Phylogenetic Relationship of Symbiotic Archaea in the Gut of the Higher Termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis Fed with Various Carbon Sources

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationship of archaea in the gut of the wood-feeding higher termite Nasutitermes takasagoensis fed with various carbon sources was investigated using a clonal analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The representative phylotypes were affiliated with the Methanomicrobiales, Methanosarcinales, Methanobacteriales, and Thermoplasmatales of the Euryarchaeota, and with the Crenarchaeota. The majority of clones obtained in this study were closely related to those obtained from other termite species, regardless of the carbon source in the feed. The relative clone frequencies of the libraries from wood powder-, xylose-, cellobiose-, and glucose-fed termites were similar to those from the library of wood-fed termites. On the other hand, the relative clone frequency of the library from xylan-fed termites in which the Thermoplasmatales predominated differed from that of the library from the wood-fed termites. These results suggest that, except for xylan, the carbohydrate components in feeds have a limited influence on archaeal community structures.