Identification of termites from Gabon using MALDI-TOF MS

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Proteomics
• Taxonomy

Background:

• Termites are significant pests causing widespread damage to wooden structures and cellulosic materials globally.
• Despite Africa hosting numerous termite species, entomological research, particularly in Gabon, remains limited.
• Accurate termite identification is challenging due to morphological similarities and limitations of molecular methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the reliability and effectiveness of MALDI-TOF MS for identifying fresh termite specimens from equatorial Africa.
• To compare MALDI-TOF MS identification with traditional morphological and molecular techniques.
• To establish MALDI-TOF MS as a viable taxonomic tool for termite species identification.

Main Methods:

• Collected 108 termite specimens from 13 nests in Gabon.
• Performed morphological identification, followed by MALDI-TOF MS analysis.
• Conducted molecular analyses using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes for comparison.

Main Results:

• Morphological identification yielded four species, while molecular analysis identified only three, revealing misidentifications of *Macrotermes muelleri* and *Macrotermes nobilis* as *Macrotermes bellicosus*.
• MALDI-TOF MS generated high-quality spectra with good intra-species reproducibility and inter-species specificity.
• Blind testing of 98 termite spectra against an upgraded database showed 100% correct species matching, with 95.91% achieving log score values above 1.8.

Conclusions:

• MALDI-TOF MS is a reliable and efficient tool for accurate termite species identification in Gabon, overcoming limitations of morphological and molecular methods.
• The proteomic approach offers a valuable alternative for taxonomic studies, especially in regions with high termite biodiversity and limited research.
• This study supports the integration of MALDI-TOF MS into routine pest identification and management strategies.