A Novel Lineage of Endosymbiotic Actinomycetales: Genome Reduction and Acquisition of New Functions in Bifidobacteriaceae Associated With Termite Gut Flagellates

Environmental Microbiology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 27(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Cellulolytic flagellates are essential for the symbiotic digestion of lignocellulose in gut lower termites. Most species associated with host‐specific consortia bacterial symbionts from various phyla. 16S rRNA‐based diversity studies and taxon‐specific fluorescence situ hybridization revealed a termite‐specific clade Actinomycetales that colonise cytoplasm Trichonympha spp. other flagellates, representing only known case intracellular Actinomycetota protists. Comparative analysis eleven metagenome‐assembled genomes termites allowed us to describe them as new genera Bifidobacteriaceae . Like previously investigated Candidatus Ancillula trichonymphae, they ferment sugars via bifidobacterium shunt but, unlike their free‐living relatives, experienced significant genome erosion. Additionally, acquired functions by horizontal gene transfer bacteria, including capacity produce hydrogen. Members genus (average size 1.56 ± 0.2 Mbp) retained most pathways synthesis amino acids, threonine/serine exporter, providing concrete evidence basis mutualistic relationship host. By contrast, Opitulatrix (1.23 0.1 lost biosynthetic capacities, indicating an originally symbiosis is on decline.

Language: Английский

---

Effects of Colony Breeding System and Nest Architecture on Soil Microbiome and Fertility in the Fungus-Growing Termite Macrotermes barneyi Light

Insects, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(5), P. 470 - 470

Published: April 29, 2025

Macrotermes barneyi is a typical fungus-growing termite that forms both monogynous (single queen) and polygynous (multiple colonies in nature. This species influences the local soil fertility part by redistributing nutrients across landscape its habitats. However, how colony structure of M. affects nutrient cycling microbial communities within nest not well understood. In this study, we compared physicochemical properties parts between barneyi. Our results showed fungus garden most nutrient-rich nest, with higher moisture, organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate available sulfur, potassium, silicon, boron than other parts. Notably, had silicon those colonies. The α-diversity was lower nest. β-diversity analysis revealed clear separation Furthermore, relative abundance functional genes associated “cell cycle control, cell division, chromosome partitioning” to suggest plays crucial role maintaining stability rapid depletion sustain larger population likely community dynamics cycling.

Language: Английский

---

Life and Death of Termite Colonies, a Decades-Long Age Demography Perspective

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: July 5, 2022

A eusocial insect colony represents a complex biological entity that must ensure degrees of perennity once it reaches maturity (production dispersing imagoes over many successive years) to optimize its reproductive success. It is known subterranean termite invests differentially in different castes time and adjusts functions depending on internal external conditions years activity. However, the current study demonstrates Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki field mature colonies go through dramatic demographic changes breeding structure shifts, even after they have reached By analyzing age demography C. from four sites, we here provide new perspective how may function decades, which reveals each trajectory unique. In way, throughout life, displays own “demographic individuality” drives growth, foraging ability, competitiveness, demography, senescence ultimately death. This therefore narrated story life -and death- decades observation.

Language: Английский

---

Succession of the microbiota in the gut of reproductives of Macrotermes subhyalinus (Termitidae) at colony foundation gives insights into symbionts transmission

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10

Published: Jan. 9, 2023

Termites have co-evolved with a complex gut microbiota consisting mostly of exclusive resident taxa, but key forces sustaining this partnership are still poorly understood. The potential for primary reproductives to vertically transmit their (mycobiome and bacteriome) offspring was investigated using colony foundations from field-derived swarming alates Macrotermes subhyalinus . Metabarcoding based on the fungal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region bacterial 16S rRNA gene used characterize mycobiome bacteriome over foundation time. differed that workers Macrotermitinae changed randomly within between sampling time points, highlighting no close link habitat. ectosymbiont Termitomyces lost early reproductives, confirming absence vertical transmission offspring. Unlike fungi, mirrored Macroterminae. Key genera core OTUs inherited mother persisted in reproductive until emergence workers, enabling explaining why they were found workers. These findings demonstrate parental may greatly contribute maintenance its co-evolution termite hosts at short scales.

Language: Английский

---

Exploring the composition and function profiles of bacteria from wood- and soil-feeding termites for effective degradation of lignin-based aromatics

Process Safety and Environmental Protection, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

---