Bacteria associated with cockroaches: health risk or biotechnological opportunity?

Abstract

Cockroaches have existed for 300 million years and more than 4600 extant species have been described. Throughout their evolution, cockroaches have been associated with bacteria, and today Blattabacterium species flourish within specialized bacteriocytes, recycling nitrogen from host waste products. Cockroaches can disseminate potentially pathogenic bacteria via feces and other deposits, particularly members of the family Enterobacteriaceae, but also Staphylococcus and Mycobacterium species, and thus, they should be cleared from sites where hygiene is essential, such as hospitals and kitchens. On the other hand, cockroaches also carry bacteria that may produce metabolites or proteins with potential industrial applications. For example, an antibiotic-producing Streptomyces strain was isolated from the gut of the American cockroach Periplaneta americana. Other cockroach-associated bacteria, including but not limited to Bacillus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas species, can also produce bioactive metabolites that may be suitable for development as pharmaceuticals or plant protection products. Enzymes that degrade industrially relevant substrates, or that convert biomasses into useful chemical precursors, are also expressed in cockroach-derived bacteria and could be deployed for use in the food/feed, paper, oil, or cosmetics industries. The analysis of cockroach gut microbiomes has revealed a number of lesser-studied bacteria that may form the basis of novel taxonomic groups. Bacteria associated with cockroaches can therefore be dangerous or useful, and this review explores the bacterial clades that may provide opportunities for biotechnological exploitation. Key points • Members of the Enterobacteriaceae are the most frequently cultivated bacteria from cockroaches. • Cultivation-independent studies have revealed a diverse community, led by the phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. • Although cockroaches may carry pathogenic bacteria, most strains are innocuous and may be useful for biotechnological applications.

Antagonistic Activity of Bacteria Isolated from the Periplaneta americana L. Gut against Some Multidrug-Resistant Human Pathogens

“…The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance among human and animal pathogens represents a major health threat. It is projected that by 2050, infections from antibiotic-resistant pathogens will exceed ten million cases [ 15 , 42 , 43 , 44 ], which will increase the cost of treatment and require longer hospitalizations. The emergence of this resistance to most conventional antibiotics has forced researchers to look for new promising alternatives.…”

“…Miroslava et al 2020 isolated and identified the gut bacteria of Apis mellifera and evaluated its antagonistic effect against Paenibacillus larvae, which causes American foulbrood (AFB) in honeybees [ 48 ]. The results of Guzman and Vilcinskas [ 15 ] revealed that the gut bacteria of cockroaches produce active molecule(s) with potent antibacterial properties. In their specific niches, microorganisms compete for nutrients and space by producing defensive molecules.…”

“…Streptomyces , Bacillus , Enterococcus , and Pseudomonas were the most commonly reported genera from the cockroach gut [ 14 ]. In view of the wide range of cockroach habitats and of their species diversity, the gut-inhabiting bacteria of most of them are hardly known [ 15 ]. The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana L. (Blattidae), is one of the species for which we have insufficient knowledge of their gut microbiota [ 16 ].…”

Entomobacter blattae gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the Acetobacteraceae isolated from the gut of the cockroach Gromphadorhina portentosa

“…Overall, the literature reveals that AAB are prominent members of insect gut microbiota. Most reports concerning cockroach-associated bacteria refer to pathogens, but cockroaches also harbour diverse non-pathogenic bacteria that may be useful in biotechnology as a source of novel enzymes or specialized metabolites [21]. Here we report the isolation and description of a proposed new genus of the family Acetobacteraceae , isolated from the gut of the Madagascar hissing cockroach Gromphadorhina portentosa .…”

Insects, Rodents, and Pets as Reservoirs, Vectors, and Sentinels of Antimicrobial Resistance

“…Following the capture of the host insects or animals such as cockroaches and flies, the microorganisms can be isolated using classical methods (e.g., washing with saline water) and then subjected to standard protocols for antimicrobial susceptibility testing [ 32 , 33 , 39 , 40 , 55 , 56 , 57 ]. To identify antibiotic susceptible microorganisms or ARB in a sample, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of antibiotics to particular bacteria are predefined [ 58 ].…”