Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nanna Hjort Vidkjaer, Suzanne Schmidt, Haofu Hu, Kasun H. Bodawatta, Christine Beemelmanns, Michael Poulsen
Summary: Fungus-farming termites have gut metabolomes that vary between species and castes, with primary metabolites dominating and significant overlap with the fungal mutualist and plant material. The identification of bioactive compounds of microbial origin suggests potential for compound discovery and future studies on defensive roles.
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
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
Entomology
Risto Vesala, Matti Rasanen, Sonja Leitner, Daniel Girma Mulat, Lucas Mwangala, Jouko Rikkinen, Laura Arppe
Summary: This study found that termite mounds are significant sources of greenhouse gases, and the concentrations of these gases are influenced by mound size, ventilation type, and precipitation.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Joseph B. Solomon, Yiling A. Liu, Kamil Gorecki, Robert Quechol, Chi Chung Lee, Andrew J. Jasniewski, Yilin Hu, Markus W. Ribbe
Summary: This study successfully synthesized a fully active Azotobacter vinelandii(AvNifH) protein in Escherichia coli. The heterologously expressed AvNifH protein showed a high [Fe4S4] cluster content and full functionality in nitrogenase catalysis and assembly. Additionally, the study found that AvNifM may serve as a chaperone to assist the maturation of the cluster-replete AvNifH protein.
Article
Microbiology
Farhan Ahmad, Guiying Yang, Yaning Zhu, Michael Poulsen, Wuhan Li, Ting Yu, Jianchu Mo
Summary: This study investigated the digestion of lignocellulose in the symbiotic system of fungus-growing termites. The results showed that young workers initiate the degradation of lignocellulose, while the majority of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose enter the fresh fungus comb for decomposition. The decomposition of lignocellulose enriches the old comb with sugars that can be utilized by Termitomyces and termite workers. Additionally, clear differences in bacterial community composition were observed at different stages of plant biomass decomposition, which may interact synergistically with Termitomyces to shape the digestion process.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Michel Diouf, Vincent Herve, Sophie Frechault, Josie Lambourdiere, Abdoulaye Baila Ndiaye, Edouard Miambi, Amelia Bourceret, My Dung Jusselme, Marc-Andre Selosse, Corinne Rouland-Lefevre
Summary: Termites maintain a unique symbiotic relationship with their gut microbiota through vertical transmission of bacterial communities, but not fungal communities. Parental transmission plays a crucial role in the maintenance and co-evolution of the bacterial microbiome.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Entomology
Farhan Ahmad, Gui-Ying Yang, Shi-You Liang, Qi-Huan Zhou, Hassan Ahmed Gaal, Jian-Chu Mo
Summary: Fungus-growing termites utilize a multipartite symbiotic system to degrade lignocellulose, thereby increasing crop productivity, protecting their nests, and maintaining microenvironment stability inside the colony.
Article
Forestry
Maid Zaman, Imtiaz Ali Khan, Suzanne Schmidt, Robert Murphy, Michael Poulsen
Summary: This study surveyed the distribution and identity of termite populations in the districts of Buner, Haripur, and Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and identified species using morphological and DNA barcoding techniques. Several species of Odontotermes were identified, and this study provides the first records of certain species in these districts. Additionally, DNA barcoding was used to verify species assignments and conduct phylogenetic analyses.
Article
Microbiology
Amrit Koirala, Volker S. Brozel
Summary: The study analyzed the phylogeny of diazotrophs using both structural and cofactor assembly proteins of nitrogenase, revealing wide distribution of these genes across different bacterial phyla and archaeal phyla, validating the co-evolution of assembly proteins and showing undocumented horizontal gene transfers across phyla.
Article
Entomology
Naeem Iqbal, Abid Mahmood Alvi, Mujahid Hussain, Shafqat Saeed, Unsar Naeem-Ullah, Alamgir A. Khan, Allah Ditta Abid
Summary: Large bait stations (approximately 8 liters volume) are the most effective for population management of O. obesus and other related fungus-growing higher termites. The success of baiting systems is related to termite foraging behavior, with more workers recruited to large stations and abundance of O. obesus positively correlated with relative humidity in large and medium stations.
BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiyang Dong, Chuwen Zhang, Yongyi Peng, Hong-Xi Zhang, Ling-Dong Shi, Guangshan Wei, Casey R. J. Hubert, Yong Wang, Chris Greening
Summary: The authors investigate metagenomes and metatranscriptomes of diazotrophs from deep sea cold seep sediments, revealing greater phylogenetic and functional diversity than hitherto known.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Lingjun Qiu, Min Fan, Yunjie Li, Qin Yang, Xin Gou, Yuemei Kong, Shixing Zhou, Gang Chen, Jiulong Xie, Yuqin Chen, Li Liu, Yi Tang, Lihua Tu
Summary: By targeting the nifH gene, this study investigated the effects of long-term nitrogen addition on the abundance and composition of diazotrophic communities in subtropical N-rich forests. The results showed that increasing nitrogen addition decreased nitrogenase activity and nifH abundance, but increased the diversity of diazotrophic communities. Additionally, the composition of diazotrophic communities shifted from free-living nitrogen fixers to symbiotic nitrogen fixers.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Tinkara Bizjak, Anita Sellstedt, Regina Gratz, Annika Nordin
Summary: Endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria have been found in conifer trees in North American boreal forests, which could serve as an important nitrogen source for tree species in nutrient-limited boreal forests. This study investigated the presence and activity of these bacteria in a Scandinavian boreal forest. The results showed that nitrogen-fixing bacteria were present and active in both control plots and fertilized plots, with a calculated nitrogen fixation rate of 20 g N ha(-1) year(-1), suggesting their potential importance for the nitrogen budget of the forest.
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.
Article
Ecology
Danillo Oliveira Alvarenga, Isabella Vendel Elmdam, Alexander Blinkenberg Timm, Kathrin Rousk
Summary: Mosses can stimulate nitrogenase activity and heterocyte frequency of both symbiotic and non-symbiotic cyanobacteria through the release of ethanol extracts. Additionally, contact with another type of moss led to increased nitrogenase activity, suggesting low host-specificity.
Article
Agronomy
Christopher Cullis, Percy Chimwamurombe, Karl Kunert, Juan Vorster
Summary: Recent attention has been given to indigenous knowledge of plant species that have been consumed by humans but not actively cultivated in organized agriculture. This article focuses on the marama bean, an orphan plant that has not been grown as a crop but has potential for wider agricultural use. The authors discuss the current status of marama bean domestication and identify possible pathways for its integration into formal agriculture. They emphasize the need for scientific improvement, added value characteristics, and the involvement of growers in this process. The domestication of marama bean could also benefit other legume crops and contribute to food security in arid regions.
FOOD AND ENERGY SECURITY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yinliu Wang, Guoxiang Niu, Ruzhen Wang, Kathrin Rousk, Ang Li, Muqier Hasi, Changhui Wang, Jianguo Xue, Guojiao Yang, Xiaotao Lu, Yong Jiang, Xingguo Han, Jianhui Huang
Summary: Determining the abundance of N isotope (delta N-15) in natural environments provides information on the N cycling dynamics and status in an ecosystem under exogenous N inputs. The study assessed the response of N-15 signatures and growth of three dominant plant species to the addition of different N compounds and N addition rates. The results showed that the plants had different initial foliar delta N-15 values, and the foliar delta N-15 increased with increasing N addition rates, with different responses to different N compounds.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Philipp Porada, Maaike Y. Bader, Monica B. Berdugo, Claudia Colesie, Christopher J. Ellis, Paolo Giordani, Ulrike Herzschuh, Yunyao Ma, Samuli Launiainen, Juri Nascimbene, Imke Petersen, Jose Raggio Quilez, Emilio Rodriguez-Caballero, Kathrin Rousk, Leopoldo G. Sancho, Christoph Scheidegger, Steffen Seitz, John T. Van Stan, Maik Veste, Bettina Weber, David J. Weston
Summary: Nonvascular photoautotrophs (NVP), such as bryophytes, lichens, terrestrial algae, and cyanobacteria, play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. However, climate change poses a significant threat to NVP, and its impact on ecosystem functions and services remains uncertain. This study proposes a research agenda to address this urgent question, focusing on physiological and ecological processes linking NVP to ecosystem functions and considering the taxonomic diversity across different ecosystems. The study highlights the need for more quantitative understanding in areas such as acclimation potential, response to elevated CO2, microbiome role, and feedback to (micro)climate, and suggests an integrative approach of laboratory and field experiments and ecophysiological modeling.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valentin Ageorges, Ivan Wawrzyniak, Philippe Ruiz, Cedric Bicep, Mohamed A. Zorgani, Jason J. Paxman, Begona Heras, Ian R. Henderson, Sabine Leroy, Xavier Bailly, Panagiotis Sapountzis, Eric Peyretaillade, Mickael Desvaux
Summary: Antigen 43 (Ag43) expression induces bacterial aggregation and biofilm formation, affecting bacterial colonization and infection. Ag43 is a secreted protein with modular architecture, consisting of a signal peptide, a passenger domain, an autochaperone domain, and an outer membrane translocator. Ag43 has a ubiquitous distribution in E. coli genomes and exists in multiple classes with different tendencies for autoaggregation and interactions. Our in silico investigation reveals that Ag43 passenger domains cluster in six phylogenetic classes associated with different subdomains. The presence of agn43 differs between Escherichia phylogroups, and it is particularly abundant in the E phylogroup. Our findings provide insights into Ag43 diversity and offer a rational framework for studying its role in E. coli ecophysiology and physiopathology.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(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.
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xin Liu, Zhe Wang, Xiaoming Li, Weikai Bao, Kathrin Rousk
NATIONAL SCIENCE REVIEW
(2023)
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
Plant Sciences
Lina Avila Clasen, Aya Permin, Aline B. Horwath, Daniel B. Metcalfe, Kathrin Rousk
Summary: Tropical cloud forests are home to diverse mosses that grow abundantly and contribute to the nitrogen pool through biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). However, the availability of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus, can significantly affect BNF rates in mosses. A laboratory experiment in Peru showed that nitrogen addition inhibited BNF within a day, while phosphorus addition had variable effects on different moss species. Each moss species has a distinct contribution to the ecosystem's nitrogen pool depending on nutrient availability. Increased nitrogen input is likely to decrease BNF associated with mosses in tropical cloud forests, thus limiting nitrogen input to these ecosystems via the moss-cyanobacteria pathway.
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
Environmental Sciences
Toke Due Sjogren, Yinliu Wang, Kathrin Rousk
Summary: Nitrogen fixation by moss-associated cyanobacteria is a crucial N source in pristine ecosystems, but its vulnerability to heavy metal pollution varies depending on the dominant moss species.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(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)
