The rumen microbiota enable ruminants to degrade complex ligno-cellulosic compounds to produce high quality protein for human consumption. However, enteric fermentation by domestic ruminants generates negative by-products: greenhouse gases (methane) and environmental nitrogen pollution. The current lack of cultured isolates representative of the totality of rumen microbial species creates an in...

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous cocoa bean fermentation is characterised by a succession of microbial activities. Cocoa flavour precursors are developed during fermentation and drying of cocoa beans. Polyphenols and alkaloids contribute to astringency and bitterness of cocoa and chocolate. RESULTS: Population dynamics, metabolite target analyses, and chocolate production were performed for seven indepe...

Beneficial microbes are responsible for the synthesis of nutrients and metabolites that are likely important for the maintenance of mammalian health. Many nutrients and metabolites derived from the gut microbiota by luminal conversion have been implicated in the development, homeostasis and function of innate and adaptive immunity. These factors clearly suggest that intestinal microbiota may in...

In the rat, shikimate was metabolized and excreted as hippurate, hexahydrohippurate, 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrohippurate, t-3,t-4-dihydroxycyclohexane-r-1-carboxylate and c-3,t-4-dihydroxycyclophexane-r-1-carboxylate, conjugates of catechol and CO2. The metabolism was entirely dependent on various initial microbial transformations in the gut, metabolite formation being suppressed in animals pretreated ...