Inter and intra termites colonies comparisons of gut microbial diversity from worker and soldier caste of Globitermes sulphureus (Blattodea: Termitidae) using 16S rRNA gene
- Author:
Nurul Akmar Hussin
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
termite gut, microbial diversity, Globitermes sulphureus, higher termites, 16S rRNA
- From:Malaysian Journal of Microbiology
2017;13(3):228-234
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Aims: The present study aims at isolation and identifying termite gut bacteria from different Globitermes sulphureus
mounds using a molecular approach based on16S rRNA genes.
Methodology and results: The bacteria from the whole gut of soldier and worker castes of the termite G. sulphureus
was isolated and identified. The diversity of the bacteria was compared between five different colonies in Universiti Sains
Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. The isolated bacteria were identified by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing method and
subsequently used for phylogenetic analysis. Sequences analyses of identified bacteria were found to be affiliated with
the phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Soldiers and workers seemed to have little differences in
bacterial species from the same colonies. We noted some bacteria which were detected in soldiers were not detected in
workers.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study: Differences in the culturable bacteria composition were not significant
between termite colonies. However, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that most of the bacteria from one colony were
slightly but distinctly different with bacteria from other colonies.
