Ecological and molecular aspects of lignocellulose digestion in neotropical higher termites

• Grant number: 15/21497-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Alberto José Arab Olavarrieta
• Grantee: Alberto José Arab Olavarrieta
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Santo André
• Associated researchers: Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo ; Fábio Márcio Squina ; Gabriela Felix Persinoti ; Thabata Maria Alvarez

Abstract

Due to their ability in digesting lignocellulose, termites are key organisms in the ecosystems that maintain carbon balance and incorporate organic matter into the soil. They are also considered the world's smallest bioreactors. The evolution of termites was marked by modifications on symbiont composition and acquisition of new feeding strategies that improved the digestion of lignocellulose resulting in the diversification of food sources. Nevertheless, some aspects of lignocellulose digestion in neotropical species are poorly known and studies are necessary to further comprehend their impact on the environment and their potential in the new bioeconomy. The aim of this proposal will be to study the digestion of lignocellulose and the community structure of the symbiotic microbiota in six species of neotropical higher termites by integrating ecological and molecular analyses. We will first compare microbiota functions of Cornitermes cumulans based on metagenomics and metatranscriptomic analyses. Then we will evaluate the activity of lignocellulases and the microbial community composition by six species of higher termites with different feeding strategies using enzymatic assays and 16S and ITS sequencing. We suggest that C. cumulans stores food in order to facilitate the digestion of lignocellulose by soil microorganisms before ingestion. In addition, both lignocellulose digestion and microbiota functional composition will be different according to termite feeding specialization. The results of this study will be significant to further understand the symbiotic relationship between the microbiota and termites. (AU)

Scientific publications

(8)

(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)

ALVES, FREDERICO R.; AGUILERA-OLIVARES, DANIEL; ROCHA, MAURICIO MARTINS; ARAB, ALBERTO. Termites are the main dung removals in a degraded landscape in Brazil. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, v. 10, p. 8-pg., 2022-09-15. (15/21497-6, 18/22839-6)

MENEZES, LETICIA; ALVAREZ, THABATA MARIA; PERSINOTI, GABRIELA FELIX; FRANCO, JOAO PAULO; SQUINA, FABIO; MOREIRA, EDIMAR AGNALDO; ALVAREDO PAIXAO, DOUGLAS ANTONIO; COSTA-LEONARDO, ANA MARIA; DA SILVA, VINICIUS XAVIER; PEDROSA SILVA CLERICI, MARIA TERESA; et al. Food Storage by the Savanna Termite Cornitermes cumulans (Syntermitinae): a Strategy to Improve Hemicellulose Digestibility?. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY, v. 76, n. 2, p. 492-505, AUG 2018. (15/21497-6)

MOREIRA, EDIMAR A.; ALVAREZ, THABATA M.; PERSINOTI, GABRIELA F.; ALVAREDO PAIXAO, DOUGLAS ANTONIO; MENEZES, LETICIA R.; FRANCO CAIRO, JOAO P.; SQUINA, FABIO MARCIO; COSTA-LEONARDO, ANA M.; CARRIJO, TIAGO; ARAB, ALBERTO. Microbial Communities of the Gut and Nest of the Humus- and Litter-Feeding Termite Procornitermes araujoi (Syntermitinae). Current Microbiology, v. 75, n. 12, p. 1609-1618, DEC 2018. (15/21497-6)

MOREIRA, EDIMAR A.; PERSINOTI, GABRIELA F.; MENEZES, LETICIA R.; PAIXAO, DOUGLAS A. A.; ALVAREZ, THABATA M.; CAIRO, JOAO P. L. FRANCO; SQUINA, FABIO M.; COSTA-LEONARDO, ANA MARIA; RODRIGUES, ANDRE; SILLAM-DUSSES, DAVID; et al. Complementary Contribution of Fungi and Bacteria to Lignocellulose Digestion in the Food Stored by a Neotropical Higher Termite. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, v. 09, APR 26 2021. (15/21497-6, 16/09950-0, 18/22839-6, 15/50590-4)

AGUILERA-OLIVARES, DANIEL; ISSA, SOLANGE; ARAB, ALBERTO. Editorial: Advances in the evolutionary ecology of termites, volume II. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, v. 11, p. 3-pg., 2023-07-11. (18/22839-6, 15/21497-6)

ARAB, ALBERTO; ISSA, SOLANGE; AGUILERA-OLIVARES, DANIEL. Editorial: Advances in the Evolutionary Ecology of Termites. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, v. 9, p. 4-pg., 2021-06-24. (15/21497-6)

ARAB, ALBERTO; PAULINO, LUCIANA CAMPOS; ROLIM, MARIA SOCORRO LACERDA; DE MENEZES, LETICIA RAMOS; DE OLIVEIRA, MARIO HERCULANO; DOS SANTOS, RENATO AUGUSTO CORREA; CAIRO, JOAO PAULO LOURENCO FRANCO; BEZERRA-GUSMAO, MARIA AVANY; COSTA-LEONARDO, ANA MARIA; CUNHA, HELIDA; et al. The Gut Microbiome and Lignocellulose Digestion in Constrictotermes cyphergaster (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae): A Termite Incorporating Lichen into Its Diet. DIVERSITY-BASEL, v. 16, n. 10, p. 14-pg., 2024-10-01. (18/22839-6, 15/21497-6)

MENEZES, LETICIA R.; CAIRO, JOAO PAULO L. F.; COSTA-LEONARDO, ANA MARIA; CLERICI, MARIA TERESA PEDROSA SILVA; DA COSTA BARRETO, ISABELA; DOS SANTOS, BIANCA SURIANO FRANCISCO; ARAB, ALBERTO. Dietary resilience of termite gut microbiota and enzymatic function reflects feeding strategy. FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, v. 13, p. 9-pg., 2025-08-01. (18/22839-6, 15/21497-6)