Public questions spur the discovery of new bacterial species associated with lignin bioconversion of industrial waste.

ABSTRACT: A citizen science project found that the greenhouse camel cricket (Diestrammena asynamora) is common in North American homes. Public response was to wonder 'what good are they anyway?' and ecology and evolution guided the search for potential benefit. We predicted that camel crickets and similar household species would likely host bacteria with the ability to degrade recalcitrant carbon compounds. Lignocellulose is particularly relevant as it is difficult to degrade yet is an important feedstock for pulp and paper, chemical and biofuel industries. We screened gut bacteria of greenhouse camel crickets and another household insect, the hide beetle (Dermestes maculatus) for the ability to grow on and degrade lignocellulose components as well as the lignocellulose-derived industr

SUBMITTER: Mathews SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6458430 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature