Use of the proteomic tool MALDI-TOF MS in termite identification

Bouthaina Hasnaoui,Philippe Parola,Jean-Michel Berenger,Oleg Mediannikov,Adama Zan Diarra,Hacène Medkour,Ahmed Benakhla

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-04574-0

Abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has proved effective for the identification of many arthropods. A total of 432 termite specimens were collected in Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Switzerland and France. Morphologically, 22 species were identified, including Ancistrotermes cavithorax, Amitermes evuncifer, Cryptotermes brevis, Cubitermes orthognathus, Kalotermes flavicollis, Macrotermes bellicosus, Macrotermes herus, Macrotermes ivorensis, Macrotermes subhyalinus, Microcerotermes parvus, Microtermes sp., Odontotermes latericius, Procubitermes sjostedti, Promirotermes holmgreni, Reticulitermes grassei, Reticulitermes lucifugus, Reticulitermes santonensis, Trinervitermes geminatus, Trinervitermes occidentalis, Trinervitermes togoensis, Trinervitermes sp., Trinervitermes trinervoides and Trinervitermes trinervius. Analysis of MALDI-TOF MS spectra profiles from termites revealed that all were of high quality, with intra-species reproducibility and inter-species specificity. Blind testing of the spectra of 389 termites against our updated database with the spectra of 43 specimens of different termite species revealed that all were correctly identified with log score values (LSVs) ranging from 1.65 to 2.851, mean 2.290 ± 0.225, median 2.299, and 98.4% (383) had LSVs > 1.8. This study is the first on the use of MALDI-TOF for termite identification and shows its importance as a tool for arthropod taxonomy and reinforces the idea that MALDI-TOF MS is a promising tool in the field of entomology.

Highlights

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has proved effective for the identification of many arthropods
Termites or white ants belong to the arthropods that have thrived on earth for over 300 million y ears[1,2]
Identification based on molecular amplification and sequencing of genes such as mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunits I and II, genes coding for the NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase chain 1 (ND1), Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2), large and small ribosomal RNA subunits (16S and 12S rRNA), and nuclear DNA such as 18S, Microsat and genes for endobeta-1,4-glucanase (RsEG),interactive domain-containing protein 1A (AT-rich DNA); these molecular markers

Summary

Introduction

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has proved effective for the identification of many arthropods. They are known as ecosystem engineers by influencing the distribution of natural resources, such as water and nutrients in the ecosystem[11], and that refers to their ability to generate valuable biogenesis that improves soil properties[12], which increases water infiltration rates[13,14] They are of interest in traditional medicine, for suturing wounds and treating angina, fever, burns and a bscesses[15]. Termites can be used as bait to catch fish and birds[15] and as a natural human food resource that has a significant value in protein and vitamins[17] They participate in the beneficial chemical variation of the earth and its components[18]. The molecular identification approach is still limited by the high cost of reagents, the time consumed, and the absence of universal primers allowing for the amplification of a given gene in all species and sequences of all species on G enBank[20]

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Conclusion