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Bacterial Ecology in Arthropod Digestive Tracts

Bacterial Ecology in Arthropod Digestive Tracts Casey Eisele Significance of Research Arthropods aid in ruminant digestion Little research has been conducted using arthropods Studies suggest that arthropods benefit from both enzymatic activity (cellulose degradation)

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Bacterial Ecology in Arthropod Digestive Tracts

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  1. Bacterial Ecology in Arthropod Digestive Tracts Casey Eisele

  2. Significance of Research • Arthropods aid in ruminant digestion • Little research has been conducted using arthropods • Studies suggest that arthropods benefit from both • enzymatic activity (cellulose degradation) • products of fermentation

  3. Within the guts of Arthropods • Microbes have been isolated from cockroaches, crickets, mealworms, desert millipedes, and scarab beetles • Normal flora • high ratio of microbes/biomass • attachment to endothelium • cockroaches: 100 species • crickets: 25 species

  4. Materials and Methods • Arthropods were sacrificed, sterilized and dissected • Bacteria was liberated from the lining of the gut using a dilute solution of EDTA and sonication • 1/10,000 dilutions were plated on • T Soy Agar • Isolated bacteria were used to inoculate • Phenol Red Broth • Lactate Broth • Cellulose plates and broth

  5. Results • Bacteria were isolated from all three arthropod species

  6. T Soy Agar (Periplaneta americana) • Isolated 5 species • Underestimation • Psychotolerant Careful, they’re quick.

  7. T Soy Agar (Zophobas morio) • Isolated 2 species

  8. T Soy Agar (Acheta dometicus) • Isolated 2 species

  9. Populations and Diversity Bacteria/Biomass • Weight of gut # of species • Cricket = 2mg 2 • Mealworm =54mg 2 • Cockroach =25mg >5 • Bacteria/Biomass ratios confirmed the findings of Cazemier et al. and other studies Bacterial Count (1x10 ^5 cfu/mg) Mealworm Species

  10. 1) Fermentation Glycolytic Pathway host/bacteriabacteria Lactose (6 C) — —> Lactate (3 C) —> Pyruvate,Acetic Acid, Ethanol Phenol red broth Lactate Broth Biochemical Tests

  11. Results • Bacteria were isolated from all three arthropod species • 6 species fermented lactose

  12. Lactose —> Lactate —> Pyruvate/Acetic/Ethanol Cockroach Species 1 no Species 2 proteolytic Species 3 Species 4 Species 5 Mealworm Species 6 Species 7 Cricket Species 8 Species 9 proteolytic Glycolytic Pathway

  13. Lactose Fermentation lactose fermenters control proteolytic proteolytic cricket mealworm cockroach

  14. Results • Bacteria were isolated from all three arthropod species • 6 species fermented lactose • All Bacteria reduced lactate

  15. Glycolytic Pathway Lactose —> Lactate —> Pyruvate/Acetic/Ethanol • Cockroach • Species 1 no • Species 2 proteolytic • Species 3 • Species 4 • Species 5 • Mealworm • Species 6 • Species 7 • Cricket • Species 8 • Species 9 proteolytic

  16. Biochemical Tests • 1) Fermentation • 2) Cellulose Degradation bacteria Cellulose —> Simple Sugars (6 C) Cellulose plate/broth

  17. Cellulose Degradation • Cellulose tests were inconclusive

  18. Conclusions • My study confirmed the presence of large bacterial populations living within the gut of arthropods • These bacteria exhibited the ability to ferment compounds, whose end-products may be used by the host for nutrition • Further testing would be needed to determine cellulose-degrading capabilities

  19. Acknowledgements • Thank You • Professor Rose • Professor Smith • Tony

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