Termite Gut Metagenome

A long-standing mission for DOE is to replace fossil fuels with renewable sources of cleaner energy, such as hydrogen produced during plant biomass fermentations. Termites efficiently transform lignocellulose and humus into valuable sugars, fuels (hydrogen, methane), and other intermediates of interest for biotechnologists, by exploiting the metabolic capabilities of the diverse microbial symbionts inhabiting their hindguts. An understanding of the biochemical pathways used in the termite hindgut may therefore lead to more efficient strategies for converting biomass to fuels and other chemicals of interest. Similarly, an ability to harness the pathways directly involved in, or impacting upon, hydrogen production in the termite gut may one day make biological production of this alternative energy source from plant lignocellulose a viable option. This is a particularly attractive avenue to explore because the termite hindgut protozoa that host Endomicrobia appear to be hardwired to convert lignocellulose derived hexoses and pentoses into H2, resulting in nearly saturating H2 partial pressures within the gut.