Insam, H. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2026

Deciphering efficient metabolic pathways in an anaerobic gut fungus coupled with a syntrophic methanogen

Anaerobic gut fungi (AGF) are an integral part of the herbivore gut microbiome, primary decomposers of lignocellulose, and play a crucial role in establishing foundational links of syntrophic associations. The syntrophy with methanogens appears beneficial for mitigating feedback inhibition and results in the augmentation of AGF activity. However, the thermodynamic advantages of the presence of methanogens to AGF remain poorly understood. This study explores the preferred pathways adopted by Cyllamyces sp. and Methanobrevibacter olleyae, using 13C-glucose as a substrate and spiked with malate and pyruvate in different experimental set-ups. The results indicated reduced biomass formation by Cyllamyces sp. in monoxenic culture with Methanobrevibacter olleyae compared to axenic AGF culture supplemented with glucose. Additionally, metabolic analyses revealed the pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFO) as a key contributor to pyruvate metabolism. Malate supplementation notably enhanced the growth of Cyllamyces sp. and M. olleyae, whereas pyruvate supplementation enhanced the growth of Cyllamyces sp. only in axenic culture. This investigation provides insights into the preferred metabolic pathways operating in the hydrogenosomes of axenic anaerobic gut fungi (AGF) cultures and monoxenic AGF-methanogen co-cultures.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Decrypting the microbiota on the black soldier fly's (Hermetia illucens L., Diptera: Stratiomyidae) egg surface and their origin during development

The increasing global population leads to a soaring demand for protein for food and feed, and also challenges in organic waste management are growing. All this leads to environmental stress, causing biodiversity loss and an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Alternative and sustainable animal protein sources are needed to reduce the negative environmental impact of food production. In the last years, the black soldier fly (BSF) has been proposed to substitute animal protein, since BSF may consume and reduce a variety of waste organic matter. Successful industrial rearing of BSF depends on a flourishing reproduction of adults, which is influenced not only by environmental but also by physiological factors. The BSF female oviposits single eggs into clutches close to decomposing organic matter and conspecific eggs. Studies have shown that microbes play a significant role in the oviposition of BSF eggs. In this study, we focus on the surface microbiota of the egg and its origin. We investigated if the microbiota is inoculated before, during, or actively after oviposition. For this purpose, we analysed the microbiota in the larval haemolymph and the gut of larvae raised on sterilized and non-sterilized feed, the pupal cell pulp, the wash of the egg-laying apparatus and the eggs directly collected after oviposition, the ovarian eggs and the empty female abdomen, the eggs with contact to adult BSF, and sterilized eggs. The bacterial communities were identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing to assess the stage in BSF development during which the microbial colonization of the egg surface occurs. We demonstrated that bacteria differ among life stages resulting in a shift during BSF development from dominance of Enterobacteriaceae during the larval stage to dominance of Burkholderiaceae spp. in all analysed eggs. A predominant microbiota is present before oviposition and persists through all life stages, however, the overall populations structure successively shifts during development. A better understanding of egg surface microbiota and oviposition attractants could significantly increase egg production and facilitate the mass harvesting of BSF larvae. O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=125 SRC="FIGDIR/small/520758v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (32K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1faf08borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1c66b02org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@19b5658org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@141b369_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG O_FLOATNOGraphical abstract.C_FLOATNO Illustration of the sampling procedure to assess egg surface microbiome of black soldier fly and its origin: Larval fed with unsterile (GU) and sterile (GS) feed and the larval haemolymph of GS (LH), the pupal cell pulp (CP), and from the female adults after mating, a wash of the egg-laying apparatus (WS) and the afterwards placed eggs of the egg-laying apparatus (EA), eggs collected from the ovary (EO) and the empty female abdomen (FA), eggs collected from a fly cage after forced exposure to adults (EC) and sterilized (ES). C_FIG

microbiology↗