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Related Concept Videos

Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Stomach and Small Intestine

The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract is characterized by distinct physicochemical conditions that shape its microbial communities. Among these, the stomach presents a particularly challenging environment for microbial colonization due to its highly acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 3. This extreme acidity effectively limits microbial density. However, certain acid-tolerant microorganisms are capable of surviving in this niche. Notably, Helicobacter pylori can colonize the gastric mucosa,...
Microbiota of the Large Intestine01:27

Microbiota of the Large Intestine

The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...

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Seasonal impacts on gut microbial composition of the Eastern subterranean termite (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae).

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Extracting DNA from the Gut Microbes of the Termite Zootermopsis Angusticollis and Visualizing Gut Microbes
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Intercolony Comparisons of Gut Microbiome Composition From Lab Reared Eastern Subterranean Termites (Blattodea:

R Sapkota1, M E Scharf1,2

  • 1Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.

Journal of Insect Science (Online)
|April 5, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Even with identical diets and lab conditions, Eastern subterranean termite gut microbiomes varied significantly between colonies. This suggests that termite gut microbial communities are not solely determined by diet and environment.

Keywords:
gut bacterialab rearingtermitetermite colony

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Insect Ecology
  • Symbiotic Relationships

Background:

  • Termite hindguts host diverse microbial communities from Eukarya, Bacteria, and Archaea.
  • Gut microbes are transferred vertically by reproductives and horizontally by nestmates.
  • Previous studies suggest colony-specific gut microbiomes, but controlled diet experiments are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if laboratory-reared Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) colonies on identical diets develop similar gut microbial compositions.
  • To determine the influence of controlled environmental factors on termite gut microbiome structure and diversity.

Main Methods:

  • Rearing multiple Reticulitermes flavipes colonies under identical laboratory conditions and diets for over two years.
  • Analyzing gut bacterial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
  • Comparing microbial diversity metrics (Shannon's diversity, Pielou evenness, Faith phylogenetic diversity) and community structures between colonies using ANCOM.

Main Results:

  • Significant differences in observed features and Shannon's diversity were found between colonies.
  • Microbial community structures varied significantly among colonies.
  • Elizabethkingia and Chryseobacterium were identified as differentially abundant taxa between colonies.

Conclusions:

  • Identical diets and rearing conditions for extended periods do not lead to uniform gut microbiomes in Reticulitermes flavipes colonies.
  • Factors beyond diet and controlled environment play a crucial role in shaping termite gut microbial communities.
  • Further research is needed to understand the drivers of gut microbiome divergence in social insects.