title: Isolation of amylolytic, xylanolytic, and cellulolytic microorganisms extracted from the gut of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis by means of a micro-aerobic atmosphere.
abstract: The aim of this work was to isolate enzyme-producing microorganisms from the tract of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis. The microorganisms were extracted from the guts and anaerobic (CO₂ or CO₂/H₂) and micro-aerobic atmospheres were used to stimulate growth. Three different strategies were tried out. First, the sample was spread on Petri dishes containing solid media with carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose or cellobiose. This technique allowed us to isolate two bacteria: Streptomyces sp. strain ABGxAviA1 and Pseudomonas sp. strain ABGxCellA. The second strategy consisted in inoculating a specific liquid medium containing carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, or cellobiose. The samples were then spread on Petri dishes with the same specific medium containing carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, or cellobiose. This led to the isolation of the mold Aspergillus sp. strain ABGxAviA2. Finally, the third strategy consisted in heating the first culture and spreading samples on agar plates containing rich medium. This led to the isolation of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis strain ABGx. All those steps were achieved in controlled atmospheres. The four enzyme-producing strains which were isolated were obtained by using a micro-aerobic atmosphere. Later, enzymatic assays were performed on the four strains. Streptomyces sp. strain ABGxAviA1 was found to produce only amylase, while Pseudomonas sp. strain ABGxCellA was found to produce β-glucosidase as well. Aspergillus sp. strain ABGxAviA2 showed β-glucosidase, amylase, cellulase, and xylanase activities. Finally, B. subtilis strain ABGx produced xylanase and amylase.
authors.affiliation: Bât. G1 Bio-Industries, Passage des Déportés 2, 5030, Gembloux, Belgium, cedric.tarayre@ulg.ac.be.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tarayre
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brognaux
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bauwens
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brasseur
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mattéotti
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Millet
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Destain
authors.forename: Micheline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vandenbol
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Portetelle
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Pauw
authors.forename: Haubruge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eric
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thonart
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D000818:Animals; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002480:Cellulase / Q000378:metabolism; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D043364:Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology; D020049:Isoptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D000516:alpha-Amylases; D002480:Cellulase; D043364:Endo-1,4-beta Xylanases