Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Isolation and Characterization of Cellulase Producing Bacteria from the Gut of Termites (Odontotermes and Heterotermes Species)

C. P. Sreena, N. K. Resna, Denoj Sebastian

Biotechnology Journal International · pp. 1–10 · Published 9 Aug 2015

10.9734/BBJ/2015/20001

Abstract

Aim: To identify, characterize and compare the cellulolytic potentials of strains isolated from the gut of Odontotermes and Heterotermes species. Methodology: Termites were collected, identified, surface sterilized and used as source of cellulase producers. Enrichment of cellulose utilizers were done using liquid media containing carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) as the sole source of carbon and their cellulolytic potentials were confirmed using congo red plate screening method. The isolates showing considerable zone of clearance were biochemically characterized. Three effective isolates were further identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Growth curves of the strains were constructed under six different conditions (static and shaking at 25°C, 37°C and 45°C). Their cellulase activities- endoglucanase, FPase and β-glucosidase, assayed at 18 hours of incubation were compared under the above mentioned conditions. Results: Five isolates showing significant zone of clearance were selected, out of which three belonged to Bacillus and one each to Staphylococcus and Enterobacter sp. The three Bacillus sp. which were dominant cellulase producers were found to belong to Bacillus cereus (strain HT from Heterotermes sp. and ODO1, ODO2 from Odontotermes sp.). All the isolates showed high growth at 37°C under shaker condition. Bacillus cereus ODO2 displayed a higher cellulolytic potential compared to strain HT and ODO1. The endoglucanase, FPase and β-glucosidase activities of ODO2 were 5.06 U/mg, 2.52 U/mg and 6.01 U/mg respectively. ODO2 showed optimum specific activity at 37°C in shaker condition, whereas ODO1 and HT preferred static at same temperature. Conclusion:  The strains obtained in the present study are potent cellulase producers and thus can find application in food, animal feed, textile, fuel and chemical industries. Optimization of media and genetic modification of the strains can further improve their efficiency. All the three isolates are promising in view of use in future.

Termite gut cellulase Bacillus cereus 16S rRNA gene identification Heterotermes sp. Odontotermes sp.

References (29)

  1. 1 PROTEIN MEASUREMENT WITH THE FOLIN PHENOL REAGENT [DOI]
  2. 2 Use of Dinitrosalicylic Acid Reagent for Determination of Reducing Sugar [DOI]
  3. 3 Measurement of cellulase activities [DOI]
  4. 4 Use of Congo red-polysaccharide interactions in enumeration and characterization of cellulolytic bacteria from the bovine rumen [DOI]
  5. 5 T HE G UT B ACTERIA OF I NSECTS : Nonpathogenic Interactions [DOI]
  6. 6 Cellulases and related enzymes in biotechnology [DOI]
  7. 7 Cellulose degrading enzymes and their potential industrial applications [DOI]
  8. 8 The Greenhouse Effect: Science and Policy [DOI]
  9. 9 Isolation of Cellulose-Degrading Bacteria and Determination of Their Cellulolytic Potential [DOI]
  10. 10 Gut content analysis and a new feeding group classification of termites [DOI]
  11. 11 Termite symbiotic systems: efficient bio-recycling of lignocellulose [DOI]
  12. 12 Termite guts: the world's smallest bioreactors [DOI]
  13. 13 Aerobic and facultatively anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria from the gut of the termite Zootermopsis angusticollis [DOI]
  14. 14 Cellulases of Mesophilic Microorganisms [DOI]
  15. 15 Bioprospecting thermophiles for cellulase production: a review [DOI]
  16. 16 Quorum sensing: a population-density component in the determination of bacterial phenotype [DOI]
  17. 17 The Mechanism of Enzymatic Cellulose Degradation [DOI]
  18. 18 Characterization of a novel thermophilic, cellulose-degrading bacterium Paenibacillus sp. strain B39 [DOI]
  19. 19 Directed evolution of endoglucanase III (Cel12A) from Trichoderma reesei [DOI]
  20. 20 Bacteria from the Gut of Australian Termites [DOI]
  21. 21 Isolation and Characterization of a Cellulose-utilizing Bacterium [DOI]
  22. 22 Degradation of dimeric lignin model compounds by aerobic bacteria isolated from the hindgut of xylophagous termites [DOI]
  23. 23 Degradation of Lignin Monomers by the Hindgut Flora of Xylophagous Termites [DOI]
  24. 24 Facultative Wood-digesting Bacteria from the Hind-gut of the Termite Reticulitermes hesperus [DOI]
  25. 25 An organic solvent-tolerant protease from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain K [DOI]
  26. 26 Production of cellulase from a thermophilic Bacillus sp. isolated from cow dung.
  27. 27 Cellulase-Producing Bacteria from Thai Higher Termites, Microcerotermes sp.: Enzymatic Activities and Ionic Liquid Tolerance [DOI]
  28. 28 Species-level systematics of some Kenyan termites of the genus Odontotermes (Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) using mitochondrial DNA, morphology, and behaviour [DOI]
  29. 29 Influence of cellulolytic organisms associated with a termite, Odontotermes obesus, on carbon mobility in a semiarid ecosystem [DOI]

Cited by 27

Influence of sex and geographical location on culturable midgut bacterial diversity of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella larvae and their enzyme production potential

H. Chaitra, K. Pandiyan, Jyoti Singh · World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology · 2026

Diverse cellulolytic bacterial community in the gut of Trypoxylus dichotomus Larvae: A promising source for Novel Cellulose-Degrading Microorganisms

Ao Li, Linyao Weng, Jia-Jing Ye · Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology · 2026

Gut microbiota of economically important termites: functional convergence, harmfulness and precision control

Xinlian Li, Zhi-qiang Li · Pest Management Science · 2025

Exploration of ethanologenic bacteria from termite gut for bioethanol production

Preeti Yadav, Yatika Dixit, Hitakshi Asnani · Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery · 2024

Selection of Potential Bacteria in Termite Nest and Gut for Sustainable Agriculture

Phanukit Kunhachan, Wandee Sirithana, Orapin Komutiban · TRENDS IN THE SCIENCES · 2024

Grasshopper (Oxya chinensis) Gut Bacteria and their Cellulolytic Activity

Erman Munir, Irma Vanessa Sitinjak, Ahmad Faisal Nasution · Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology · 2024

Environmental and Human Health Impact of Disposable Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Wood-Feeding Termites as a Model for Plastic Biodegradation

Rania Al-Tohamy, S. Ali, Meng Zhang · Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology · 2022

Harnessing the potential use of cellulolytic Klebsiella oxytoca (M21WG) and Klebsiella sp. (Z6WG) isolated from the guts of termites (Isoptera)

Gamachis Korsa, C. Masi, Rocktotpal Konwarh · Annals of Microbiology · 2022

Insect gut bacteria: a promising tool for enhanced biogas production

Binoy Kumar Show, Sandipan Banerjee, Aishiki Banerjee · Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio\/technology · 2022

Symbiotic cellulolytic bacteria from the gut of the subterranean termite Psammotermes hypostoma Desneux and their role in cellulose digestion

H. Ali, N. Hemeda, Y. F. Abdelaliem · AMB Express · 2019

Showing 19 of 27 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

89

Page views

0

PDF downloads

35

Outbound clicks

27

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.