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The functional evolution of termite gut microbiota.

Jigyasa Arora1, Yukihiro Kinjo2, Jan Šobotník3

  • 1Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology Graduate University, 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan. arorajigyasa1992@gmail.com.

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Termite gut microbes have conserved essential functions for over 150 million years, adapting through gene proportion changes rather than new gene acquisition. This reveals a long-standing multipartite symbiosis critical for termite nutrition.

Keywords:
EndosymbiontsIsopteraMetagenomicsVertical inheritance

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Insect Science

Background:

  • Termite gut microbiota functions are poorly understood across diverse taxa, despite their lignocellulose or soil-based diets.
  • Existing knowledge is limited to a few wood-feeding pest species.
  • A global understanding of termite gut microbial functional evolution is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional evolution of termite gut microbiota across diverse termite taxa.
  • To elucidate the conserved and variable aspects of gut microbial functions in relation to diet and host phylogeny.

Main Methods:

  • Sequencing of gut metagenomes from 145 samples representing termite diversity.
  • Analysis of prokaryotic gene content related to carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism.
  • Correlation of gene abundance with termite phylogeny and diet.

Main Results:

  • A conserved set of prokaryotic genes for essential nutritional functions (carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism) was identified across all termites.
  • Gene proportions varied with termite phylogeny and diet, suggesting adaptation through stoichiometry.
  • Soil-feeding adaptation involved changes in gene stoichiometry, not acquisition of new pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Termite gut prokaryotic communities and functions have remained remarkably conserved for approximately 150 million years.
  • The termite gut functions as a stable multipartite symbiosis involving termites, archaea, bacteria, and flagellates.
  • Essential nutritional roles were established early in termite evolution and maintained through conserved microbial communities.