Phylogenetic diversity of ‘Endomicrobia’ and their specific affiliation with termite gut flagellates

Ikeda-Ohtsubo, Wakako; Desai, Mahesh S.; Stingl, Ulrich; Brune, Andreas

doi:10.1099/mic.0.2007/009217-0

Cited by 73 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…There is abundant evidence that the bacterial symbionts of most gut flagellates are specific for and even co-speciate with their respective hosts (for example, Stingl et al, 2005;Noda et al, 2006Noda et al, , 2007Noda et al, , 2009Ikeda-Ohtsubo et al, 2007;Ohkuma et al, 2007;Ikeda-Ohtsubo and Brune, 2009;Desai et al, 2010;Strassert et al, 2010). The nitrogenfixing nature of the bacterial symbionts has been documented for at least two of these symbiotic pairs (Hongoh et al, 2008b and this study) and may indeed be the evolutionary driver for many of these associations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Bacteroidales ectosymbionts of gut flagellates shape the nitrogen-fixing community in dry-wood termites

Desai

Brune

2011

The ISME Journal

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Although it is well documented that the lack of nitrogen in the diet of wood-feeding termites is compensated by the nitrogen-fixing capacity of their gut microbiota, the bacteria responsible for this activity are largely unknown. Here, we analyzed the diversity and expression of nitrogenase genes (homologs of nifH) in four species of dry-wood termites (Kalotermitidae), which thrive on a particularly nitrogen-poor resource. Although each species harbored a highly diverse suite of termite-specific homologs in their microliter-sized hindgut, only a core set related to nifH genes of Treponema and Azoarcus spp., 'Azobacteroides pseudotrichonymphae', the first member of the Bacteroidales identified as a diazotroph, and termite-gut-specific anfH genes of hitherto unknown origin were preferentially expressed. Transcription patterns corroborated that the populations of active diazotrophs differ fundamentally between termite genera. Capillary-picked suspensions of the flagellates Devescovina arta and Snyderella tabogae revealed that their bacterial ectosymbionts each possess two paralogs of nifH, which apparently have been acquired consecutively during evolution of Bacteroidales, but only one of them (anfH) is actively expressed. Transcription patterns correlated neither with the molybdenum content of the diet nor with intestinal hydrogen concentrations, measured with microsensors. We propose that the nitrogen-fixing community in different dry-wood termites is shaped by the symbionts of their specific flagellate populations. Our findings suggest that the diazotrophic nature of 'Armantifilum devescovinae' has an important role in the nitrogen metabolism of dry-wood termites and is the driving force of co-evolution with its flagellate host.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Bacteroidales ectosymbionts of gut flagellates shape the nitrogen-fixing community in dry-wood termites

Desai

Brune

2011

The ISME Journal

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“…The diversity of Endomicrobia lineages of lower termites reflects a specific affiliation with their flagellate hosts. Notably, all Endomicrobia associated with flagellates of the genus Trichonympha collectively form a monophyletic group, which suggests cospeciation of this symbiotic pair (Ikeda-Ohtsubo et al 2007). Previous studies focused on the symbiotic protozoan community of R. lucifugus have described five species: Dynenympha sp., Pyrsonympha flagellata Leidy, Spyrotriconympha flagellata Grassi e Foà, Holomastigotes elongatum, and Trichonympha agilis Leidy (Varrica 2004).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Members of this phylum, the so-called Endomicrobia (Hugenholtz et al 1998), often predominate in the termite gut microbial communities (Ohkuma et al 2007) as intracellular symbionts of cellulolytic gut protists (Ikeda-Ohtsubo et al 2007). In R. lucifugus TG-1 bacteria account for 12 % of the clone library, similar to the sister taxon Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe) .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In R. lucifugus TG-1 bacteria account for 12 % of the clone library, similar to the sister taxon Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe) . The prokaryotic symbionts colonize the cell surface, the cytoplasm, and sometimes the nucleus of their host flagellates in the termite gut (Ikeda-Ohtsubo et al 2007). The functional basis for such flagellate-prokaryote associations is largely unknown (Brune and Stingl 2006), but TG-1 bacteria are believed to play a key role in the symbiotic system of the termite gut by supplying nitrogenous compounds to their host protists and the termites (Hongoh et al 2008).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The gut microbiota of the wood-feeding termite Reticulitermes lucifugus (Isoptera; Rhinotermitidae)

et al. 2015

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Termite gut is host to a complex microbial community consisting of prokaryotes, and in some cases flagellates, responsible for the degradation of lignocellulosic material. Here we report data concerning the analysis of the gut microbiota of Reticulitermes lucifugus (Rossi), a lower termite species that lives in underground environments and is widespread in Italy, where it causes damage to wood structures of historical and artistic monuments. A 16S rRNA gene clone library revealed that the R. lucifugus gut is colonized by members of five phyla in the domain Bacteria: Firmicutes (49 % of clones), Proteobacteria (24 %), Spirochaetes (14 %), the candidatus TG1 phylum (12 %), and Bacteroidetes (1 %). A collection of cellulolytic aerobic bacteria was isolated from the gut of R. lucifugus by enrichment cultures on different cellulose and lignocellulose substrates. Results showed that the largest amount of culturable cellulolytic bacteria of R. lucifugus belongs to Firmicutes in the genera Bacillus and Paenibacillus (67 %). These isolates are also able to grow on xylan and show the largest clear zone diameter in the Congo red test. Reticulitermes lucifugus hosts a diverse community of bacteria and could be considered an acceptable source of hydrolytic enzymes for biotechnological applications.

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“…These characteristic traits provide an adaptive advantage for bifidobacteria to persist in the gastrointestinal tract and allow them to survive, multiply and colonize in this particular environment. Another bacterial group inhabiting the termite gut ecosystem is also an interesting example 44,47,77 . Termites harbor an abundance and diversity of gut bacteria, which are thought to play essential roles in the carbon and nitrogen metabolism of the host termites.…”

Section: Striking Similarities Between Sake and Beer Spoilage Labmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sake and Beer Spoilage Lactic Acid Bacteria - A Review

Suzuki

Asano

Iijima

et al. 2008

Journal of the Institute of Brewing

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Japanese rice wine, sake, is a traditional alcoholic beverage in Japan. Similar to the case with beer, sake is known to be microbiologically stable and most microorganisms fail to grow in sake. This is principally due to its high ethanol concentration that reaches approximately 20% (v/v) in undiluted sake products and 15% (v/v) in finished products. Despite the high level of ethanol content, spoilage incidents occasionally occur in sake, due to the presence of highly ethanol-tolerant lactobacilli, known as hiochi-bacteria. Hiochi-bacteria are generally composed of two groups of lactobacilli, hiochi-lactobacilli and true hiochi-bacilli. The former group of lactobacilli is less ethanoland heat-tolerant, and therefore rarely poses a problem to sake products. In contrast, the true hiochi-bacilli exhibit extraordinarily high ethanol tolerance and cause spoilage incidents in sake, conferring acidity and off-flavors, such as diacetyl, in spoiled products. From a taxonomic standpoint, the true hiochi-bacilli mainly consist of two Lactobacillus species, L. fructivorans and L. homohiochi. The strains of true hiochi-bacilli prefer sake-like environments, and the presence of ethanol and mevalonic acid, in combination with low pH milieu, is essential or stimulatory for the growth of these bacteria. Interestingly, the type strain of L. fructivorans does not show such characteristics, suggesting the true hiochi-bacilli are profoundly adapted to sake environments. Although beer spoilage lactic acid bacteria do not have close taxonomic relationships with true hiochi-bacilli, there are striking similarities between these two groups of spoilage lactic acid bacteria. In this review, unique features of sake and beer spoilage lactic acid bacteria are discussed in comparative terms.

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Phylogenetic diversity of ‘Endomicrobia’ and their specific affiliation with termite gut flagellates

Cited by 73 publications

References 35 publications

Bacteroidales ectosymbionts of gut flagellates shape the nitrogen-fixing community in dry-wood termites

Bacteroidales ectosymbionts of gut flagellates shape the nitrogen-fixing community in dry-wood termites

The gut microbiota of the wood-feeding termite Reticulitermes lucifugus (Isoptera; Rhinotermitidae)

Sake and Beer Spoilage Lactic Acid Bacteria - A Review

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