The gut microbiome mediates adaptation to scarce food in Coleoptera

0583546 - BC 2024 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Moldovan, O. T. - Carrell, A. A. - Bulzu, Paul-Adrian - Levei, E. - Bucur, R. - Sitar, C. - Faur, L. - Mirea, I.C. - Șenilă, M. - Cadar, O. - Podar, M.
The gut microbiome mediates adaptation to scarce food in Coleoptera.
Environmental Microbiome. Roč. 18, č. 1 (2023), č. článku 80. E-ISSN 2524-6372
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GJ20-23718Y
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : insect gut * diversity * leiodidae * bacteria * Cave beetles * Leptodirini * Trechinae * Gut microbiome * Sediments * Carpathians
OECD category: Microbiology
Impact factor: 7.9, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40793-023-00537-2

Beetles are ubiquitous cave invertebrates worldwide that adapted to scarce subterranean resources when they colonized caves. Here, we investigated the potential role of gut microbiota in the adaptation of beetles to caves from different climatic regions of the Carpathians. The beetles' microbiota was host-specific, reflecting phylogenetic and nutritional adaptation. The microbial community structure further resolved conspecific beetles by caves suggesting microbiota-host coevolution and influences by local environmental factors. The detritivore species hosted a variety of bacteria known to decompose and ferment organic matter, suggesting turnover and host cooperative digestion of the sedimentary microbiota and allochthonous-derived nutrients. The cave Carabidae, with strong mandibula, adapted to predation and scavenging of animal and plant remains, had distinct microbiota dominated by symbiotic lineages Spiroplasma or Wolbachia. All beetles had relatively high levels of fermentative Carnobacterium and Vagococcus involved in lipid accumulation and a reduction of metabolic activity, and both features characterize adaptation to caves.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0351561