Inter and intra termites colonies comparisons of gut microbial diversity from worker and soldier caste of Globitermes sulphureus (Blattodea: Termitidae) using 16S rRNA gene

ABSTRACT

Aims: The present study aims at isolation and identifying termite gut bacteria from different Globitermes sulphureus mounds using a molecular approach based on16S rRNA genes. Methodology and results: The bacteria from the whole gut of soldier and worker castes of the termite G. sulphureus was isolated and identified. The diversity of the bacteria was compared between five different colonies in Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia. The isolated bacteria were identified by using 16S rRNA gene sequencing method and subsequently used for phylogenetic analysis. Sequences analyses of identified bacteria were found to be affiliated with the phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Soldiers and workers seemed to have little differences in bacterial species from the same colonies. We noted some bacteria which were detected in soldiers were not detected in workers. Conclusion, significance and impact of study Differences in the culturable bacteria composition were not significant between termite colonies. However, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that most of the bacteria from one colony were slightly but distinctly different with bacteria from other colonies.