Dr. Robert J Gruninger

A microbiome is a community of microbes that inhabits a particular environment. These communities can be complex and consist of many different types of microbes including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa and viruses. The microbial community that inhabits the gut is highly diverse and plays and essential role in digestion and heath. Ruminants (cows, goats, sheep, deer, etc) have a speciallized chamber in their gastrointestinal tract called a rumen that functions in the digestion of ingested plant material. The rumen microbiome is responsible for the efficient digestion of plant carbohydrates and the conversion of these sugars into volatile fatty acids which serve as the animal's energy source. The microbes in the rumen are also the primary source of protein used by ruminants for growth. My research is focused on applying state of the art genomic techniques, classical microbiology, and protein biochemistry to understand how the microbes in gastrointestinal tract of cattle influence the health and efficiency of the animal. Ultimately the goal is to improve the health and efficiency of cattle.