ECOLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF LIGNOCELLULOSE DIGESTION IN NEOTROPICAL HIGHER TERMITES

Due to their ability in digesting lignocellulose, termites are key organisms in the ecosystems that maintain carbon balance and incorporate organic matter into the soil. They are also considered the world's smallest bioreactors. The evolution of termites was marked by modifications on symbiont composition and acquisition of new feeding strategies that improved the digestion of lignocellulose resulting in the diversification of food sources. Nevertheless, some aspects of lignocellulose digestion in neotropical species are poorly known and studies are necessary to further comprehend their impact on the environment and their potential in the new bioeconomy. The aim of this proposal will be to study the digestion of lignocellulose and the community structure of the symbiotic microbiota in six species of neotropical higher termites by integrating ecological and molecular analyses. We will first compare microbiota functions of Cornitermes cumulans based on metagenomics and metatranscriptomic analyses. Then we will evaluate the activity of lignocellulases and the microbial community composition by six species of higher termites with different feeding strategies using enzymatic assays and 16S and ITS sequencing. We suggest that C. cumulans stores food in order to facilitate the digestion of lignocellulose by soil microorganisms before ingestion. In addition, both lignocellulose digestion and microbiota functional composition will be different according to termite feeding specialization. The results of this study will be significant to further understand the symbiotic relationship between the microbiota and termites.