Occurrence of rhizobia in the gut of the higher termite Nasutitermes nigriceps.
Wood-eating termites feed on a diet highly deficient in nitrogen. They must complement their diet with the aid of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen fixation in the gut has been demonstrated, but information about nitrogen-fixing bacteria in pure culture is scarce. From the higher termite Nasutitermes nigriceps the symbiotic bacterial strain M3A was isolated, which thrives in the hindgut contents. The Gram-negative strain exhibited similarities to the species of the genus Ensifer (including Sinorhizobium) on the basis of morphological and physiological/biochemical features. The 16S rRNA gene analysis showed the highest sequence similarity of the isolate M3A to Ensifer adhaerens (>99%; ATCC 33499). The DNA-DNA hybridization revealed a similarity of 66% with E. adhaerens (NCIMB12342(T)). In contrast to the type strain the isolate M3A possesses the capacity to nodulate plant roots. This is the first report on the detailed identification of a rhizobia-related strain from the intestinal tract of animals. Strain M3A has been deposited with two culture collections (DSM10169; ATCC BAA-396).
Fröhlich
Jürgen
J
Institut für Mikrobiologie und Weinforschung, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität, 55099 Mainz, Germany.
Koustiane
Christine
C
Kämpfer
Peter
P
Rosselló-Mora
Ramón
R
Valens
Maria
M
Berchtold
Manfred
M
Kuhnigk
Thomas
T
Hertel
Horst
H
Maheshwari
Dinesh K
DK
König
Helmut
H
D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D020049:Isoptera / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012230:Rhizobiaceae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D020579:Sinorhizobium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013559:Symbiosis
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D005227:Fatty Acids; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S