The nest fungus of the lower termite Reticulitermes labralis

Ye, Chenxu; Li, Jing; Ran, Yuehua; Rasheed, Humaira; Xing, Lianxi; Su, Xiaoqing

doi:10.1038/s41598-019-40229-x

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Reticulitermes labralis , one of wood-feeding lower termites, is an effective natural lignocellulose decomposer [ 20 ]. Complex microbial composition is critical to the digestive function of the gut system of termites, which enables termites to degrade lignocellulose biomass [ 10 – 12 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whole genome sequencing and the lignocellulose degradation potential of Bacillus subtilis RLI2019 isolated from the intestine of termites

Liu,

Zhang,

Gong

et al. 2023

Biotechnol Biofuels

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Background Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant and renewable terrestrial raw material for conversion into bioproducts and biofuels. However, the low utilization efficiency of lignocellulose causes environmental pollution and resource waste, which limits the large-scale application of bioconversion. The degradation of lignocellulose by microorganisms is an efficient and cost-effective way to overcome the challenge of utilizing plant biomass resources. This work aimed to screen valuable cellulolytic bacteria, explore its molecular mechanism from genomic insights, and investigate the ability of the strain to biodegrade wheat straw. Results Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) RLI2019 was isolated from the intestine of Reticulitermes labralis. The strain showed comprehensive enzyme activities related to lignocellulose degradation, which were estimated as 4.06, 1.97, 4.12, 0.74, and 17.61 U/mL for endoglucanase, β-glucosidase, PASC enzyme, filter paper enzyme, and xylanase, respectively. Whole genome sequencing was performed to better understand the genetic mechanism of cellulose degradation. The genome size of B. subtilis RLI2019 was 4,195,306 bp with an average GC content of 43.54%, and the sequence characteristics illustrated an extremely high probability (99.41%) as a probiotic. The genome contained 4,381 protein coding genes with an average GC content of 44.20%, of which 145 genes were classified into six carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) families and 57 subfamilies. Eight cellulose metabolism enzyme-related genes and nine hemicellulose metabolism enzyme-related genes were annotated by the CAZyme database. The starch and sucrose metabolic pathway (ko00500) was the most enriched with 46 genes in carbohydrate metabolism. B. subtilis RLI2019 was co-cultured with wheat straw for 7 days of fermentation, the contents of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicellulose, and lignin were significantly reduced by 5.8%, 10.3%, 1.0%, and 4.7%, respectively. Moreover, the wheat straw substrate exhibited 664.9 μg/mL of reducing sugars, 1.22 U/mL and 6.68 U/mL of endoglucanase and xylanase activities, respectively. Furthermore, the fiber structures were effectively disrupted, and the cellulose crystallinity was significantly reduced from 40.2% to 36.9%. Conclusions The complex diversity of CAZyme composition mainly contributed to the strong cellulolytic attribute of B. subtilis RLI2019. These findings suggest that B. subtilis RLI2019 has favorable potential for biodegradation applications, thus it can be regarded as a promising candidate bacterium for lignocellulosic biomass degradation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Whole genome sequencing and the lignocellulose degradation potential of Bacillus subtilis RLI2019 isolated from the intestine of termites

Liu,

Zhang,

Gong

et al. 2023

Biotechnol Biofuels

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“…Interaction study between termites and fungi were discussed by many researchers (Ye et al 2019). The common reported EPF were derived from the genus Aspergillus spp., Metarhizium spp., Beauveria spp., Isaria spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficacy of soil-borne entomopathogenic fungi against subterranean termite, Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Kamarudin

Abdullah

Lau

2022

Egypt J Biol Pest Control

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Background Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) is a subterranean termite that poses serious damage to oil palm and rubber trees. Chemical pesticides could cause negative effect to human and the environment in long-term usage. The use of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) to suppress the population of subterranean termites is in favour when compared to chemical pesticides because they do not harm to the environment and non-target organisms. The study aimed to isolate and identify the EPF from the soil using yellow mealworm larvae of Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus in the baiting method and assessed their efficacy against subterranean termite, C. curvignathus. Result Eleven EPF isolates were successfully isolated from the oil palm plantation in Universiti Putra Malaysia, namely: Aspergillus auricomus (UPM-A1C-1), A. caelatus (UPM-A1C-2), Metarhizium anisopliae var anisopliae (UPM-A2C-1, UPM-A3C-1, UPM-A3C-2, UPM-A5C-1 and UPM-A10C-1), Purpureocillium lilacinum (UPM-A2C-3 and UPM-A7C-1), Cordyceps javanica (UPM-A2C-5), and M. pinghaense (UPM-A13C-2). The identity of these EPF were confirmed by morphological and molecular characteristics. All EPF yielded 100% mortality in C. curvignathus in 10 days after inoculation (DAI), except UPM-A1C-1 and UPM-A1C-2 after exposure to 1 × 107 conidia ml−1. UPM-A2C-5 Cordyceps javanica yielded the highest mycelia formation (69%) after 6 DAI. The LT50 values varied from 3.90 to 7.75 days. UPM A2C-1 M. anisopliae var anisopliae showed the lowest LT50 (3.90 days), while UPM-A1C-1 Aspergillus auricomus showed the highest LT50 (7.75 days). The lowest LC50 value (1.49 × 105 conidia ml−1) was recorded in UPM A2C-1 M. anisopliae var anisopliae. Conclusions The present study confirmed the soilborne EPF with potential insecticidal activity against C. curvignathus. UPM-A2C-1 M. anisopliae var anisopliae was a potential biological control agent against Subterranean termite, C. curvignathus due to its virulence score and high percentage of mycelia formation after 6 DAI. The data reported in the present study, particularly using P. lilacinum, M. pinghaense, Aspergillus auricomus, A. caelatus and C. javanica with potential insecticidal activity against C. curvignathus, are new records.

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“…However, the termite balls succeed in intruding termite nests by mimicking termite eggs; termite workers take care of the termite balls in a manner identical to that of eggs to prevent them from desiccation and pathogen infection (Matsuura et al, 2000). The termite balls are the sclerotia of an athelioid fungus of the genus Fibularhizoctonia (Matsuura et al, 2000), which morphologically mimics the eggs of Reticulitermes termites by matching the diameter and the smooth surface texture of the eggs (Matsuura et al, 2000;Matsuura, 2006;Yashiro and Matsuura, 2007;Ye et al, 2019). Furthermore, the termite ball chemically mimics the eggs by expressing β-glucosidase, a component of the termite egg recognition pheromone (Matsuura et al, 2009).…”

Section: Interspecific Interaction Via Termite Pheromonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of Termite Pheromones: Multifaceted, Context-Dependent, and Rational Chemical Communications

Mitaka

Akino

2021

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Termite colonies, composed of large numbers of siblings, develop an important caste-based division of labor; individuals in these societies interact via intra- or intercaste chemical communications. For more than 50 years, termites have been known to use a variety of pheromones to perform tasks necessary for maintenance of their societies, similar to eusocial hymenopterans. Although trail-following pheromones have been chemically identified in various termites, other types of pheromones have not been elucidated chemically or functionally. In the past decade, however, chemical compositions and biological functions have been successfully identified for several types of termite pheromones; accordingly, the details of the underlying pheromone communications have been gradually revealed. In this review, we summarize both the functions of all termite pheromones identified so far and the chemical interactions among termites and other organisms. Subsequently, we argue how termites developed their sophisticated pheromone communication. We hypothesize that termites have diverted defensive and antimicrobial substances to pheromones associated in caste recognition and caste-specific roles. Furthermore, termites have repeatedly used a pre-existing pheromone or have added supplementary compounds to it in accordance with the social context, leading to multifunctionalization of pre-existing pheromones and emergence of new pheromones. These two mechanisms may enable termites to transmit various context-dependent information with a small number of chemicals, thus resulting in formation of coordinated, complex, and rational chemical communication systems.

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The nest fungus of the lower termite Reticulitermes labralis

Cited by 12 publications

References 17 publications

Whole genome sequencing and the lignocellulose degradation potential of Bacillus subtilis RLI2019 isolated from the intestine of termites

Whole genome sequencing and the lignocellulose degradation potential of Bacillus subtilis RLI2019 isolated from the intestine of termites

Efficacy of soil-borne entomopathogenic fungi against subterranean termite, Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

A Review of Termite Pheromones: Multifaceted, Context-Dependent, and Rational Chemical Communications

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