Flow cytometric sorting, phylogenetic analysis and in situ detection of Oscillospira guillermondii, a large, morphologically conspicuous but uncultured ruminal bacterium.

Flow cytometric sorting based on its large cell size enabled an enriched fraction of Oscillospira guillermondii cells to be obtained from the rumen contents of a sheep. Phylogenetic analysis based on cloned 16S rDNA sequences indicated that the bacterium is a member of the low-G+C Gram-positive bacterial cluster. Sporobacter termitidis and Papillibacter cinnamivorans were the most closely related known species, with sequence similarities of only 86.3-88.1 %. Fluorescently labelled 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes specific for Oscillospira were designed and applied to the rumen sample from which the enriched fraction was obtained. The probes hybridized specifically with the large, morphologically conspicuous Oscillospira cells.