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Shen X, He J, Zhang N, Li Y, Lei X, Sun C, Muhammad A, Shao Y. Assessing the quality and eco-beneficial microbes in the use of silkworm excrement compost. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 183:163-173. [PMID: 38759274 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Sericulture has become widespread globally, and the utilization of artificial diets produces a substantial quantity of silkworm excrement. Although silkworm excrement can be composted for environmentally friendly disposal, the potential utility of the resulting compost remains underexplored. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of this unique compost and screen for eco-beneficial microbes, providing a new perspective on microbial research in waste management, especially in sustainable agriculture. The low-concentration compost application exhibited a greater plant growth-promoting effect, which was attributed to an appropriate nutritional value (N, P, K, and dissolved organic matter) and the presence of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) within the compost. Encouraged by the "One Health" concept, the eco-benefits of potent PGPB, namely, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Bacillus licheniformis, in sericulture were further evaluated. For plants, K. pneumoniae and B. licheniformis increased plant weight by 152.44 % and 130.91 %, respectively. We also found that even a simple synthetic community composed of the two bacteria performed better than any single bacterium. For animals, K. pneumoniae significantly increased the silkworm (Qiufeng × Baiyu strain) cocoon shell weight by 111.94 %, which could increase sericulture profitability. We also elucidated the mechanism by which K. pneumoniae assisted silkworms in degrading tannic acid, a common plant-derived antifeedant, thereby increasing silkworm feed efficiency. Overall, these findings provide the first data revealing multiple beneficial interactions among silkworm excrement-derived microbes, plants, and animals, highlighting the importance of focusing on microbes in sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiang Shen
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jintao He
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu Li
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Lei
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Sun
- Analysis Center of Agrobiology and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Abrar Muhammad
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongqi Shao
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Silkworm and Bee Resource Utilization and Innovation of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory for Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, China.
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Morrill A, Forbes MR, Vesterinen EJ, Tamminen M, Sääksjärvi IE, Kaunisto KM. Molecular Characterisation of Faecal Bacterial Assemblages Among Four Species of Syntopic Odonates. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2023; 87:16. [PMID: 38108886 PMCID: PMC10728244 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-023-02328-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Factors such as host species, phylogeny, diet, and both timing and location of sampling are thought to influence the composition of gut-associated bacteria in insects. In this study, we compared the faecal-associated bacterial taxa for three Coenagrion and one Enallagma damselfly species. We expected high overlap in representation of bacterial taxa due to the shared ecology and diet of these species. Using metabarcoding based on the 16S rRNA gene, we identified 1513 sequence variants, representing distinct bacterial 'taxa'. Intriguingly, the damselfly species showed somewhat different magnitudes of richness of ZOTUs, ranging from 480 to 914 ZOTUs. In total, 921 (or 60.8% of the 1513) distinct ZOTUs were non-shared, each found only in one species, and then most often in only a single individual. There was a surfeit of these non-shared incidental ZOTUs in the Enallagma species accounting for it showing the highest bacterial richness and accounting for a sample-wide pattern of more single-species ZOTUs than expected, based on comparisons to the null model. Future studies should address the extent to which faecal bacteria represent non-incidental gut bacteria and whether abundant and shared taxa are true gut symbionts. Pictures of odonates adopted from Norske Art databank under Creative Commons License (CC BY 4.0).
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Affiliation(s)
- A Morrill
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - M R Forbes
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - E J Vesterinen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - M Tamminen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | | | - K M Kaunisto
- Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
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ElKraly OA, Awad M, El-Saadany HM, Hassanein SE, Elrahman TA, Elnagdy SM. Impact of gut microbiota composition on black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (hufnagel) metabolic indices and pesticide degradation. Anim Microbiome 2023; 5:44. [PMID: 37715236 PMCID: PMC10504801 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-023-00264-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Endosymbionts are known to have significant effects on their insect hosts, including nutrition, reproduction, and immunity. Insects gut microbiota is a critical component that affects their physiological and behavioral characteristics. The black cutworm (BCW), Agrotis ipsilon, is an economically important lepidopteran pest that has a diverse gut microbiome composed of nine species belonging to three phyla: Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. This study was conducted to investigate the diversity of gut bacteria isolated from BCW larvae and moths and their effects on metabolism and pesticide degradation. The bacterial isolates were identified using the 16 S rRNA gene. The study showed that the gut microbiome composition significantly affected the metabolism of BCW larvae. Based on the screening results of synthesis of digestive enzymes and pesticide degradation, Brachybacterium conglomeratum and Glutamicibacter sp were selected to perform the remaining experiments as single isolates and consortium. The consortium-fed larvae showed high metabolic indices compared to antibiotic-fed larvae and the control. The gut bacteria were also shown to degrade three pesticide groups. Concerns regarding the health risk of chlorpyrifos have been raised due to its extensive use in agriculture. The isolated B. conglomeratum was more effective in chlorpyrifos degradation than the consortium. Furthermore, the study also examined the presence of sex related endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, and Rickettsia) in the reproductive tissues of adults. The outcomes demonstrated that none of the examined endosymbionts existed. In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of the gut microbiome in insect physiology and behavior and its potential applications in biotechnology. It provides insights into developing eco-friendly pest control and bioremediation strategies using gut bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omnia Abdullah ElKraly
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Gamma St, Giza, 12613, Giza, Egypt
- Bio-insecticides Production Unit, Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mona Awad
- Department of Economic Entomology and Pesticides, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Hassan Mohamed El-Saadany
- Bio-insecticides Production Unit, Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sameh E Hassanein
- College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology (MUST), Giza, Egypt
| | - Tahany Abd Elrahman
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Gamma St, Giza, 12613, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sherif M Elnagdy
- Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Gamma St, Giza, 12613, Giza, Egypt.
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Shu Q, Guo X, Tian C, Wang Y, Zhang X, Cheng J, Li F, Li B. Homeostatic Regulation of the Duox-ROS Defense System: Revelations Based on the Diversity of Gut Bacteria in Silkworms ( Bombyx mori). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12731. [PMID: 37628915 PMCID: PMC10454487 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Duox-ROS defense system plays an important role in insect intestinal immunity. To investigate the role of intestinal microbiota in Duox-ROS regulation herein, 16S rRNA sequencing technology was utilized to compare the characteristics of bacterial populations in the midgut of silkworm after different time-periods of treatment with three feeding methods: 1-4 instars artificial diet (AD), 1-4 instars mulberry leaf (ML) and 1-3 instars artificial diet + 4 instar mulberry leaf (TM). The results revealed simple intestinal microbiota in the AD group whilst microbiota were abundant and variable in the ML and TM silkworms. By analyzing the relationship among intestinal pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and microorganism composition, it was identified that an acidic intestinal environment inhibited the growth of intestinal microbiota of silkworms, observed concurrently with low ROS content and a high activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, TPX, CAT). Gene expression associated with the Duox-ROS defense system was detected using RT-qPCR and identified to be low in the AD group and significantly higher in the TM group of silkworms. This study provides a new reference for the future improvement of the artificial diet feeding of silkworm and a systematic indicator for the further study of the relationship between changes in the intestinal environment and intestinal microbiota balance caused by dietary alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilong Shu
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (Q.S.); (X.G.); (C.T.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.); (J.C.); (F.L.)
| | - Xiqian Guo
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (Q.S.); (X.G.); (C.T.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.); (J.C.); (F.L.)
| | - Chao Tian
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (Q.S.); (X.G.); (C.T.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.); (J.C.); (F.L.)
| | - Yuanfei Wang
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (Q.S.); (X.G.); (C.T.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.); (J.C.); (F.L.)
| | - Xiaoxia Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (Q.S.); (X.G.); (C.T.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.); (J.C.); (F.L.)
| | - Jialu Cheng
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (Q.S.); (X.G.); (C.T.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.); (J.C.); (F.L.)
| | - Fanchi Li
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (Q.S.); (X.G.); (C.T.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.); (J.C.); (F.L.)
- Sericulture Institute, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Bing Li
- School of Basic Medicine and Biological Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; (Q.S.); (X.G.); (C.T.); (Y.W.); (X.Z.); (J.C.); (F.L.)
- Sericulture Institute, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
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Jeon J, Rahman MM, Han C, Shin J, Sa KJ, Kim J. Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Life Table Comparisons and Gut Microbiome Analysis Reared on Corn Varieties. INSECTS 2023; 14:358. [PMID: 37103173 PMCID: PMC10146201 DOI: 10.3390/insects14040358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, FAW) is an invasive migratory pest that has recently spread to Korea, damaging several corn cultivars with significant economic value. Comparisons of the growth stages of FAW were conducted based on the preferred feed. Therefore, we selected six maize cultivars, including three categories: (i) commercial waxy corn (mibaek 2-ho, heukjeom 2-ho, dreamoak); (ii) popcorn (oryun popcorn, oryun 2-ho); and (iii) processing corn (miheukchal). A significant effect was observed during the larvae period, pupal period, egg hatching ratio, and larvae weight, whereas the total survival period and adult period did not show significant variation among the tested corn cultivars. We identified variations in the FAW gut bacterial community that were dependent on the genotype of the corn maize feed. The identified phyla included Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Among these genera, the most abundant bacterial genus was Enterococcus, followed by Ureibacillus. Enterococcus mundtii was the most abundant among the top 40 bacterial species. The intergenic PCR-based amplification and gene sequence of the colony isolates were also matched to the GenBank owing to the prevalence of E. mundtii. These results showed that the bacterial diversity and abundance of particular bacteria in the guts of FAWs were influenced by the six major maize corn cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungwon Jeon
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Md-Mafizur Rahman
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Science, Islamic University, Kushtia 7003, Bangladesh
| | - Changhee Han
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeong Shin
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu Jin Sa
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Juil Kim
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Smart Agriculture, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
- Department of Plant Medicine, Division of Bio-Resource Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
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6
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The virtual microbiome: A computational framework to evaluate microbiome analyses. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280391. [PMID: 36753469 PMCID: PMC9907852 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbiomes have been the focus of a substantial research effort in the last decades. The composition of microbial populations is normally determined by comparing DNA sequences sampled from those populations with the sequences stored in genomic databases. Therefore, the amount of information available in databanks should be expected to constrain the accuracy of microbiome analyses. Albeit normally ignored in microbiome studies, this constraint could severely compromise the reliability of microbiome data. To test this hypothesis, we generated virtual bacterial populations that exhibit the ecological structure of real-world microbiomes. Confronting the analyses of virtual microbiomes with their original composition revealed critical issues in the current approach to characterizing microbiomes, issues that were empirically confirmed by analyzing the microbiome of Galleria mellonella larvae. To reduce the uncertainty of microbiome data, the effort in the field must be channeled towards significantly increasing the amount of available genomic information and optimizing the use of this information.
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Zheng R, Cheng L, Peng J, Li Q, Yang F, Yang D, Xia Y, Tang Q. Comparative analysis of gut microbiota and immune genes linked with the immune system of wild and captive Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 138:104530. [PMID: 36084754 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2022.104530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is one of the most highly polyphagous invasive pests causing serious damage to maize crops in China. However, little is known about the gut immune responses to the environment, particularly along the migration routes in Jianghuai, China, throughout the autumn and winter. In this study, high-throughput sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were employed to examine the variations in immune genes and gut microbiome communities between captive and wild fall armyworm populations. Results showed that the diversity and community of the gut's microbes were higher in wild populations, and the average weighted UniFrac distance between bacterial taxa varied. A wide variety of immune genes were more abundant in the wild populations than in others. Results indicated that diets and different survival conditions impacted the gut microbiota and immune system of S. frugiperda, which was crucial for environmental adaptation. These differences in gut microbiota and immune responses between wild and captive Fall armyworms are critical for comprehending the symbiotic relationship between microbes, immune genes, and hosts. They also highlight the need for increased focus on developing more effective and environmentally friendly pest control methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renwen Zheng
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Luoling Cheng
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Jun Peng
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Qianqian Li
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Dehua Yang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Yuxian Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Qingfeng Tang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, Key Laboratory of Biology and Sustainable Management of Plant Diseases and Pests of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.
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Jia S, Zhang J, Li X, He Y, Yu T, Zhao C, Song C. Intestinal Microflora Characteristics of Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) Larvae With Vomit Disease. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 115:1859-1868. [PMID: 36124625 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Antheraea pernyi Guérin-Méneville (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is of high economic value as a source of silk, food, and bioactive substances with medicinal properties. A. pernyi larvae are prone to A. pernyi vomit disease (AVD), which results in substantial economic losses during cultivation; however, the relationship between AVD and A. pernyi gut microbiota remains unclear. Here, we investigated the bacterial community in the midgut and feces of A. pernyi larvae with and without AVD using 16S rRNA gene sequencing with Illumina MiSeq technology. Compared with healthy larvae, intestinal bacterial diversity and community richness increased and decreased in larvae with mild and severe AVD, respectively. In addition, the proportion of gut Enterobacter Hormaeche and Edwards(Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae) and Enterococcus Thiercelin and Jouhaud (Lactobacillales: Enterococcaceae) was higher and lower, respectively, in larvae with mild AVD than those in healthy larvae. A. pernyi vomit disease infection significantly increased the genera with abundance <1%. In the gut of larvae with severe AVD, the proportion of Turicibacter Bosshard et al. (Erysipelotrichales: Turicibacteraceae) increased significantly to 81.53-99.92%, whereas that of Enterobacter decreased compared with healthy larvae. However, the diversity of fecal bacteria was similar between healthy larvae and those with mild AVD. Overall, the findings demonstrate that intestinal microflora in A. pernyi larvae are altered by AVD infection and may cause secondary bacterial infection. This is the first report of the presence of Turicibacter in the intestinal tract of lepidopterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Jia
- Sericultural Research Institute of Liaoning Province, Fengcheng 118100, China
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China
| | - Juntao Zhang
- Sericultural Research Institute of Liaoning Province, Fengcheng 118100, China
| | - Xisheng Li
- Sericultural Research Institute of Liaoning Province, Fengcheng 118100, China
| | - Yingzi He
- Sericultural Research Institute of Liaoning Province, Fengcheng 118100, China
| | - Tinghong Yu
- Sericultural Research Institute of Liaoning Province, Fengcheng 118100, China
| | - Chong Zhao
- Sericultural Research Institute of Liaoning Province, Fengcheng 118100, China
| | - Ce Song
- Sericultural Research Institute of Liaoning Province, Fengcheng 118100, China
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He J, Shen X, Zhang N, Sun C, Shao Y. Smartphones as an Ecological Niche of Microorganisms: Microbial Activities, Assembly, and Opportunistic Pathogens. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0150822. [PMID: 36040152 PMCID: PMC9603676 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01508-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Smartphone usage and contact frequency are unprecedentedly high in this era, and they affect humans mentally and physically. However, the characteristics of the microorganisms associated with smartphones and smartphone hygiene habits remain unclear. In this study, using various culture-independent techniques, including high-throughput sequencing, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), the ATP bioluminescence system, and electron microscopy, we investigated the structure, assembly, quantity, and dynamic metabolic activity of the bacterial community on smartphone surfaces and the user's dominant and nondominant hands. We found that smartphone microbiotas are more similar to the nondominant hand microbiotas than the dominant hand microbiotas and show significantly decreased phylogenetic diversity and stronger deterministic processes than the hand microbiota. Significant interindividual microbiota differences were observed, contributing to an average owner identification accuracy of 70.6% using smartphone microbiota. Furthermore, it is estimated that approximately 1.75 × 106 bacteria (2.24 × 104/cm2) exist on the touchscreen of a single smartphone, and microbial activities remain stable for at least 48 h. Scanning electron microscopy detected large fragments harboring microorganisms, suggesting that smartphone microbiotas live on the secreta or other substances, e.g., human cell debris and food debris. Fortunately, simple smartphone cleaning/hygiene could significantly reduce the bacterial load. Taken together, our results demonstrate that smartphone surfaces not only are a reservoir of microbes but also provide an ecological niche in which microbiotas, particularly opportunistic pathogens, can survive, be active, and even grow. IMPORTANCE Currently, people spend an average of 4.2 h per day on their smartphones. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this figure may still be increasing. The high frequency of smartphone usage may allow microbes, particularly pathogens, to attach to-and even survive on-phone surfaces, potentially causing adverse effects on humans. We employed various culture-independent techniques in this study to evaluate the microbiological features and hygiene of smartphones, including community assembly, bacterial load, and activity. Our data showed that deterministic processes drive smartphone microbiota assembly and that approximately 1.75 × 106 bacteria exist on a single smartphone touchscreen, with activities being stable for at least 48 h. Fortunately, simple smartphone cleaning/hygiene could significantly reduce the bacterial load. This work expands our understanding of the microbial ecology of smartphone surfaces and might facilitate the development of electronic device cleaning/hygiene guidelines to support public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintao He
- Max Planck Partner Group, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Shen
- Max Planck Partner Group, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Max Planck Partner Group, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chao Sun
- Analysis Center of Agrobiology and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongqi Shao
- Max Planck Partner Group, Faculty of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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10
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Li DD, Li JY, Hu ZQ, Liu TX, Zhang SZ. Fall Armyworm Gut Bacterial Diversity Associated with Different Developmental Stages, Environmental Habitats, and Diets. INSECTS 2022; 13:insects13090762. [PMID: 36135463 PMCID: PMC9503601 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major invasive pest that seriously threatens world agricultural production and food security. Microorganisms play a crucial role in the growth and development of insects. However, the diversity and dynamics of gut microbes with different developmental stages, environmental habitats, and diets in S. frugiperda remain unclear. In this study, we found the changes of the microbiome of S. frugiperda across their life stages, and the bacteria were dominated by Firmicutes and Proteobacteria. The community composition of the egg stage was quite different from other developmental stages, which had the highest community diversity and community richness, and was dominated by Proteobacteria. The bacterial community compositions of male and female adults were similar to those of early larvae stage (L1-L2), and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with abundant content were Enterococcus and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria, including Enterobacteria, Klebsiella, Pantoea, and Escherichia. The third instar larvae (L3) mainly consist of Enterococcus. The late stage larvae (L4-L6) harbored high proportions of Enterococcus, Rhodococcus, and Ralstonia. There was no significant difference in gut microbial composition between field populations and laboratory populations in a short period of rearing time. However, after long-term laboratory feeding, the gut microbial diversity of S. frugiperda was significantly reduced. Enterococcus and Rhodococccus of S. frugiperda feeding on maize showed higher relative proportion, while the microbial community of S. frugiperda feeding on artificial diet was composed mainly of Enterococcus, with a total of 98% of the gut microbiota. The gene functions such as metabolism, cell growth and death, transport and catabolism, and environmental adaptation were more active in S. frugiperda feeding on corn than those feeding on artificial diet. In short, these results indicate that developmental stage, habitat, and diet can alter the gut bacteria of S. frugiperda, and suggest a vertical transmission route of bacteria in S. frugiperda. A comprehensive understanding of gut microbiome of S. frugiperda will help develop novel pest control strategies to manage this pest.
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Zhou L, Chen C, Wang X. Gut Bacterial Diversity and Community Structure of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the Welsh Onion-producing Areas of North China. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2022; 115:1102-1114. [PMID: 35765845 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toac103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Gut microbiota play an important role in digestion, development, nutritional metabolism, and detoxification in insects. However, scant information exists on the gut bacterial variation, composition, and community structure of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), and how its gut microbiota has adapted to different geographical environments. Using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology, we detected 3,837,408 high-quality reads and 1,457 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in 47 gut samples of S. exigua collected from ten sites in northern China. Overall, we identified 697 bacterial genera from 30 phyla, among which Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were the most dominant phyla. Gut bacterial alpha-diversity metrics revealed significant differences among these populations. We detected the highest alpha bacterial diversity in Xinming, northern Liaoning Province, and the lowest bacterial diversity in Zhangwu, western Liaoning Province. Beta diversity indicated that the gut microbial community structure of S. exigua in Liaoning Province was significantly different from that of other populations. There was a similar microbial community structure among populations in the adjacent province, suggesting that the environment influences bacterial succession in this pest. Finally, PICRUSt analysis demonstrated that microbial functions closely associated with the gut microbiomes mainly included membrane transport, carbohydrate metabolism and replication, and amino acid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Zhou
- Institute of Flower, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110161, P.R. China
| | - Chen Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110866, P.R. China
| | - Xingya Wang
- College of Plant Protection, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110866, P.R. China
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Plant-derived tormentic acid alters the gut microbiota of the silkworm (Bombyx mori). Sci Rep 2022; 12:13005. [PMID: 35906393 PMCID: PMC9338012 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17478-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, phytochemicals have started to attract more attention due to their contribution to health and bioactivity. Microorganisms in the intestines of organisms contribute to the processing, function, and biotransformation of these substances. The silkworm (Bombyx mori) is one of the organisms used for the biotransformation of phytochemicals due to its controlled reproduction and liability to microbial manipulation. In this study, a bioactive compound, tormentic acid (TA), extracted from Sarcopoterium spinosum was used in the silkworm diet, and the alterations of intestinal microbiota of the silkworm were assessed. To do this, silkworms were fed on a diet with various tormentic acid content, and 16S metagenomic analysis was performed to determine the alterations in the gut microbiota profile of these organisms. Diet with different TA content did not cause a change in the bacterial diversity of the samples. A more detailed comparison between different feeding groups indicated increased abundance of bacteria associated with health, i.e., Intestinibacter spp., Flavonifractor spp., Senegalimassilia spp., through the utilization of bioactive substances such as flavonoids. In conclusion, it might be said that using TA as a supplementary product might help ameliorate the infected gut, promote the healthy gut, and relieve the undesirable effects of medicines on the gastrointestinal system.
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Liang X, He J, Zhang N, Muhammad A, Lu X, Shao Y. Probiotic potentials of the silkworm gut symbiont Enterococcus casseliflavus ECB140, a promising L-tryptophan producer living inside the host. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 133:1620-1635. [PMID: 35717576 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIMS L-tryptophan is an essential aromatic amino acid for the growth and development of animals. Studies about enteric L-tryptophan-producing bacteria are scarce. In this report, we characterized the probiotic potential of Enterococcus casseliflavus ECB140, focusing on its L-tryptophan production abilities. METHODS AND RESULTS ECB140 strain was isolated from the silkworm gut and can survive under strong alkaline environmental conditions. Bacterial colonization traits (motility and biofilm) were examined and showed that only ECB140 produced flagellum and strong biofilms compared with other Enterococcus strains. Comparative genome sequence analyses showed that only ECB140 possessed a complete route for L-tryptophan synthesis among all 15 strains. High-performance liquid chromatography and qRT-PCR confirmed the capability of ECB140 to produce L-tryptophan. Besides, the genome also contains the biosynthesis pathways of several other essential amino acids, such as phenylalanine, threonine, valine, leucine, isoleucine and lysine. These results indicate that ECB140 has the ability to survive passage through the gut and could act as a candidate probiotic. CONCLUSIONS The study describes a novel, natural silkworm gut symbiont capable of producing L-tryptophan. Enterococcus casseliflavus ECB140 physical and genomic attributes offer possibilities for its colonization and provide L-tryptophan for lepidopteran insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xili Liang
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jintao He
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Abrar Muhammad
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xingmeng Lu
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongqi Shao
- Max Planck Partner Group, Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory for Molecular Animal Nutrition, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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Zhang X, Zhang F, Lu X. Diversity and Functional Roles of the Gut Microbiota in Lepidopteran Insects. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061234. [PMID: 35744751 PMCID: PMC9231115 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Lepidopteran insects are one of the most widespread and speciose lineages on Earth, with many common pests and beneficial insect species. The evolutionary success of their diversification depends on the essential functions of gut microorganisms. This diverse gut microbiota of lepidopteran insects provides benefits in nutrition and reproductive regulation and plays an important role in the defence against pathogens, enhancing host immune homeostasis. In addition, gut symbionts have shown promising applications in the development of novel tools for biological control, biodegradation of waste, and blocking the transmission of insect-borne diseases. Even though most microbial symbionts are unculturable, the rapidly expanding catalogue of microbial genomes and the application of modern genetic techniques offer a viable alternative for studying these microbes. Here, we discuss the gut structure and microbial diversity of lepidopteran insects, as well as advances in the understanding of symbiotic relationships and interactions between hosts and symbionts. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the function of the gut microbiota, including in host nutrition and metabolism, immune defence, and potential mechanisms of detoxification. Due to the relevance of lepidopteran pests in agricultural production, it can be expected that the research on the interactions between lepidopteran insects and their gut microbiota will be used for biological pest control and protection of beneficial insects in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiancui Zhang
- Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China;
| | - Fan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology of Shandong Province, College of Life Science, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
- Correspondence: (F.Z.); (X.L.)
| | - Xingmeng Lu
- Institute of Sericulture and Apiculture, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China;
- Correspondence: (F.Z.); (X.L.)
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