title: Investigating the microbial community in the termite hindgut--interview.
abstract: Jared Leadbetter explains why the termite-gut microbial community is an excellent system for studying the complex interactions between microbes. The symbiotic relationship existing between the host insect and lignocellulose-degrading gut microbes is explained, as well as the industrial uses of these microbes for degrading plant biomass and generating biofuels.
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leadbetter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D020049:Isoptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008827:Microbiological Phenomena; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism; D013559:Symbiosis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C036909:lignocellulose; D008031:Lignin