Molecular evidence that cellulolytic bacterial genus Cohnella is widespread among Neotropical Nasutitermitinae from NE Argentina

ARNEODO, JOEL DEMIÁN; ETCHEVERRY, CLARA; THEBE, TUMELO; BABALOLA, OLUBUKOLA OLURANTI; GODOY, MARÍA CELINA; TALIA, PAOLA

REVISTA ARGENTINA DE MICROBIOLOGíA

ASOCIACION ARGENTINA MICROBIOLOGIA

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2019 vol. 51 p. 77 - 80

0325-7541

PaenibacillaceaeAbstract Cohnella is a highly cellulolytic bacterial genus, which can be found in a varietyof habitats. The aim of this study was to assess its presence in the digestive tract of ter-mite species collected in North-eastern Argentina: Nasutitermes aquilinus, N. corniger andCortaritermes fulviceps. Gut homogenates were incubated with cellulosic substrate for bac-terial growth. Bacterial 16S rDNA was partially amplified using new primers for Cohnella spp.and cloned. Sequences obtained showed highest similarity (97.2---99.9%) with those of Cohnellaspp. previously reported from diverse environments. Phylogenetic analysis tended to group theclones according to their host species and sampling sites. These results indicate the associa-tion of Cohnella-related intestinal symbionts with three common Neotropical termites. Theirpotential industrial application encourages further research.