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Khan SA, Kojour MAM, Han YS. Recent trends in insect gut immunity. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1272143. [PMID: 38193088 PMCID: PMC10773798 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1272143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut is a crucial organ in insect defense against various pathogens and harmful substances in their environment and diet. Distinct insect gut compartments possess unique functionalities contributing to their physiological processes, including immunity. The insect gut's cellular composition is vital for cellular and humoral immunity. The peritrophic membrane, mucus layer, lumen, microvilli, and various gut cells provide essential support for activating and regulating immune defense mechanisms. These components also secrete molecules and enzymes that are imperative in physiological activities. Additionally, the gut microbiota initiates various signaling pathways and produces vitamins and minerals that help maintain gut homeostasis. Distinct immune signaling pathways are activated within the gut when insects ingest pathogens or hazardous materials. The pathway induced depends on the infection or pathogen type; include immune deficiency (imd), Toll, JAK/STAT, Duox-ROS, and JNK/FOXO regulatory pathways. These pathways produce different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and maintain gut homeostasis. Furthermore, various signaling mechanisms within gut cells regulate insect gut recovery following infection. Although some questions regarding insect gut immunity in different species require additional study, this review provides insights into the insect gut's structure and composition, commensal microorganism roles in Drosophila melanogaster and Tenebrio molitor life cycles, different signaling pathways involved in gut immune systems, and the insect gut post-infection recovery through various signaling mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahidul Ahmed Khan
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Maryam Ali Mohmmadie Kojour
- Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) Development, Genetics & Molecular Physiology Unit, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Yeon Soo Han
- Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Environmentally Friendly Agriculture (IEFA), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
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Marynowska M, Sillam-Dussès D, Untereiner B, Klimek D, Goux X, Gawron P, Roisin Y, Delfosse P, Calusinska M. A holobiont approach towards polysaccharide degradation by the highly compartmentalised gut system of the soil-feeding higher termite Labiotermes labralis. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:115. [PMID: 36922761 PMCID: PMC10018900 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09224-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Termites are among the most successful insects on Earth and can feed on a broad range of organic matter at various stages of decomposition. The termite gut system is often referred to as a micro-reactor and is a complex structure consisting of several components. It includes the host, its gut microbiome and fungal gardens, in the case of fungi-growing higher termites. The digestive tract of soil-feeding higher termites is characterised by radial and axial gradients of physicochemical parameters (e.g. pH, O2 and H2 partial pressure), and also differs in the density and structure of residing microbial communities. Although soil-feeding termites account for 60% of the known termite species, their biomass degradation strategies are far less known compared to their wood-feeding counterparts. RESULTS In this work, we applied an integrative multi-omics approach for the first time at the holobiont level to study the highly compartmentalised gut system of the soil-feeding higher termite Labiotermes labralis. We relied on 16S rRNA gene community profiling, metagenomics and (meta)transcriptomics to uncover the distribution of functional roles, in particular those related to carbohydrate hydrolysis, across different gut compartments and among the members of the bacterial community and the host itself. We showed that the Labiotermes gut was dominated by members of the Firmicutes phylum, whose abundance gradually decreased towards the posterior segments of the hindgut, in favour of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. Contrary to expectations, we observed that L. labralis gut microbes expressed a high diversity of carbohydrate active enzymes involved in cellulose and hemicelluloses degradation, making the soil-feeding termite gut a unique reservoir of lignocellulolytic enzymes with considerable biotechnological potential. We also evidenced that the host cellulases have different phylogenetic origins and structures, which is possibly translated into their different specificities towards cellulose. From an ecological perspective, we could speculate that the capacity to feed on distinct polymorphs of cellulose retained in soil might have enabled this termite species to widely colonise the different habitats of the Amazon basin. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides interesting insights into the distribution of the hydrolytic potential of the highly compartmentalised higher termite gut. The large number of expressed enzymes targeting the different lignocellulose components make the Labiotermes worker gut a relevant lignocellulose-valorising model to mimic by biomass conversion industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Marynowska
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 Rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg.,Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - David Sillam-Dussès
- University Sorbonne Paris Nord, Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, LEEC, UR 4443, F-93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Boris Untereiner
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 Rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Dominika Klimek
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 Rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Xavier Goux
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 Rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Piotr Gawron
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 6 Avenue du Swing, L-4367, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Yves Roisin
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe Delfosse
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 Rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg.,Vice-Rectorate for Research, University of Luxembourg, 2 Avenue Des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4365, Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Magdalena Calusinska
- Environmental Research and Innovation Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 Rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg.
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Ali SS, Al-Tohamy R, Mohamed TM, Mahmoud YAG, Ruiz HA, Sun L, Sun J. Could termites be hiding a goldmine of obscure yet promising yeasts for energy crisis solutions based on aromatic wastes? A critical state-of-the-art review. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2022; 15:35. [PMID: 35379342 PMCID: PMC8981686 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-022-02131-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can be produced from a range of organic and renewable feedstock including fresh or vegetable oils, animal fats, and oilseed plants. In recent years, the lignin-based aromatic wastes, such as various aromatic waste polymers from agriculture, or organic dye wastewater from textile industry, have attracted much attention in academia, which can be uniquely selected as a potential renewable feedstock for biodiesel product converted by yeast cell factory technology. This current investigation indicated that the highest percentage of lipid accumulation can be achieved as high as 47.25% by an oleaginous yeast strain, Meyerozyma caribbica SSA1654, isolated from a wood-feeding termite gut system, where its synthetic oil conversion ability can reach up to 0.08 (g/l/h) and the fatty acid composition in yeast cells represents over 95% of total fatty acids that are similar to that of vegetable oils. Clearly, the use of oleaginous yeasts, isolated from wood-feeding termites, for synthesizing lipids from aromatics is a clean, efficient, and competitive path to achieve "a sustainable development" towards biodiesel production. However, the lacking of potent oleaginous yeasts to transform lipids from various aromatics, and an unknown metabolic regulation mechanism presented in the natural oleaginous yeast cells are the fundamental challenge we have to face for a potential cell factory development. Under this scope, this review has proposed a novel concept and approach strategy in utilization of oleaginous yeasts as the cell factory to convert aromatic wastes to lipids as the substrate for biodiesel transformation. Therefore, screening robust oleaginous yeast strain(s) from wood-feeding termite gut system with a set of the desirable specific tolerance characteristics is essential. In addition, to reconstruct a desirable metabolic pathway/network to maximize the lipid transformation and accumulation rate from the aromatic wastes with the applications of various "omics" technologies or a synthetic biology approach, where the work agenda will also include to analyze the genome characteristics, to develop a new base mutation gene editing technology, as well as to clarify the influence of the insertion position of aromatic compounds and other biosynthetic pathways in the industrial chassis genome on the expressional level and genome stability. With these unique designs running with a set of the advanced biotech approaches, a novel metabolic pathway using robust oleaginous yeast developed as a cell factory concept can be potentially constructed, integrated and optimized, suggesting that the hypothesis we proposed in utilizing aromatic wastes as a feedstock towards biodiesel product is technically promising and potentially applicable in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameh S. Ali
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013 China
- Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527 Egypt
| | - Rania Al-Tohamy
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013 China
| | - Tarek M. Mohamed
- Biochemistry Division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527 Egypt
| | | | - Héctor A. Ruiz
- Biorefinery Group, Food Research Department, School of Chemistry, Autonomous University of Coahuila, 25280 Saltillo, Coahuila Mexico
| | - Lushan Sun
- Institute of Textiles and Clothing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jianzhong Sun
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013 China
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Afzal M, Shaheen N, Shah SAA, Iqbal A, Scharf ME, Qureshi NA. Saccharification of agricultural lignocellulosic feedstocks by endogenous and symbiotic cellulases from the subterranean termites. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Ahmad F, Yang GY, Liang SY, Zhou QH, Gaal HA, Mo JC. Multipartite symbioses in fungus-growing termites (Blattodea: Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) for the degradation of lignocellulose. INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 28:1512-1529. [PMID: 33236502 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Fungus-growing termites are among the most successful herbivorous animals and improve crop productivity and soil fertility. A range of symbiotic organisms can be found inside their nests. However, interactions of termites with these symbionts are poorly understood. This review provides detailed information on the role of multipartite symbioses (between termitophiles, termites, fungi, and bacteria) in fungus-growing termites for lignocellulose degradation. The specific functions of each component in the symbiotic system are also discussed. Based on previous studies, we argue that the enzymatic contribution from the host, fungus, and bacteria greatly facilitates the decomposition of complex polysaccharide plant materials. The host-termitophile interaction protects the termite nest from natural enemies and maintains the stability of the microenvironment inside the colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhan Ahmad
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Entomology Section, Central Cotton Research Institute, Sakrand, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Gui-Ying Yang
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shi-You Liang
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qi-Huan Zhou
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hassan Ahmed Gaal
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Entomology, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Somali National University, Mogadishu, Somalia
| | - Jian-Chu Mo
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Lab of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insect Pests, Institute of Insect Sciences, College of Agricultural and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Schmidt K, Engel P. Mechanisms underlying gut microbiota-host interactions in insects. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:224/2/jeb207696. [PMID: 33509844 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.207696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Insects are the most diverse group of animals and colonize almost all environments on our planet. This diversity is reflected in the structure and function of the microbial communities inhabiting the insect digestive system. As in mammals, the gut microbiota of insects can have important symbiotic functions, complementing host nutrition, facilitating dietary breakdown or providing protection against pathogens. There is an increasing number of insect models that are experimentally tractable, facilitating mechanistic studies of gut microbiota-host interactions. In this Review, we will summarize recent findings that have advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the symbiosis between insects and their gut microbiota. We will open the article with a general introduction to the insect gut microbiota and then turn towards the discussion of particular mechanisms and molecular processes governing the colonization of the insect gut environment as well as the diverse beneficial roles mediated by the gut microbiota. The Review highlights that, although the gut microbiota of insects is an active field of research with implications for fundamental and applied science, we are still in an early stage of understanding molecular mechanisms. However, the expanding capability to culture microbiomes and to manipulate microbe-host interactions in insects promises new molecular insights from diverse symbioses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Schmidt
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Bioprospection of Enzymes and Microorganisms in Insects to Improve Second-Generation Ethanol Production. Ind Biotechnol (New Rochelle N Y) 2019. [DOI: 10.1089/ind.2019.0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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Tsvetkov VO, Yarullina LG. Structural and Functional Characteristics of Hydrolytic Enzymes of Phytophagon Insects and Plant Protein Inhibitors (Review). APPL BIOCHEM MICRO+ 2019. [DOI: 10.1134/s0003683819050156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Zhou Y, Li X, Yan D, Addai Peprah F, Ji X, Fletcher EE, Wang Y, Wang Y, Gu J, Lin F, Shi H. Multifunctional elastin-like polypeptide renders β-glucosidase enzyme phase transition and high stability. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:157. [PMID: 31249620 PMCID: PMC6589881 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1497-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the enzymatic conversion of biomass, it becomes an important issue to efficiently and cost-effectively degrade cellulose into fermentable glucose. β-Glucosidase (Bgluc), an essential member of cellulases, plays a critical role in cellulosic biomass degradation. The difficulty in improving the stability of Bgluc has been a bottleneck in the enzyme-dependent cellulose degradation. The traditional method of protein purification, however, leads to higher production cost and a decrease in activity. To simplify and efficiently purify Bgluc with modified special properties, Bgluc-tagged ELP and His with defined phase transitions was designed to facilitate the process. RESULTS Here, a novel binary ELP and His tag was fused with Bgluc from termite Coptotermes formosanus to construct a Bgluc-linker-ELP-His recombinant fusion protein (BglucLEH). The recombinant plasmid Bgluc expressing a His tag (BglucH) was also constructed. The BglucLEH and BglucH were expressed in E. coli BL21 and purified using inverse transition cycling (ITC) or Ni-NTA resin. The optimum salt concentration for the ITC purification of BglucLEH was 0.5 M (NH4)2SO4 and the specific activity of BglucLEH purified by ITC was 75.5 U/mg for substrate p-NPG, which was slightly higher than that of BglucLEH purified by Ni-NTA (68.2 U/mg). The recovery rate and purification fold of BglucLEH purified by ITC and Ni-NTA were 77.8%, 79.1% and 12.60, 11.60, respectively. The results indicated that purification with ITC was superior to the traditional Ni-NTA. The K m of BglucLEH and BglucH for p-NPG was 5.27 and 5.73 mM, respectively. The K ca t/K m (14.79 S-1 mM-1) of BglucLEH was higher than that of BglucH (12.10 S-1 mM-1). The effects of ELP tag on the enzyme activity, secondary structure and protein stability were also studied. The results showed that ELP tag did not affect the secondary structure or enzyme activity of Bgluc. More importantly, ELP improved the protein stability in harsh conditions such as heating and exposure to denaturant. CONCLUSION The Bgluc-linker-ELP-His system shows wide application prospect in maintaining the activity, efficient purification and improving the stability of Bgluc. These properties of BglucLEH make it an interesting tool to reduce cost, to improve the efficiency of biocatalyst and potentially to enhance the degradation of lignocellulosic biomass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhou
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
| | - Dandan Yan
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
| | - Frank Addai Peprah
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xingqi Ji
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
| | - Emmanuella Esi Fletcher
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanwei Wang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yingying Wang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Gu
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
| | - Feng Lin
- Key Laboratory of Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, 313001 People’s Republic of China
| | - Haifeng Shi
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013 People’s Republic of China
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Tokuda G, Mikaelyan A, Fukui C, Matsuura Y, Watanabe H, Fujishima M, Brune A. Fiber-associated spirochetes are major agents of hemicellulose degradation in the hindgut of wood-feeding higher termites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E11996-E12004. [PMID: 30504145 PMCID: PMC6304966 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1810550115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose in wood-feeding higher termites (family Termitidae) is a two-step process that involves endogenous host cellulases secreted in the midgut and a dense bacterial community in the hindgut compartment. The genomes of the bacterial gut microbiota encode diverse cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes, but the contributions of host and bacterial symbionts to lignocellulose degradation remain ambiguous. Our previous studies of Nasutitermes spp. documented that the wood fibers in the hindgut paunch are consistently colonized not only by uncultured members of Fibrobacteres, which have been implicated in cellulose degradation, but also by unique lineages of Spirochaetes. Here, we demonstrate that the degradation of xylan, the major component of hemicellulose, is restricted to the hindgut compartment, where it is preferentially hydrolyzed over cellulose. Metatranscriptomic analysis documented that the majority of glycoside hydrolase (GH) transcripts expressed by the fiber-associated bacterial community belong to family GH11, which consists exclusively of xylanases. The substrate specificity was further confirmed by heterologous expression of the gene encoding the predominant homolog. Although the most abundant transcripts of GH11 in Nasutitermes takasagoensis were phylogenetically placed among their homologs of Firmicutes, immunofluorescence microscopy, compositional binning of metagenomics contigs, and the genomic context of the homologs indicated that they are encoded by Spirochaetes and were most likely obtained by horizontal gene transfer among the intestinal microbiota. The major role of spirochetes in xylan degradation is unprecedented and assigns the fiber-associated Treponema clades in the hindgut of wood-feeding higher termites a prominent part in the breakdown of hemicelluloses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaku Tokuda
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, 903-0213 Okinawa, Japan;
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, 903-0213 Okinawa, Japan
| | - Aram Mikaelyan
- Research Group Insect Gut Microbiology and Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27607
| | - Chiho Fukui
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, 903-0213 Okinawa, Japan
| | - Yu Matsuura
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, Center of Molecular Biosciences, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, 903-0213 Okinawa, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Watanabe
- Biomolecular Mimetics Research Unit, Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, 305-8634 Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Masahiro Fujishima
- Department of Sciences, Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, Yoshida 1677-1, 753-8512 Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Andreas Brune
- Research Group Insect Gut Microbiology and Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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Lazuka A, Auer L, O’Donohue M, Hernandez-Raquet G. Anaerobic lignocellulolytic microbial consortium derived from termite gut: enrichment, lignocellulose degradation and community dynamics. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:284. [PMID: 30356893 PMCID: PMC6191919 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1282-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lignocellulose is the most abundant renewable carbon resource that can be used for biofuels and commodity chemicals production. The ability of complex microbial communities present in natural environments that are specialized in biomass deconstruction can be exploited to develop lignocellulose bioconversion processes. Termites are among the most abundant insects on earth and play an important role in lignocellulose decomposition. Although their digestive microbiome is recognized as a potential reservoir of microorganisms producing lignocellulolytic enzymes, the potential to enrich and maintain the lignocellulolytic activity of microbial consortia derived from termite gut useful for lignocellulose biorefinery has not been assessed. Here, we assessed the possibility of enriching a microbial consortium from termite gut and maintaining its lignocellulose degradation ability in controlled anaerobic bioreactors. RESULTS We enriched a termite gut-derived consortium able to transform lignocellulose into carboxylates under anaerobic conditions. To assess the impact of substrate natural microbiome on the enrichment and the maintenance of termite gut microbiome, the enrichment process was performed using both sterilized and non-sterilized straw. The enrichment process was carried out in bioreactors operating under industrially relevant aseptic conditions. Two termite gut-derived microbial consortia were obtained from Nasutitermes ephratae by sequential batch culture on raw wheat straw as the sole carbon source. Analysis of substrate loss, carboxylate production and microbial diversity showed that regardless of the substrate sterility, the diversity of communities selected by the enrichment process strongly changed compared to that observed in the termite gut. Nevertheless, the community obtained on sterile straw displayed higher lignocellulose degradation capacity; it showed a high xylanase activity and an initial preference for hemicellulose. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that it is possible to enrich and maintain a microbial consortium derived from termite gut microbiome in controlled anaerobic bioreactors, producing useful carboxylates from raw biomass. Our results suggest that the microbial community is shaped both by the substrate and the conditions that prevail during enrichment. However, when aseptic conditions are applied, it is also affected by the biotic pressure exerted by microorganisms naturally present in the substrate and in the surrounding environment. Besides the efficient lignocellulolytic consortium enriched in this study, our results revealed high levels of xylanase activity that can now be further explored for enzyme identification and overexpression for biorefinery purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adèle Lazuka
- Laboratoire d’Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés - LISBP, UMR5504, UMR792, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Université de Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
| | - Lucas Auer
- Laboratoire d’Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés - LISBP, UMR5504, UMR792, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Université de Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
| | - Michael O’Donohue
- Laboratoire d’Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés - LISBP, UMR5504, UMR792, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Université de Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
| | - Guillermina Hernandez-Raquet
- Laboratoire d’Ingénierie des Systèmes Biologiques et des Procédés - LISBP, UMR5504, UMR792, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Université de Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex 04, France
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Zhou J, Duan J, Gao M, Wang Y, Wang X, Zhao K. Diversity, Roles, and Biotechnological Applications of Symbiotic Microorganisms in the Gut of Termite. Curr Microbiol 2018; 76:755-761. [PMID: 29754180 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-018-1502-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Termites are global pests and can cause serious damage to buildings, crops, and plantation forests. The symbiotic intestinal flora plays an important role in the digestion of cellulose and nitrogen in the life of termites. Termites and their symbiotic microbes in the gut form a synergistic system. These organism work together to digest lignocellulose to make the termites grow on nitrogen deficient food. In this paper, the diversity of symbiotic microorganisms in the gut of termites, including protozoan, spirochetes, actinomycetes, fungus and bacteria, and their role in the digestion of lignocellulose and also the biotechnological applications of these symbiotic microorganisms are discussed. The high efficiency lignocellulose degradation systems of symbiotic microbes in termite gut not only provided a new way of biological energy development, but also has immense prospect in the application of cellulase enzymes. In addition, the study on the symbiotic microorganisms in the gut of termites will also provide a new method for the biological control of termites by the endophytic bacteria in the gut of termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Jiwei Duan
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Mingkun Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agriculture University, Harbin, 150030, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China. .,Heilongjiang University Library, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China.
| | - Kai Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China.
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Marynowska M, Goux X, Sillam-Dussès D, Rouland-Lefèvre C, Roisin Y, Delfosse P, Calusinska M. Optimization of a metatranscriptomic approach to study the lignocellulolytic potential of the higher termite gut microbiome. BMC Genomics 2017; 18:681. [PMID: 28863779 PMCID: PMC5580439 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4076-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Thanks to specific adaptations developed over millions of years, the efficiency of lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose decomposition of higher termite symbiotic system exceeds that of many other lignocellulose utilizing environments. Especially, the examination of its symbiotic microbes should reveal interesting carbohydrate-active enzymes, which are of primary interest for the industry. Previous metatranscriptomic reports (high-throughput mRNA sequencing) highlight the high representation and overexpression of cellulose and hemicelluloses degrading genes in the termite hindgut digestomes, indicating the potential of this technology in search for new enzymes. Nevertheless, several factors associated with the material sampling and library preparation steps make the metatranscriptomic studies of termite gut prokaryotic symbionts challenging. Methods In this study, we first examined the influence of the sampling strategy, including the whole termite gut and luminal fluid, on the diversity and the metatranscriptomic profiles of the higher termite gut symbiotic bacteria. Secondly, we evaluated different commercially available kits combined in two library preparative pipelines for the best bacterial mRNA enrichment strategy. Results We showed that the sampling strategy did not significantly impact the generated results, both in terms of the representation of the microbes and their transcriptomic profiles. Nevertheless collecting luminal fluid reduces the co-amplification of unwanted RNA species of host origin. Furthermore, for the four studied higher termite species, the library preparative pipeline employing Ribo-Zero Gold rRNA Removal Kit “Epidemiology” in combination with Poly(A) Purist MAG kit resulted in a more efficient rRNA and poly-A-mRNAdepletion (up to 98.44% rRNA removed) than the pipeline utilizing MICROBExpress and MICROBEnrich kits. High correlation of both Ribo-Zero and MICROBExpresse depleted gene expression profiles with total non-depleted RNA-seq data has been shown for all studied samples, indicating no systematic skewing of the studied pipelines. Conclusions We have extensively evaluated the impact of the sampling strategy and library preparation steps on the metatranscriptomic profiles of the higher termite gut symbiotic bacteria. The presented methodological approach has great potential to enhance metatranscriptomic studies of the higher termite intestinal flora and to unravel novel carbohydrate-active enzymes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-017-4076-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Marynowska
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Xavier Goux
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - David Sillam-Dussès
- Institute of Research for Development - Sorbonne Universités, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences - Paris, U242, 32 avenue Henri Varagnat, F-93140, Bondy, France.,University Paris 13 - Sorbonne Paris Cité, Laboratory of Experimental and Comparative Ethology, EA4443, 99 avenue Jean-Baptiste Clément, F-93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Corinne Rouland-Lefèvre
- Institute of Research for Development - Sorbonne Universités, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences - Paris, U242, 32 avenue Henri Varagnat, F-93140, Bondy, France
| | - Yves Roisin
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, 50 Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe Delfosse
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Magdalena Calusinska
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 41 rue du Brill, L-4422, Belvaux, Luxembourg.
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14
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de Sousa G, dos Santos VC, de Figueiredo Gontijo N, Constantino R, de Oliveira Paiva e Silva G, Bahia AC, Gomes FM, de Alcantara Machado E. Morphophysiological study of digestive system litter-feeding termite Cornitermes cumulans (Kollar, 1832). Cell Tissue Res 2017; 368:579-590. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2584-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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15
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Mikaelyan A, Meuser K, Brune A. Microenvironmental heterogeneity of gut compartments drives bacterial community structure in wood- and humus-feeding higher termites. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2016; 93:fiw210. [PMID: 27798065 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiw210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose in higher termites (family Termitidae) is accomplished by an exclusively prokaryotic gut microbiota. By deep sequencing of amplified 16S rRNA genes, we had identified diet as the primary determinant of bacterial community structure in a broad selection of termites specialized on lignocellulose in different stages of humification. Here, we increased the resolution of our approach to account for the pronounced heterogeneity in microenvironmental conditions and microbial activities in the major hindgut compartments. The community structure of consecutive gut compartments in each species strongly differed, but that of homologous compartments clearly converged, even among unrelated termites. While the alkaline P1 compartments of all termites investigated contained specific lineages of Clostridiales, the posterior hindgut compartments (P3, P4) differed between feeding groups and were predominantly colonized by putatively fiber-associated lineages of Spirochaetes, Fibrobacteres and the TG3 phylum (wood and grass feeders) or diverse assemblages of Clostridiales and Bacteroidetes (humus and soil feeders). The results underscore that bacterial community structure in termite guts is driven by microenvironmental factors, such as pH, available substrates and gradients of O2 and H2, and inspire investigations on the functional roles of specific bacterial taxa in lignocellulose and humus digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aram Mikaelyan
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Katja Meuser
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Brune
- Department of Biogeochemistry, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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16
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Kumara RP, Saitoh S, Aoyama H, Shinzato N, Tokuda G. Predominant expression and activity of vacuolar H(+)-ATPases in the mixed segment of the wood-feeding termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 78:1-8. [PMID: 25937057 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2015.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Revised: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The mixed segment is a unique part of the gut present only in the most apical lineage of termites and consists of a complex of overlapping mesenteric and proctodeal epithelia. In spite of its unique structure, the physiological functions of the mixed segment have been poorly studied. We performed transcriptome analysis to identify functional enzymes acting in the mixed segment of the wood-feeding higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis. We sequenced the transcripts (4563 isotigs) of the mixed segment and compared them with those of the midgut (4813 isotigs) and the first proctodeal segment (3629 isotigs). We found that vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) subunits were predominant in the mixed segment, which was confirmed by RT-qPCR analysis. The V-ATPase activity in these three tissues was in a good agreement with the expression patterns, suggesting that V-ATPase is a prevalent enzyme in the mixed segment of the termites. The results confirmed the proposed role of the mixed segment as a transporting epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohitha P Kumara
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Seikoh Saitoh
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Aoyama
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Naoya Shinzato
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Gaku Tokuda
- Graduate School of Engineering and Science, University of the Ryukyus, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan; Tropical Biosphere Research Center, COMB, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan.
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17
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Butera G, Ferraro C, Alonzo G, Colazza S, Quatrini P. The gut microbiota of the wood-feeding termite Reticulitermes lucifugus (Isoptera; Rhinotermitidae). ANN MICROBIOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s13213-015-1101-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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18
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Li H, Yang M, Chen Y, Zhu N, Lee CY, Wei JQ, Mo J. Investigation of Age Polyethism in Food Processing of the Fungus-Growing Termite Odontotermes formosanus (Blattodea: Termitidae) Using a Laboratory Artificial Rearing System. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 108:266-273. [PMID: 26470129 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tou005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory rearing systems are useful models for studying Rhinotermitid behavior. Information on the biology of fungus-growing termites, however, is limited because of the difficulty of rearing colonies in the laboratory settings. The physical structure of termite nests makes it impossible to photograph or to observe colonies in the field. In this study, an artificial rearing system for field-collected colonies of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) was developed to facilitate observation in the laboratory. We recorded colony activity within the artificial rearing system and documented a variety of social behaviors that occurred throughout the food processing of the colony. This complex miniature ecosystem was cooperatively organized via division of labor in the foraging and processing of plant materials, and the observed patterns largely resembled the caste and age-based principles present in Macrotermes colonies. This work extends our insights into polyethism in the subfamily Macrotermitinae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Li
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China.
| | - Mengyi Yang
- Institute of Xiaoshan Termite Control, Xiaoshan 311200, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yonger Chen
- Institute of Xiaoshan Termite Control, Xiaoshan 311200, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Na Zhu
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Chow-Yang Lee
- Urban Entomology Laboratory, Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
| | - Ji-Qian Wei
- Hangzhou General Station of Plant Protection and Soil Fertilizer, Hangzhou 310020, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Jianchu Mo
- Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
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Shelomi M, Jasper WC, Atallah J, Kimsey LS, Johnson BR. Differential expression of endogenous plant cell wall degrading enzyme genes in the stick insect (Phasmatodea) midgut. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:917. [PMID: 25331961 PMCID: PMC4221708 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea) are an exclusively leaf-feeding order of insects with no record of omnivory, unlike other "herbivorous" Polyneoptera. They represent an ideal system for investigating the adaptations necessary for obligate folivory, including plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDEs). However, their physiology and internal anatomy is poorly understood, with limited genomic resources available. RESULTS We de novo assembled transcriptomes for the anterior and posterior midguts of six diverse Phasmatodea species, with RNA-Seq on one exemplar species, Peruphasma schultei. The latter's assembly yielded >100,000 transcripts, with over 4000 transcripts uniquely or more highly expressed in specific midgut sections. Two to three dozen PCWDE encoding gene families, including cellulases and pectinases, were differentially expressed in the anterior midgut. These genes were also found in genomic DNA from phasmid brain tissue, suggesting endogenous production. Sequence alignments revealed catalytic sites on most PCWDE transcripts. While most phasmid PCWDE genes showed homology with those of other insects, the pectinases were homologous to bacterial genes. CONCLUSIONS We identified a large and diverse PCWDE repertoire endogenous to the phasmids. If these expressed genes are translated into active enzymes, then phasmids can theoretically break plant cell walls into their monomer components independently of microbial symbionts. The differential gene expression between the two midgut sections provides the first molecular hints as to their function in living phasmids. Our work expands the resources available for industrial applications of animal-derived PCWDEs, and facilitates evolutionary analysis of lower Polyneopteran digestive enzymes, including the pectinases whose origin in Phasmatodea may have been a horizontal transfer event from bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Shelomi
- />Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616 USA
- />Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - W Cameron Jasper
- />Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Joel Atallah
- />Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Lynn S Kimsey
- />Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616 USA
| | - Brian R Johnson
- />Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616 USA
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20
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Lima TDA, Pontual EV, Dornelles LP, Amorim PK, Sá RA, Coelho LCBB, Napoleão TH, Paiva PMG. Digestive enzymes from workers and soldiers of termite Nasutitermes corniger. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 176:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2014.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2014] [Revised: 06/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/02/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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21
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Ni J, Wu Y, Yun C, Yu M, Shen Y. cDNA cloning and heterologous expression of an endo-β-1,4-glucanase from the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi. ARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 86:151-164. [PMID: 24719302 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Major β-glucosidase (BG) and endo-β-1,4-glucanase (EG) activities were localized to the midgut of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi. Previously, we obtained the endogenous BG gene (MbmgBG1) from the midgut of M. barneyi. Here, we report the cDNA cloning of another endogenous cellulase, the EG protein MbEG1. This cellulase was partially purified from crude extract of the midgut of worker termites using zymogram analysis. Based on the N-terminal amino acid sequence and using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE), a full-length cDNA of 1,843 base pairs was obtained. This encoded 448 amino acids and the sequence was similar to that of the members of glycoside hydrolase family 9. The MbEG1 transcript was detected primarily in the midgut using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To confirm functional activity of MbEG1, heterologous expression was conducted in both Escherichia coli and Pichia pastoris expression systems. Results indicated that MbEG1 could be functionally expressed in P. pastoris. This study provides the information that may facilitate understanding of cellulolytic systems in fungus-growing termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfeng Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Shandong, China
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22
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Mikaelyan A, Strassert JFH, Tokuda G, Brune A. The fibre-associated cellulolytic bacterial community in the hindgut of wood-feeding higher termites (Nasutitermesspp.). Environ Microbiol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aram Mikaelyan
- Department of Biogeochemistry; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Marburg Germany
| | - Jürgen F. H. Strassert
- Department of Biogeochemistry; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Marburg Germany
| | - Gaku Tokuda
- Tropical Biosphere Research Center; COMB; University of the Ryukyus; Nishihara Okinawa Japan
| | - Andreas Brune
- Department of Biogeochemistry; Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology; Marburg Germany
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Shelomi M, Watanabe H, Arakawa G. Endogenous cellulase enzymes in the stick insect (Phasmatodea) gut. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 60:25-30. [PMID: 24216471 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2013.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2013] [Revised: 10/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
High cellulase (endo-beta-1,4-glucanase) activity was detected in the anterior midgut of the walking stick (Phasmatodea) Eurycantha calcarata. The enzyme was isolated and analyzed via mass spectrometry. RT-PCR revealed two endoglucanase genes, EcEG1 and EcEG2. Mascot analysis of the purified enzyme confirms it to be the product of gene EcEG1. Homologous cDNAs were also isolated from a distantly related species, Entoria okinawaensis, suggesting a general distribution of cellulase genes in phasmids. Phasmid cellulases showed high homology to endogenously-produced glycoside hydrolase family 9 (GH9) endoglucanases from insects, especially to those of termites, cockroaches, and crickets. The purified E. calcarata enzyme showed clear antigency against an anti-serum for termite GH9 cellulase, which, together with the sequence homology, further suggests an endogenous origin of the enzyme. This discovery suggests a possible nutritive value for cellulose in the leaf-feeding phasmids, unlike in herbivorous Lepidoptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Shelomi
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Hirofumi Watanabe
- Insect Mimetics Research Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Owashi 1-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan.
| | - Gaku Arakawa
- Insect Mimetics Research Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Owashi 1-2, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan
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Ni J, Tokuda G. Lignocellulose-degrading enzymes from termites and their symbiotic microbiota. Biotechnol Adv 2013; 31:838-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2012] [Revised: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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25
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Cairo JPLF, Oliveira LC, Uchima CA, Alvarez TM, Citadini APDS, Cota J, Leonardo FC, Costa-Leonardo AM, Carazzolle MF, Costa FF, Pereira GAG, Squina FM. Deciphering the synergism of endogenous glycoside hydrolase families 1 and 9 from Coptotermes gestroi. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 43:970-81. [PMID: 23917163 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Revised: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Termites can degrade up to 90% of the lignocellulose they ingest using a repertoire of endogenous and symbiotic degrading enzymes. Termites have been shown to secrete two main glycoside hydrolases, which are GH1 (EC 3.2.1.21) and GH9 (EC 3.2.1.4) members. However, the molecular mechanism for lignocellulose degradation by these enzymes remains poorly understood. The present study was conducted to understand the synergistic relationship between GH9 (CgEG1) and GH1 (CgBG1) from Coptotermes gestroi, which is considered the major urban pest of São Paulo State in Brazil. The goal of this work was to decipher the mode of operation of CgEG1 and CgBG1 through a comprehensive biochemical analysis and molecular docking studies. There was outstanding degree of synergy in degrading glucose polymers for the production of glucose as a result of the endo-β-1,4-glucosidase and exo-β-1,4-glucosidase degradation capability of CgEG1 in concert with the high catalytic performance of CgBG1, which rapidly converts the oligomers into glucose. Our data not only provide an increased comprehension regarding the synergistic mechanism of these two enzymes for cellulose saccharification but also give insight about the role of these two enzymes in termite biology, which can provide the foundation for the development of a number of important applied research topics, such as the control of termites as pests as well as the development of technologies for lignocellulose-to-bioproduct applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Paulo L Franco Cairo
- Laboratório Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Bioetanol (CTBE), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Rua Giuseppe Máximo Scolfaro, nº 10000, 13083-970 Campinas, SP, Brazil; Laboratório de Genômica e Expressão (LGE), Departamento de Genética, Evolução e Bioagentes da Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
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König H, Li L, Fröhlich J. The cellulolytic system of the termite gut. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2013; 97:7943-62. [PMID: 23900801 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-013-5119-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Revised: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The demand for the usage of natural renewable polymeric material is increasing in order to satisfy the future needs for energy and chemical precursors. Important steps in the hydrolysis of polymeric material and bioconversion can be performed by microorganisms. Over about 150 million years, termites have optimized their intestinal polysaccharide-degrading symbiosis. In the ecosystem of the "termite gut," polysaccharides are degraded from lignocellulose, such as cellulose and hemicelluloses, in 1 day, while lignin is only weakly attacked. The understanding of the principles of cellulose degradation in this natural polymer-degrading ecosystem could be helpful for the improvement of the biotechnological hydrolysis and conversion of cellulose, e.g., in the case of biogas production from natural renewable plant material in biogas plants. This review focuses on the present knowledge of the cellulose degradation in the termite gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmut König
- Institute of Microbiology and Wine Research, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
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Wu Y, Chi S, Yun C, Shen Y, Tokuda G, Ni J. Molecular cloning and characterization of an endogenous digestive β-glucosidase from the midgut of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 21:604-14. [PMID: 23126269 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2583.2012.01164.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
β-glucosidase from the midgut of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes barneyi was first cloned and characterized to gain a better understanding of cellulolytic systems in fungus-growing termites. β-glucosidase activity was proven to present primarily in the midgut of M. barneyi and two β-glucosidases were partially purified from the midgut. Based on the N-terminus sequence of one of the β-glucosidases, a full-length cDNA fragment of 1708 bp was obtained. This sequence encodes a 493 amino acid protein belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 1. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis proved that the β-glucosidase gene was primarily expressed in the midgut. β-glucosidase was expressed heterologously and biochemically characterized. Results indicate that β-glucosidase is an endogenous, midgut-origin termite digestive enzyme. It may have applications in understanding the mechanism of lignocellulose degradation in fungus-growing termites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Köhler T, Dietrich C, Scheffrahn RH, Brune A. High-resolution analysis of gut environment and bacterial microbiota reveals functional compartmentation of the gut in wood-feeding higher termites (Nasutitermes spp.). Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:4691-701. [PMID: 22544239 PMCID: PMC3370480 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00683-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 04/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Higher termites are characterized by a purely prokaryotic gut microbiota and an increased compartmentation of their intestinal tract. In soil-feeding species, each gut compartment has different physicochemical conditions and is colonized by a specific microbial community. Although considerable information has accumulated also for wood-feeding species of the genus Nasutitermes, including cellulase activities and metagenomic data, a comprehensive study linking physicochemical gut conditions with the structure of the microbial communities in the different gut compartments is lacking. In this study, we measured high-resolution profiles of H(2), O(2), pH, and redox potential in the gut of Nasutitermes corniger termites, determined the fermentation products accumulating in the individual gut compartments, and analyzed the bacterial communities in detail by pyrotag sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA genes. The dilated hindgut paunch (P3 compartment) was the only anoxic gut region, showed the highest density of bacteria, and accumulated H(2) to high partial pressures (up to 12 kPa). Molecular hydrogen is apparently produced by a dense community of Spirochaetes and Fibrobacteres, which also dominate the gut of other Nasutitermes species. All other compartments, such as the alkaline P1 compartment (average pH, 10.0), showed high redox potentials and comprised small but distinct populations characteristic for each gut region. In the crop and the posterior hindgut compartments, the community was even more diverse than in the paunch. Similarities in the communities of the posterior hindgut and crop suggested that proctodeal trophallaxis or coprophagy also occurs in higher termites. The large sampling depths of pyrotag sequencing in combination with the determination of important physicochemical parameters allow cautious conclusions concerning the functions of particular bacterial lineages in the respective gut sections to be drawn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Köhler
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Carsten Dietrich
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
| | - Rudolf H. Scheffrahn
- Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, Florida, USA
| | - Andreas Brune
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
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