Abstract
Miscanthus sp. biomass could satisfy future biorefinery value chains. However, its use is largely untapped due to high recalcitrance. The termite and its gut microbiome are considered the most efficient lignocellulose degrading system in nature. Here, we investigate at holobiont level the dynamic adaptation of Cortaritermes sp. to imposed Miscanthus diet, with a long-term objective of overcoming lignocellulose recalcitrance. We use an integrative omics approach combined with enzymatic characterisation of carbohydrate active enzymes from termite gut Fibrobacteres and Spirochaetae. Modified gene expression profiles of gut bacteria suggest a shift towards utilisation of cellulose and arabinoxylan, two main components of Miscanthus lignocellulose. Low identity of reconstructed microbial genomes to closely related species supports the hypothesis of a strong phylogenetic relationship between host and its gut microbiome. This study provides a framework for better understanding the complex lignocellulose degradation by the higher termite gut system and paves a road towards its future bioprospecting.
Highlights
Miscanthus sp. biomass could satisfy future biorefinery value chains
Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon profiling of termite gut bacteria, we investigated the adaptation of two termite colonies to Miscanthus diet under laboratory conditions
Further application of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe; ref. 12) to two termite colonies demonstrated that nearly 140 bacterial OTUs were significantly enriched in control microbiome, while roughly 13 were enriched in Miscanthus-fed microbiome (Supplementary Data 2)
Summary
Miscanthus sp. biomass could satisfy future biorefinery value chains. its use is largely untapped due to high recalcitrance. Complete loss of gut cellulolytic flagellates in all evolutionary higher termites and acquisition of novel symbiotic bacteria led to improved lignocellulolytic strategies It allowed for diet diversification from mainly wood-restricted to e.g. dry grass and other plant litter, herbivore dung and soil organic matter at different stages of humification[7]. Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon profiling of termite gut bacteria, we investigated the adaptation of two termite colonies to Miscanthus diet under laboratory conditions. Analysis of the reconstructed community metagenome evidenced CAZyme clusters targeting two main components of Miscanthus biomass, namely cellulose and (arabino)xylan. Most of these clusters were allocated to the reconstructed metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) of Fibrobacteres and Spirochaetae origin. We discussed our findings in the context of enzymes application in the developing biorefinery sector
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