Open AccessMolecular phylogeny of methanogens associated with flagellated protists in the gut and with the gut epithelium of termites
Author(s) -
Tokura Mitsunori,
Ohkuma Moriya,
Kudo Toshiaki
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2000.tb00745.x
Subject(s) - biology , methanogen , protist , phylogenetics , archaea , ribosomal rna , rhinotermitidae , microbiology and biotechnology , hindgut , zoology , gene , bacteria , genetics , botany , larva , midgut
The molecular phylogeny of methanogenic archaea associated with the flagellated protist species Dinenympha and Microjoenia in the gut of termites, Reticulitermes speratus and Hodotermopsis sjoestedti , and those attached to the gut epithelium was examined based on PCR‐amplified small‐subunit ribosomal RNA genes. The sequences identified were classified into six groups within the genus Methanobrevibacter , including groups of yet uncharacterized novel species. Closely related methanogens were shared between Microjoenia and some Dinenympha cells in each termite. The methanogens harbored by the flagellates were phylogenetically different from the methanogens associated with the gut epithelium, suggesting that distinct methanogen species showed distinct spatial distributions in the termite gut.