Fibrobacter succinogenes, SEM

Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Cellulose degrading rumen bacterium Fibrobacter succinogenes. Fibrobacter succinogenes, also known as Bacteroides succinogenes, is one of the most important cellulolytic bacterium (cellulose degrading bacteria) in animal intestinal tracts (rumen). Herbivorous ruminant animals have a complex stomach divided into chambers. One chamber, the rumen, contains symbiotic bacteria that break down cellulose in plants, making plant matter digestible. F. succinogenes actively adheres to cellulose. F. succinogenes produces both a series of cellulose-binding proteins, some of which have endoglucanase activity and a thin glycoprotein glycocalyx that results in strong adhesion to cellulose. Fibrobacter sp. are rod shaped, obligate anaerobic, gram-negative, saccharolytic bacteria. Magnification: x3,000 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.