Metavirome Sequencing of the Termite Gut Reveals the Presence of an Unexplored Bacteriophage Community.

ABSTRACT: The Formosan subterranean termite; Coptotermes formosanus is nutritionally dependent on the complex and diverse community of bacteria and protozoa in their gut. Although, there have been many studies to decipher the taxonomic and functional diversity of bacterial communities in the guts of termites, their bacteriophages remain unstudied. We sequenced the metavirome of the guts of Formosan subterranean termite workers to study the diversity of bacteriophages and other associated viruses. Results showed that the termites harbor a virome in their gut comprised of varied and previously unknown bacteriophages. Between 87-90% of the predicted dsDNA virus genes by Metavir showed similarity to the tailed bacteriophages (Caudovirales). Many predicted genes from the virome matched to bacterial proph

SUBMITTER: Tikhe CV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5759034 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature