Open AccessInterrelations between populations of methanogenic archaea and sulfate‐reducing bacteria in the human colon *
Author(s) -
Pochart P.,
Doré J.,
Lémann F.,
Rambaud J.C.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1992.tb05518.x
Subject(s) - methanogenesis , archaea , sulfate , sulfate reducing bacteria , bacteria , population , microbiology and biotechnology , sulfide , desulfovibrio , chemistry , biology , microorganism , environmental chemistry , medicine , environmental health , organic chemistry , genetics
In humans, CH 4 is produced in the colon by methanogenic archaea and is detected in breath samples from approximately 50% of healthy adults, identified as CH 4 ‐excretors. Methanogenesis and sulfate reduction have been described as two mutually exclusive processes, potentially regulated by sulfate reduction have been described as two mutually exclusive processes, potentially regulated by sulfate availability. To determine whether microbial population balances reflected these apparently co‐regulated activities, we compared sulfate‐reducing bacteria, methanogenic archaea, sulfate and sulfide concentrations in faeces of 10 CH 4 ‐excretors (CH 4 + ) and 9 non‐CH 4 ‐excretors (CH 4 − ). The mean ±SE of the logarithm of methanogenic archaea per gram wet weight were 9.0 ± 0.2 and 4.0 ± 0.7 for CH 4 + and CH 4 − , respectively ( P < 0.001). Sulfate‐reducing bacterial counts were 6.5 ± 0.1 and 7.3 ± 0.2, respectively ( P < 0.001). Fecal sulfate and sulfide concentrations did not differ between groups. These results suggest that a competitive interrelation between methanogenic archaea and sulfate‐reducing bacteria occurs in the human colon. However, it does not lead to a complete exclusion of the two populations.