Influence of feed components on symbiotic bacterial community structure in the gut of the wood-feeding higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis.
The influence of carbon sources on bacterial community structure in the gut of the wood-feeding higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis was investigated. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analyses revealed that the bacterial community structure changed markedly depending on feed components at the phylum level. Spirochaetes was predominant in the clone libraries from wood- and wood powder-fed termites, whereas Bacteroidetes was the largest group in the libraries from xylan-, cellobiose-, and glucose-fed termites, and Firmicutes was predominant in the library from xylose-fed termites. In addition, clones belonging to the phylum Termite Group I (TG1) were found in the library from xylose-fed termites. Our results indicate that the symbiotic relationship between termite and gut microorganisms is not very strong or stable over a short time, and that termite gut microbial community structures vary depending on components of the feeds.
Miyata
Ryo
R
Life Sciences and Bioengineering, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Noda
Naohiro
N
Tamaki
Hideyuki
H
Kinjyo
Kazuhiko
K
Aoyagi
Hideki
H
Uchiyama
Hiroo
H
Tanaka
Hideo
H
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D020049:Isoptera / Q000145:classification / Q000382:microbiology*; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*; D014934:Wood