Bacterial microbiome of Coptotermes curvignathus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) reflects the coevolution of species and dietary pattern. (17th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: King, Jie Hung Patricia; Mahadi, Nor Muhammad; Bong, Choon Fah Joseph; Ong, Kian Huat; Hassan, Osman
• Is Part Of: Insect science. Volume 21:Number 5(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 584
• Page End: 596
• Publication Date: 2013-12-17
• Subjects: Insects -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; 595.705
• DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1672-9609

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Coptotermes curvignathus</italic> Holmgren is capable of feeding on living trees. This ability is attributed to their effective digestive system that is furnished by the termite's own cellulolytic enzymes and cooperative enzymes produced by their gut microbes. In this study, the identity of an array of diverse microbes residing in the gut of <italic>C. curvignathus</italic> was revealed by sequencing the near‐full‐length 16S rRNA genes. A total of 154 bacterial phylotypes were found. The <italic>Bacteroidetes</italic> was the most abundant phylum and accounted for about 65% of the gut microbial profile. This is followed by <italic>Firmicutes</italic>, <italic>Actinobacteria</italic>, <italic>Spirochetes</italic>, <italic>Proteobacteria</italic>, TM7, <italic>Deferribacteres</italic>, <italic>Planctomycetes</italic>, <italic>Verrucomicrobia</italic>, and Termite Group 1. Based on the phylogenetic study, this symbiosis can be a result of long coevolution of gut enterotypes with the phylogenic distribution, strong selection pressure in the gut, and other speculative pressures that determine bacterial biome to follow. The phylogenetic distribution of cloned rRNA genes in the bacterial domain that was considerably different from other termite reflects the strong selection pressures in the gut where a proportional composition of gut microbiome of <italic>C. curvignathus</italic> has established. The selection pressures could be linked to the unique diet preference of <italic>C. curvignathus</italic> that profoundly feeds on living trees. The delicate gut microbiome composition may provide available nutrients to the host as well as potential protection against opportunistic pathogen.</p> </abstract>