Advances In The Understanding of The Commensal Eukaryota And Viruses Of The Herbivore Gut

Anaerobic fungi and ciliate protozoa represent up to half of the herbivore gut microbial biomass. They are generally recognized as mutualistic symbionts in ruminant animals since they produce a wide range cellulolytic amylolytic enzymes play key role feed degradation for host. This is particularly true anaerobic fungi, which have most potent fiber degrading known biological world. The presence these eukaryotes enables ruminants digest large amounts highly fibrous substrates. Their initial physical enzymatic attack on plant results breakdown complex carbohydrates, releasing polymers monomers that can be used by remainder community potentially host itself. Due production hydrogen their hydrogenosomes, especially motile provide comfortable micro-habitats hydrogen-scavenging bacteria methanogenic archaea.