Isolation and identification of mixed linked beta-glucan degrading bacteria in the intestine of broiler chickens and partial characterization of respective 1,3-1,4-beta-glucanase activities

Media with 1,3-1,4-beta-glucans as selective markers were used for isolation of non-starch-polysaccharide (NSP) degrading bacteria from the intestinal tract of broiler chicken. Formerly unknown 1,3-1,4-beta endoglucanase activities in various bacterial species were identified in this study. E. faecium, Streptococcus, Bacteroides and Clostridium strains seem to be responsible for degradation of mixed linked beta-glucans in the small intestine and in the hind gut of chickens. Strict anaerobic bacteria (Bacteroides ovatus, B. uniformis, presumably B. capillosus and Clostridium perfringens) as well as an unidentified bacterium with 98% 16S rDNA homology to an uncultered chicken cecum bacterium were isolated. Additionally, Streptococcus bovis with 1,3-1,4-beta-endoglucanase activity was also detected. Different 1,3-1,4-beta-endoglucanase activity profiles were observed in SDS/PAGE zymograms.