Termite Gut - Microbewiki

The termite hindgut creates a perfect anaerobic environment for methanogens, as these organisms either live free in the guts of termites or inside the protozoa that co-exist there (Ohkuma 2001). The genus Methanobreuibacter is an example of a methanogen that thrives in the hindgut of a termite (Ohkuma 2001).The flagellates in a termite's intestine change the cellulose into a form that can be digested by the termite. The relationship between the termite and its intestinal flagellate is advantageous to the flagellates since they also get their food from the intestine of their host.The inventory of protozoa species is generally specific to the termite host species, but the proportions of protozoa species can vary within a species according to geographic location, diet, season, and temperature as has been shown for several Reticulitermes species (Mannesmann 1972, 1974, Mauldin et al. 1981, Kitade and Matsumoto 1993).Termite innards contain single-celled protozoa and bacteria that produce enzymes that break down cellulose into sugars that termites consume as food. Termites extract water from the wood they eat.Termites feed primarily on the cellulose and lignin found in plant cell walls; these compounds are the main ingredients of wood and all paper products. Termites cannot digest the cellulose directly so they rely upon symbiotic bacteria and protozoa living within their intestines to supply most of the enzymes needed for cellulose digestion.

4 Main Groups of Protozoa - Owlcation

Trichonympha is a genus of single-celled, anaerobic parabasalids of the order Hypermastigia that is found exclusively in the hindgut of lower termites and wood roaches. Trichonympha's bell shape and thousands of flagella make it an easily recognizable cell. The symbiosis between lower termites/wood roaches and Trichonympha is highly beneficial to both parties: Trichonympha helps its hostTermite Protists: Termite protists are a diverse group of obligate endo-symbionts living in the gut of termites. They range from very small flagellates and amoeboids to very large flagellates. To date, the author is unaware of any cilliates recorded from termites. Unsurprisingly termite protist taxonomy is a work in progress.Termite digestion is a complicated process. Termites cannot digest cellulose and extract life-sustaining nutrients from it on their own. They must rely on the help of one-celled protozoa and bacteria that live in their digestive tracts. These microorganisms break the cellulose down into simple sugars that keep their host termites alive.This study shows that termites are pests that contain bacterial protozoa in the stomach to help in digesting their food. Woods contain a natural compound called cellulose. Bacterial protozoa found in the stomach of termites help break down cellulose, so because of cellulose in wood and tree roots, termites will indeed incline towards them.

Symbiosis in Subterranean Termites: A Review of Insights

Project Methods Mid- to late-instar larvae of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki will be collected from bucket traps established in south Louisiana, particularly New Orleans and the surrounding area. Guts from freshly collected termites will be dissected into sterile media for isolation of gut protozoa and initiation of cultures.Termites rely primarily upon symbiotic protozoa and other microbes such as flagellate protists in their guts to digest the cellulose for them, allowing them to absorb the end products for their own use. The microbial ecosystem present in the termite gut contains many species found nowhere else on Earth.The termites possess intestinal fauna of symbiotic protozoa (e.g., Trichonympha) which help to digest the cellulose, secreting cellulase enzyme. These protozoans enter the nymphs which consume the excrement of the adult. The recent molecular evidence indicates that termites also use own enzymes for cellulose digestion. (ii) Soil-feeding Termites:A squash preparation that shows protozoans living within the gut of a termite.Termite bait containing protozoa-killing yeast strain. After confirming the target specific toxicity of the Ligand-Hecate fusion peptide, the commercially available K. lactis yeast was genetically engineered to express Ligand-Hecate.Simultaneously, another K. lactis strain expressing a red fluorescent protein mPlum was prepared to monitor ingestion and survival of yeast in the termite's guts