Termites and their gut microbiome in animal nutrition: Advances and biotechnological applications

Since the late 20th century, termites have attracted attention due to the vast potential of their gut microbiome and digestive enzymes, which enable them to efficiently degrade lignocellulosic biomass, making them a promising resource for animal nutrition, particularly for recovering fibrous waste. Termite gastrointestinal symbionts and enzymes are highly effective at decomposing plant fiber, thus positioning them as natural bioreactors with significant biotechnological potential. This review examines the evolving applications of termites in animal feed, including their incorporation as protein sources in diets for monogastric animals and fish, as well as the utilization of bacteria, fungi, and enzymes derived from their guts as additives to enhance the digestibility of agricultural byproducts in both ruminants and non-ruminants. Furthermore, recent developments have demonstrated the identification and heterologous expression of lignocellulolytic enzymes and metabolites with prebiotic and detoxifying properties. The diversity of termite species offers an exceptional source of microbial communities. These communities highly adaptable to various fibrous substrates due to their diet, which enhances their potential despite existing limitations in cultivation and process standardization. However, their gut microbiota remains an untapped resource with immense potential to improve feed efficiency, promote sustainability, and reduce reliance on conventional inputs. It is concluded that at larger scale in vivo studies are needed to fully realize the potential of these symbiotic systems in animal nutrition.