate increased lactate uptake over 4-fold, while l-malate stimulated uptake over 10-fold. Amaferm enhanced lactate uptake at all concentrations tested (0.5 to 50 g/liter), and the 10-g/liter level increased uptake over 12-fold. A filter-sterilized Amaferm filtrate increased lactate uptake over sevenfold, and growth on lactate was stimulated over twofold by either 2 or 5% (vol/vol) Amaferm filtrate. The Amaferm filtrate also increased the production of acetate, propionate, total volatile fatty acids, and Y(lactate) from lactate-grown cells. Since the increase in propionate production was greater relative to acetate, a decrease in the acetate:propionate ratio was observed. The concentration of l-malate in the Amaferm filtrate was 1.45 mM, and it appeared that the l-malate content of Amaferm played a role in the stimulation of growth on lactate as well as lactate uptake by S. ruminantium treated with Amaferm.