Folate cross-feeding supports symbiotic homoacetogenic spirochetes

Article Abstract:

The hypothesis that termite gut microbes probably supply some from of folate to Treponema primitia in situ is examined by using a bioassay to screen for and isolate folate-secreting bacteria from hindguts of Zootermopsis angusticollis, which is the host of T. primitia. The analysis of the Z, angusticollis hindgut fluid revealed that 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate (THF) was the only detectable folate compound and occurred at an in situ concentration, which was more than sufficient to support the growth of T. primitia.

Analysis, Dihydrofolate reductase, Tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase

Physiology and nutrition of Treponema primitia, an H2/CO2- acetogenic spirochete from termite hindguts

Article Abstract:

Spirochetes are among the most abundant microbial groups in termite hindguts, accounting for as much as one-half of the prokaryotic community. The nutritional, physiological, and biochemical properties of Treponema primitia strains ZAS-1 and ZAS-2, H2/CO2- acetogenic spirochetes isolated from the hindgut of the California dampwood termite, is reported.

Polyketides

Description of Treponema azotonutricium sp. nov. and Treponema primitia sp. nov., the first spirochetes isolated from termite guts

Article Abstract:

The major phenotypic properties of strain ZAS-9 supporting its recognition as the type strain of the new species Treponema azotonutricium is described. Data on the genomes of ZAS strains in terms of molecular size, G+C content, and rrs copy number is provided.