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Dar MA, Xie R, Zabed HM, Pawar KD, Dhole NP, Sun J. Current paradigms and future challenges in harnessing gut bacterial symbionts of insects for biodegradation of plastic wastes. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38990171 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The ubiquitous incorporation of plastics into daily life, coupled with inefficient recycling practices, has resulted in the accumulation of millions of metric tons of plastic waste, that poses a serious threat to the Earth's sustainability. Plastic pollution, a global problem, disrupts the ecological balance and endangers various life forms. Efforts to combat plastic pollution are underway, with a promising avenue being biological degradation facilitated by certain insects and their symbiotic gut microorganisms, particularly bacteria. This review consolidates existing knowledge on plastic degradation by insects and their influence on gut microbiota. Additionally, it delves into the potential mechanisms employed by insects in symbiosis with gut bacteria, exploring the bioconversion of waste plastics into value-added biodegradable polymers through mineralization. These insights hold significant promise for the bio-upcycling of plastic waste, opening new horizons for future biomanufacturing of high-value chemicals from plastic-derived compounds. Finally, we weigh the pros and cons of future research endeavors related to the bioprospection of plastic-degrading bacteria from underexplored insect species. We also underscore the importance of bioengineering depolymerases with novel characteristics, aiming for their application in the remediation and valorization of waste plastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudasir A Dar
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rongrong Xie
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Hossain M Zabed
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kiran D Pawar
- School of Nanoscience and Biotechnology, Shivaji University, Vidyanagar, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India
| | - Neeraja P Dhole
- Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Jianzhong Sun
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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Chen HY, Wang CY, Zhang B, He Z, Yang RC, Zhang HH, Hu QQ, Zhao ZY, Zhao M. Gut microbiota diversity in a dung beetle (Catharsius molossus) across geographical variations and brood ball-mediated microbial transmission. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304908. [PMID: 38905245 PMCID: PMC11192329 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The dung beetle primarily feeds on the feces of herbivorous animals and play a crucial role in ecological processes like material cycles and soil improvement. This study aims to explore the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota of Catharsius molossus (a renowned dung beetle originating from China and introduced to multiple countries for its ecological value) and exploring whether these gut microbes are transmitted vertically across generations. Using 16S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequencing techniques, we described the diversity and composition of gut microbes in C. molossus from different localities and different developmental stages (Egg, young larvae and old larvae). We discovered that the diversity of gut microbiota of dung beetles varied obviously among different geographical localities and different developmental stages, and we also discussed the potential influencing factors. Interestingly, the microbial community structure within the brood balls is more similar to male dung beetle than to that of females, which is consistent with the observation that the brood ball is constructed by the male dung beetle, with the female laying egg in it at the final step. This unique breeding method facilitates offspring in inheriting microbial communities from both the mother and the father. Initially, the larvae's gut microbiota closely mirrors that of the parental gift in these brood balls. As larvae grow, significant changes occur in their gut microbiota, including an increase in symbiotic bacteria like Lactococcus and Enterococcus. Analysis of the gut bacteria of adult dung beetles across various localities and different developmental stages identified nine core genera in adults, contributing to 67.80% of the total microbial abundance, and 11 core genera in beetles at different developmental stages, accounting for 49.13% of the total. Notably, seven genera were common between these two core groups. Our results suggest that Parental gifts can play a role in the vertical transmission of microbes, and the abundance of probiotics increases with larval development, supporting the hypothesis that "larval feeding behavior occurs in two stages: larvae first feed on parental gifts to acquire necessary microbes, then enrich symbiotic microbiota through consuming their own feces."
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Yu Chen
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, China
- College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming, China
| | - Cheng-Ye Wang
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
| | - Zhao He
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming, China
| | - Ren-can Yang
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
| | - Hong-hui Zhang
- College of Biodiversity Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Qing-quan Hu
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Zhao
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming, China
| | - Min Zhao
- Institute of Highland Forest Science, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Kunming, China
- Key Laboratory of Breeding and Utilization of Resource Insects, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming, China
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Dar MA, Xie R, Jing L, Qing X, Ali S, Pandit RS, Shaha CM, Sun J. Elucidating the structure, and composition of bacterial symbionts in the gut regions of wood-feeding termite, Coptotermes formosanus and their functional profile towards lignocellulolytic systems. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1395568. [PMID: 38846576 PMCID: PMC11155305 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1395568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The wood-feeding termite, Coptotermes formosanus, presents an efficient lignocellulolytic system, offering a distinctive model for the exploration of host-microbial symbiosis towards lignocellulose degradation. Despite decades of investigation, understanding the diversity, community structure, and functional profiles of bacterial symbionts within specific gut regions, particularly the foregut and midgut of C. formosanus, remains largely elusive. In light of this knowledge gap, our efforts focused on elucidating the diversity, community composition and functions of symbiotic bacteria inhabiting the foregut, midgut, and hindgut of C. formosanus via metagenomics. The termite harbored a diverse community of bacterial symbionts encompassing 352 genera and 26 known phyla, exhibiting an uneven distribution across gut regions. Notably, the hindgut displayed a higher relative abundance of phyla such as Bacteroidetes (56.9%) and Spirochetes (23.3%). In contrast, the foregut and midgut were predominantly occupied by Proteobacteria (28.9%) and Firmicutes (21.2%) after Bacteroidetes. The foregut harbored unique phyla like Candidate phylum_TM6 and Armatimonadetes. At the family level, Porphyromonadaceae (28.1, 40.6, and 53.5% abundance in foregut, midgut, and hindgut, respectively) and Spirochaetaceae (foregut = 9%, midgut = 16%, hindgut = 21.6%) emerged as dominant families in the termite's gut regions. Enriched operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were most abundant in the foregut (28), followed by the hindgut (14), while the midgut exhibited enrichment of only two OTUs. Furthermore, the functional analyses revealed distinct influences of bacterial symbionts on various metabolic pathways, particularly carbohydrate and energy metabolisms of the host. Overall, these results underscore significant variations in the structure of the bacterial community among different gut regions of C. formosanus, suggesting unique functional roles of specific bacteria, thereby inspiring further investigations to resolve the crosstalk between host and microbiomes in individual gut-regions of the termite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudasir A. Dar
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Rongrong Xie
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Luohui Jing
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xu Qing
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Shehbaz Ali
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | | | - Chaitali M. Shaha
- Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India
| | - Jianzhong Sun
- School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Biofuels Institute, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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Dar MA, Xie R, Zabed HM, Ali S, Zhu D, Sun J. Termite Microbial Symbiosis as a Model for Innovative Design of Lignocellulosic Future Biorefinery: Current Paradigms and Future Perspectives. BIOMASS 2024; 4:180-201. [DOI: 10.3390/biomass4010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The hunt for renewable and alternative fuels has driven research towards the biological conversion of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) into biofuels, including bioethanol and biohydrogen. Among the natural biomass utilization systems (NBUS), termites represent a unique and easy-to-access model system to study host–microbe interactions towards lignocellulose bioconversion/valorization. Termites have gained significant interest due to their highly efficient lignocellulolytic systems. The wood-feeding termites apply a unique and stepwise process for the hydrolysis of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose via biocatalytic processes; therefore, mimicking their digestive metabolism and physiochemical gut environments might lay the foundation for an innovative design of nature-inspired biotechnology. This review highlights the gut system of termites, particularly the wood-feeding species, as a unique model for future biorefinery. The gut system of termites is a treasure-trove for prospecting novel microbial species, including protists, bacteria, and fungi, having higher biocatalytic efficiencies and biotechnological potentials. The significance of potential bacteria and fungi for harnessing the enzymes appropriate for lignocellulosic biorefinery is also discussed. Termite digestomes are rich sources of lignocellulases and related enzymes that could be utilized in various industrial processes and biomass-related applications. Consideration of the host and symbiont as a single functioning unit will be one of the most crucial strategies to expedite developments in termite-modeled biotechnology in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudasir A. Dar
- Biofuels Institute, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Rongrong Xie
- Biofuels Institute, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Hossain M. Zabed
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, 230 Wai Huan Xi Road, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Shehbaz Ali
- Biofuels Institute, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Daochen Zhu
- Biofuels Institute, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Jianzhong Sun
- Biofuels Institute, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
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Su RR, Pan BQ, Luo YX, Zheng XL, Lu W, Wang XY. Characterization of bacterial diversity and screening of cellulose-degrading bacteria in the gut system of Glenea cantor (Fabricius) larvae. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1340168. [PMID: 38456003 PMCID: PMC10919226 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1340168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The intestinal bacteria of longhorn beetles would be ideal targets for pest control and lignocellulosic resources by destroying or exploiting their cellulose-degrading function. This article aims to investigate the diversity and community structure of intestinal bacteria the oligophagous longhorn beetle Glenea cantor. Additionally, it seeks to identify the presence of lignocellulose-degrading bacteria in the gut, and explore their role in consuming host kapok trees Bombax malabaricum. In this study, the bacterial community from G. cantor was examined by Illumina sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) targeting the V3 and V4 regions. A total of 563,201 valid sequences and 814 OTUs were obtained. The dominant phyla were Proteobacteria, and the dominant genera were Acinetobacter and Lactococcus. The analysis of microbial diversity revealed a high bacterial diversity in the samples, with the gut bacteria playing a crucial role in the physiological activities of the host, particularly, 9 genera of intestinal bacteria with cellulose degradation function were found, highlighting their vital role in cellulose degradation. Five strains of cellulose-degrading bacteria, belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, were obtained from the intestinal tract of G. cantor larvae using traditional isolation and culture techniques as well as 16S rDNA sequencing. Among these strains, A4 exhibited a cellulase activity of 94.42 ± 0.42 U/mL, while A5 displayed the highest filter paper enzyme activity of 127.46 ± 3.54 U/mL. These results offered valuable insights into potential targets for pest control through internal attack digestion and cellulose-degrading bacteria in longhorn beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xiao-Yun Wang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric-Environment and Agric-Products Safety, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
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Xie R, Dong C, Wang S, Danso B, Dar MA, Pandit RS, Pawar KD, Geng A, Zhu D, Li X, Xu Q, Sun J. Host-Specific Diversity of Culturable Bacteria in the Gut Systems of Fungus-Growing Termites and Their Potential Functions towards Lignocellulose Bioconversion. INSECTS 2023; 14:403. [PMID: 37103218 PMCID: PMC10146277 DOI: 10.3390/insects14040403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Fungus-growing termites are eusocial insects that represent one of the most efficient and unique systems for lignocellulose bioconversion, evolved from a sophisticated symbiosis with lignocellulolytic fungi and gut bacterial communities. Despite a plethora of information generated during the last century, some essential information on gut bacterial profiles and their unique contributions to wood digestion in some fungus-growing termites is still inadequate. Hence, using the culture-dependent approach, the present study aims to assess and compare the diversity of lignocellulose-degrading bacterial symbionts within the gut systems of three fungus-growing termites: Ancistrotermes pakistanicus, Odontotermes longignathus, and Macrotermes sp. A total of 32 bacterial species, belonging to 18 genera and 10 different families, were successfully isolated and identified from three fungus-growing termites using Avicel or xylan as the sole source of carbon. Enterobacteriaceae was the most dominant family represented by 68.1% of the total bacteria, followed by Yersiniaceae (10.6%) and Moraxellaceae (9%). Interestingly, five bacterial genera such as Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter, Trabulsiella, and Kluyvera were common among the tested termites, while the other bacteria demonstrated a termite-specific distribution. Further, the lignocellulolytic potential of selected bacterial strains was tested on agricultural waste to evaluate their capability for lignocellulose bioconversion. The highest substrate degradation was achieved with E. chengduensis MA11 which degraded 45.52% of rice straw. All of the potential strains showed endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and xylanase activities depicting a symbiotic role towards the lignocellulose digestion within the termite gut. The above results indicated that fungus-growing termites harbor a diverse array of bacterial symbionts that differ from species to species, which may play an inevitable role to enhance the degradation efficacy in lignocellulose decomposition. The present study further elaborates our knowledge about the termite-bacteria symbiosis for lignocellulose bioconversion which could be helpful to design a future biorefinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongrong Xie
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Chenchen Dong
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Shengjie Wang
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Blessing Danso
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Mudasir A. Dar
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- Department of Zoology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India
| | | | - Kiran D. Pawar
- School of Nanoscience and Biotechnology, Shivaji University, Kolhapur 416004, India
| | - Alei Geng
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Daochen Zhu
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Xia Li
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Jianzhong Sun
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
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Metagenome-Assembled Genome Sequence of a Strain of Burkholderia cepacia Isolated from the Gut of Macrotermes bellicosus in Nigeria. Microbiol Resour Announc 2023; 12:e0077722. [PMID: 36598235 PMCID: PMC9872617 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00777-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The efficiency of the termite Macrotermes bellicosus at digesting lignocellulose is due to its gut bacterial symbionts. We report the metagenome-assembled genome sequence of Burkholderia cepacia UJ_SKK_1.2, reconstructed from metagenomes produced from Macrotermes bellicosus gut microbiota. The 7,460,271-bp genome obtained consists of 6,763 protein-coding sequences, with 6,719 functionally assigned genes and 59 RNA genes.
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