Article
Zoology
Robin Casalla, H. Rudolf Scheffrahn, Judith Korb
Summary: A new species, Rugitermes ursulae sp. nov., has been described from a sample collected in a tropical dry forest on Colombia's Caribbean coast. The soldiers and imagoes of Rugitermes ursulae sp. nov. are the smallest among all Rugitermes species described so far. Soldier characters, such as the subflangular elevation and shape of the antennal sockets, are included in the description to aid in identification of samples lacking imagoes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Davina L. Saccaggi, Melanie Arendse, John R. U. Wilson, John S. Terblanche
Summary: The dataset presented in this study contains crucial information on imported plant products inspected by the South African Department of Agriculture's laboratories between 1994 and 2019, providing insights on contaminant organisms. Around 30% of the samples tested positive for contaminants, with 13% having multiple contaminants, with fungi, mites, and insects being the most common ones. This dataset serves as an important resource for analyzing contaminant organisms in international trade and informing strategies for risk assessment and biosecurity protocols.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shuji Shigenobu, Yoshinobu Hayashi, Dai Watanabe, Gaku Tokuda, Masaru Y. Hojo, Kouhei Toga, Ryota Saiki, Hajime Yaguchi, Yudai Masuoka, Ryutaro Suzuki, Shogo Suzuki, Moe Kimura, Masatoshi Matsunami, Yasuhiro Sugime, Kohei Oguchi, Teruyuki Niimi, Hiroki Gotoh, Masaru K. Hojo, Satoshi Miyazaki, Atsushi Toyoda, Toru Miura, Kiyoto Maekawa
Summary: Termites are social organisms with a polyphenic caste system, and gene duplication plays a crucial role in their social evolution. The duplicated genes in the termite genome are associated with caste-biased gene expression and diverse social functions, contributing to caste-specialized functions. Gene duplication facilitates social evolution through regulatory diversification, leading to caste-biased expression and subfunctionalization and/or neofunctionalization.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Brian Brown, Emily A. Hartop, Maria A. Wong
Summary: This study reviews the species similar to Megaselia sulphurizona and identifies at least 16 species included in its current concept, with 15 of them being newly described based on molecular data. The identity of the holotype of M. sulphurizona is clarified through wing vein morphometrics. Additionally, two new species discovered from the BioSCAN project are introduced.
INSECT SYSTEMATICS AND DIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Carlos M. Aguero, Pierre-Andre Eyer, Tawni L. Crippen, Edward L. Vargo
Summary: Termites rely on their gut microbiome to convert plant cellulose into nutrients and protect themselves from harmful soil microbes. Some termite species harbor beneficial bacteria and methanotrophic bacteria in their nest structures made of fecal material. The eastern subterranean termite maintains a selective microbial community in its nests to prevent harmful pathogens and promote beneficial microbes.
Article
Ecology
Megan N. Moran, Carlos M. Aguero, Pierre-Andre Eyer, Edward L. Vargo
Summary: Social insects have an efficient division of labor to protect high-value individuals from pathogen exposure. Infected termites may be groomed or cannibalized, but the mechanisms for these behaviors are unclear. Infected termites do not self-isolate and may gather in the densest part of the colony.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Ana Maria Costa-leonardo, Vanelize Janei
Summary: This study reports the infestation of termite eggs by an entomogenous fungus and describes the process and characteristics of fungal infestation. Future studies will investigate the infestation levels and effects of this fungus on termite colonies.
Article
Forestry
Jae-Hyun Moon, Henry B. Ajuna, Sang-Jae Won, Vantha Choub, Su-In Choi, Ju-Yeol Yun, Won Joung Hwang, Sang Wook Park, Young Sang Ahn
Summary: This study investigated the efficacy of chitinase and protease produced by Bacillus licheniformis PR2 as cuticle-degrading enzymes for the biocontrol of worker termites. Treatment with the bacterial broth culture and the crude enzyme fraction of B. licheniformis PR2 resulted in high mortality rates and visible damage to the termites' cuticles. These results suggest that the enzymes produced by B. licheniformis PR2 represent an effective eco-friendly strategy for controlling termite damage.
Article
Zoology
Rudolf H. Scheffrahn
Summary: A termite expedition in 2012 discovered two new species of Glyptotermes in Paraguay, G. hickmani sp. nov. and G. canellae, the latter previously known from Argentina and Brazil. Both species are described based on their soldier and imago castes.
Article
Entomology
Rana Muhammad Kaleem Ullah, Bao Jia, Sheng Liang, Aatika Sikandar, Fukun Gao, Haiyan Wu
Summary: This study identified several chemosensory genes in the Taiwanese subterranean termite and found that some of these genes play important roles in olfactory processing in termite social behavior. These findings lay the foundation for further research on the termite's olfactory system and the functional roles of chemosensory genes, which may lead to the discovery of novel targets for termite integrated pest management.
Article
Zoology
Sang-Bin Lee, Thomas Chouvenc, Nan-Yao Su
Summary: This study revealed that subterranean termites exhibit task specialization within foraging cohorts, with some workers immediately processing wood fragments as food to be transferred to recipient workers, while others spend time moving around and receiving food from the processing workers. The duration of time spent at the foraging site and foraging frequency were found to be key factors in determining the type of foraging worker in subterranean termites.
FRONTIERS IN ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Simon Hellemans, Jan Sobotnik, Gilles Lepoint, Martin Mihaljevic, Yves Roisin, Thomas Bourguignon
Summary: Termites consume vegetal matter at different decomposition stages. Wood-feeders are better at oceanic dispersal, while soil-feeders have also shaped the distribution of modern termites through transoceanic dispersal events.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Alison G. Blanton, Samontriona Perkins, Brittany F. Peterson
Summary: Termite symbionts have various benefits for their hosts, including increased fitness, nutritional supplementation, pathogen protection, and proper development. Recent studies have also found a link between bacterial symbionts and reduced effectiveness of insecticides, which has implications for pest control and bioremediation efforts. This study demonstrates that insect hosts can harbor symbionts with inherent insecticide tolerance, highlighting the potential for symbiont-mediated pesticide tolerance in termites.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Tiago F. Carrijo, Jaqueline Battilana, Jorge Morales
Summary: The study "Detection of Reticulitermes flavipes in Buenos Aires, Argentina" reports the first detection of this invasive species in Argentina, highlighting the potential for it to establish itself in new regions and the need for future research and control measures.
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Francisco Irineudo Bezerra, Og DeSouza, Guilherme Cunha Ribeiro, Marcio Mendes
Summary: A new species of alate termite, Meiatermes cretacicus n. sp., has been discovered in the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation in the Araripe Basin of northeastern Brazil. This taxon shares similarities with other termites from the region and primitive termites from Spanish amber, providing insights into the early evolutionary history and diversity of termites in South America during the Cretaceous period.
JOURNAL OF SOUTH AMERICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kasun H. Bodawatta, Sarah M. Hird, Kirsten Grond, Michael Poulsen, Knud A. Jonsson
Summary: Research on the gut microbiomes of birds is crucial for understanding their ecological functions and evolution, as well as for avian conservation and host health monitoring.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Suzanne Schmidt, Sara Kildgaard, Huijuan Guo, Christine Beemelmanns, Michael Poulsen
Summary: This study summarizes the origins and types of 375 compounds discovered from complex symbioses over the past four decades, discussing the potential synergistic actions between these compounds. It also highlights the vastly underexplored diversity and geographic distribution of the symbiosis, leaving ample potential for the discovery of compounds of ecological and medical importance.
NATURAL PRODUCT REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kasun H. Bodawatta, Irena Kleckova, Jan Klecka, Katerina Puzejova, Bonny Koane, Michael Poulsen, Knud A. Jonsson, Katerina Sam
Summary: The composition of gut bacterial communities in birds is influenced by diet, with individual variation in dietary intake within species. Despite literature-based dietary guilds, the natural diets of birds do not align with their gut microbiome composition, but certain gut bacterial lineages are associated with specific diet items in avian hosts.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Damien Gergonne, Romain Fougeyrollas, Chantal Poteaux, Yves Roisin, Inge Armbrecht, Jan Sobotnik, Cynthia S. Valladares Romero, Juliette M. Berthier, David Sillam-Dusses, Virginie Roy
Summary: The study reveals the presence of hybridization and incongruences between mitochondrial and nuclear genes in two related termite species observed in the sympatry zone of the western Andes. This suggests that the formation of the Andes and changes in geographical and climatic conditions have influenced the evolutionary history of these species.
ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Janis Fricke, Felix Schalk, Nina B. Kreuzenbeck, Elena Seibel, Judith Hoffmann, Georg Dittmann, Benjamin H. Conlon, Huijuan Guo, Z. Wilhelm de Beer, Daniel Giddings Vassao, Gerd Gleixner, Michael Poulsen, Christine Beemelmanns
Summary: This study investigated a group of fungi called Pseudoxylaria, which are only found in the fungus gardens of farming termites and emerge as vegetative structures when the food fungus is no longer attended. Comparing their genomes with free-living Xylaria fungi, it was found that Pseudoxylaria has significantly reduced genome size, protein-coding gene content, and functional capacities related to lignin degradation. However, it still interacts with the termite food fungus in a mutually beneficial manner, extracting nutrients for its own growth.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kasun H. H. Bodawatta, Haofu Hu, Felix Schalk, Jan-Martin Daniel, Gibson Maiah, Bonny Koane, Bulisa Iova, Christine Beemelmanns, Michael Poulsen, Knud A. A. Jonsson
Summary: Toxicity has evolved multiple times and plays important roles in hunting, defence, and parasite deterrence. Birds in New Guinea have genetic adaptations that facilitate tolerance to the neurotoxin batrachotoxin (BTX). These adaptations involve mutations in the SCN4A gene, which prevent muscle paralysis and death caused by BTX binding to sodium channels.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David Diez-Mendez, Kasun H. Bodawatta, Inga Freiberga, Irena Kleckova, Knud A. Jonsson, Michael Poulsen, Katerina Sam
Summary: This study investigates the effect of early-life disruptions of gut microbiome on wild bird nestlings. The treatment of antibiotics and probiotics did not affect the growth and composition of nestling gut microbiomes. Nestling gut microbiomes were mainly influenced by nest environment and mother, with some influence from fathers. The distance between nests increased inter-brood microbiome dissimilarity, particularly in Great tits.
Article
Ecology
Suzanne Schmidt, Nick Bos, Robert Murphy, N'Golo A. Kone, Kolotchelema S. Silue, Nicolai V. Meyling, Michael Poulsen
Summary: Fungus-farming termites can regulate CO2 levels in their mounds to suppress fungal antagonists and protect their symbiotic relationship.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nina B. Kreuzenbeck, Seema Dhiman, David Roman, Immo Burkhardt, Benjamin H. Conlon, Janis Fricke, Huijuan Guo, Janis Blume, Helmar Goerls, Michael Poulsen, Jeroen S. Dickschat, Tobias G. Koellner, Hans-Dieter Arndt, Christine Beemelmanns
Summary: Macrotermitinae termites have been farming fungi from the genus Termitomyces as a food source for a long time, but the biochemical mechanisms governing this mutualistic relationship are not well understood. In this study, the volatile organic compound repertoire of Termitomyces from Macrotermes natalensis colonies was explored to deduce fungal signals and ecological patterns related to the stability of this symbiosis. Through the analysis of VOCs, the researchers identified specific compounds and investigated their antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, enzyme candidates involved in terpene biosynthesis were studied to better understand the production of these compounds.
COMMUNICATIONS CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kasun H. Bodawatta, Nynne Ravn, Pedro Oromi, Jose Luis Martin Esquivel, Anders Michelsen, Michael Poulsen, Knud Andreas Jonsson, Ana Sofia Reboleira
Summary: Decomposition is a key process in ecosystem respiration, but its dynamics in subterranean environments have been largely overlooked. This study investigated the drivers of litter decomposition in caves, finding different factors influencing decomposition rates compared to surface habitats.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Veronica M. Sinotte, Justinn Renelies-Hamilton, Sergio Andreu-Sanchez, Mireille Vasseur-Cognet, Michael Poulsen
Summary: This study demonstrates that termites vertically transmit gut bacterial strains to their offspring colonies, and this mode of transmission is consistent. By selectively enriching specific gut microbial communities, termite reproductive individuals ensure the transmission of complex co-evolved microbiomes critical to their offspring colonies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Johanna Romero Arias, Simon Hellemans, Esra Kaymak, Pierre. D. D. Akama, Thomas Bourguignon, Yves Roisin, Rudolf. H. H. Scheffrahn, Jan Sobotnik
Summary: While new species of termites are discovered every year, the description of species that are distantly related to known termite species is rare. This paper describes Engelitermes zambo sp.n., an African Termitidae species belonging to a completely new lineage of termites, for which a new subfamily, Engelitermitinae subfam.n., is created.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elena Seibel, Soohyun Um, Marie Dayras, Kasun H. Bodawatta, Martinus de Kruijff, Knud A. Jonsson, Michael Poulsen, Ki Hyun Kim, Christine Beemelmanns
Summary: In this study, a targeted beta-amino acid-specific homology-based multi-query search was utilized to identify potential microbial producers of beta-amino acid-containing macrolactams. The variation of biosynthetic gene clusters was explored, ciromicin A was heterologously produced, and new macrotermycin derivatives were identified.
COMMUNICATIONS CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Benjamin H. Conlon, Suzanne Schmidt, Michael Poulsen, Jonathan Z. Shik
Summary: This article presents four complementary protocols for DNA extraction from fungi and validates their feasibility by comparing the extraction efficacy of eight fungal species. These protocols are valuable for extracting DNA from various fungi.
Article
Microbiology
Nina B. Kreuzenbeck, Elena Seibel, Jan W. Schwitalla, Janis Fricke, Benjamin H. Conlon, Suzanne Schmidt, Almuth Hammerbacher, Tobias G. Koellner, Michael Poulsen, Dirk Hoffmeister, Christine Beemelmanns
Summary: The symbiotic relationship between Macrotermitinae termites and Termitomyces fungi is essential for both partners and plays a crucial role in biomass conversion in tropical ecosystems. Research has revealed the volatile emissions and genomic features of the fungi, providing new insights into enzymatic transformations.