Abstract
Publisher Summary
The interactions of insects with microorganisms range from the cultivation of fungus gardens to intimate associations with bacteria housed within special organs (mycetomes) or dedicated cells (bacteriocytes) of the fat body. Many of these associations have nutritional implications; this chapter focuses on microbial symbionts that colonize the intestinal tract and are directly involved in digestion. Although insects produce a wide variety of digestive enzymes, many species harbor an intestinal microbiota that converts a substantial portion of the dietary components to fermentation products before they are resorbed by the intestinal epithelia. The occurrence of such associations is always correlated with a dietary specialization, which indicates that the symbiosis provides metabolic capacities that are normally not available to the host. Digestive symbioses are most common among insects feeding on wood or other lignified plant materials. Termites have served as an excellent model for studying symbiotic digestion and the complex interactions within the intestinal microbial community. Recently, they are receiving great interest also because of the biotechnological potential of their gut microbiota for the conversion of lignocellulosic wastes to hydrogen and other valuable chemicals.
