Researchers who studied digestive microbes in termite stomachs say their findings could help solve problems caused by methane-belching cows.
Methane gas expelled from the world's cows has been blamed for contributing to global warming.
But Michigan State University microbiologists who isolated termite microbes said today they found gases like those in cow stomachs can be converted to nutritionally valuable acetic acid instead of methane.
The researchers led by MSU's John Breznak theorize that microbes provide clues to reducing cow-methane emissions while at the same time boosting the animals' milk and meat output.
In a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Science, the researchers say they were the first to isolate in test tubes corkscrew- shaped microbes called spirochetes.
Spirochetes convert two gases in termite stomachs, hydrogen and carbon dioxide, into acetic acid.
Acetic acid, which is essentially vinegar, can provide all of a termite's nutritional needs.
The researchers say spirochetes can derive up to one-third of a termite's acetic acid from hydrogen and carbon dioxide, which are byproducts of plant-food digestion.
Like termites, cows eat plant materials and thus get hydrogen and carbon dioxide in their stomachs.
But in cows, the gases combine to form methane, which is belched.
Breznak says, "If cows could have some of their microbes convert more of the hydrogen and carbon dioxide to acetic acid instead of methane, that would mean more milk, meat and fiber per kilogram of feed... Farmers would be very happy about that."
Researchers say the study of termite flora also could help find treatments for Lyme disease, syphilis and gum disease, which are linked to spirochetes.
They say wood termites were chosen for the study because their stomachs contain unsually diverse microbial populations.
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