Journal article

Publication year: 2007

Pages: 68-74

Journal: Systematic and Applied Microbiology

Volume number: 30

Issue number: 1

ISSN: 0723-2020

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2006.03.001

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
Wood-eating termites feed on a diet highly deficient in nitrogen. They must complement their diet with the aid of nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Nitrogen fixation in the gut has been demonstrated, but information about nitrogen-fixing bacteria in pure culture is scarce. From the higher termite Nasutitermes nigriceps the symbiotic bacterial strain M3A was isolated, which thrives in the hindgut contents. The Gram-negative strain exhibited similarities to the species of the genus Ensifer (including Sinorhizobium) on the basis of morphological and physiological/biochemical features. The 16S rRNA gene analysis showed the highest sequence similarity of the isolate M3A to Ensifer adhaerens (>99%; ATCC 33499). The DNA-DNA hybridization revealed a similarity of 66% with E. adhaerens (NCIMB12342(T)). In contrast to the type strain the isolate M3A possesses the capacity to nodulate plant roots. This is the first report on the detailed identification of a rhizobia-related strain from the intestinal tract of animals. Strain M3A has been deposited with two culture collections (DSM10169; ATCC BAA-396).

Harvard Citation style: Fröhlich, J., Koustiane, C., Kämpfer, P., Rosselló-Mora, R., Valens, M., Berchtold, M., et al. (2007) Occurrence of rhizobia in the gut of the higher termite Nasutitermes nigriceps., Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 30(1), pp. 68-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2006.03.001

APA Citation style: Fröhlich, J., Koustiane, C., Kämpfer, P., Rosselló-Mora, R., Valens, M., Berchtold, M., Kuhnigk, T., Hertel, H., Maheshwari, D., & König, H. (2007). Occurrence of rhizobia in the gut of the higher termite Nasutitermes nigriceps.. Systematic and Applied Microbiology. 30(1), 68-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.2006.03.001