Genomics of uncultivable bacteria deciphers multilayered symbiotic system in the termite gut

Termites are social insects that thrive on dead plant matter. Their ability to digest lignocellulose and survive on nitrogen-poor food is largely attributable to the activity of the symbiotic gut microbiota, which comprises protists, bacteria, and archaea. My research team has been attempting to entangle this complex, multi-layered symbiotic system, using culture-independent approaches including metagenomics and single-cell genomics. We reconstructed genome sequences of several uncultured prokaryotic species associated with cellulolytic protist cells as endo- or ectosymbionts and predicted their functional roles in the symbiotic system. In my talk, I will introduce this fascinating symbiotic system in the termite gut, including our newest results.