title: Isolation of methanotrophic bacteria from termite gut.
abstract: The guts of termites feature suitable conditions for methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB) with their permanent production of CH4 and constant supply of O2 via tracheae. In this study, we have isolated MOB from the gut contents of the termites Incisitermes marginipennis, Mastotermes darwiniensis, and Neotermes castaneus for the first time. The existence of MOB was indicated by detecting pmoA, the gene for the particulate methane monooxygenase, in the DNA of gut contents. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction supported those findings. The MOB cell titer was determined to be 10(2)-10(3) per gut. Analyses of the 16S rDNA from isolates indicated close similarity to the genus Methylocystis. After various physiological tests and fingerprinting methods, no exact match to a known species was obtained, indicating the isolation of new MOB species. However, MALDI-TOF MS analyses revealed a close relationship to Methylocystis bryophila and Methylocystis parvus.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Wine Research (IMW), Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 15, 55099 Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: reussj@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reuss
authors.affiliation: Centre of EM, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstraße 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rachel
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Microbiology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Gießen, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kämpfer
authors.affiliation: Bremen Institute for Materials Testing (MPA), Paul-Feller-Straße 1, 28199 Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rabenstein
authors.affiliation: Bremen Institute for Materials Testing (MPA), Paul-Feller-Straße 1, 28199 Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Küver
authors.affiliation: Test and Research Institute Pirmasens (PFI), Marie-Curie-Straße 19, 66953 Pirmasens, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dröge
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Wine Research (IMW), Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 15, 55099 Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: König
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D020049:Isoptera / Q000382:microbiology*; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism; D008772:Methylococcaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D042083:Methylocystaceae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D010105:Oxygenases; C021555:methane monooxygenase; D008697:Methane
keywords: Isolation of MOB; Methane oxidizing bacteria; Methylocystis; Microflora of termites; pmoA