Abstract
Termites are usually associated with the decomposition of dead wood, although the diets of many species encompass other resources such as cactus, humus, feces, carcasses and lichens. Some components of their diets, however, may be associated with non-nutritional functions. The termite Constrictotermes cyphergaster has a varied diet, with dead wood being the main item consumed, but with lichens as secondary resources. The question concerning why lichens are consumed appears complicated, and needs careful study in a step-wise analysis. The present study was designed to examine and understand the effects of usnic acid, a secondary lichen metabolite, on the growth of bacteria associated with the gut microbiota of C. cyphergaster. Our results showed significant control of termite gut bacteria by usnic acid as compared with a treatment without it. Thus usnic acid appears to help the termite, possibly by controlling gut microbiota and avoiding diseases associated with entomopathogenic bacteria.
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Received from the Brazilian National Research Council – CNPq and MHO received scholarships from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel – CAPES, FAPESQ/PELD 23/2020.
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de Oliveira, M.H., Lacerda-Rolim, M.d.S., Barbosa-Silva, A.M. et al. Inhibitory effect of usnic acid on the gut microbiota of the termite Constrictotermes cyphergaster. Symbiosis 89, 329–335 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-023-00912-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13199-023-00912-0