A Century of Synergy in Termite Symbiosis Research: Linking the Past with New Genomic Insights

Termites have long been studied for their symbiotic associations with gut microbes. In the late nineteenth century, this relationship was poorly understood and captured the interest of parasitologists such as Joseph Leidy; this research led to that of twentieth-century biologists and entomologists including Cleveland, Hungate, Trager, and Luscher. Early insights came via microscopy, organismal, and defaunation studies, which led to descriptions of microbes present, descriptions of the roles of symbionts in lignocellulose digestion, and early insights into energy gas utilization by the host termite. Focus then progressed to culture-dependent microbiology and biochemical studies of host-symbiont complementarity, which revealed specific micro-habitat requirements for symbionts and noncellulosic mechanisms of symbiosis (e.g., N-2 fixation). Today, knowledge on termite symbiosis has accrued exponentially thanks to omic technologies that reveal symbiont identities, functions, and interdependence, as well as intricacies of host-symbiont complementarity. Moving forward, the merging of classical twentieth-century approaches with evolving omic tools should provide even deeper insights into host-symbiont interplay.

Automated summary

Termites and their symbiotic relationships with gut microbes have been studied extensively, with early research focusing on microscopy and organismal studies to understand the roles of symbionts in lignocellulose digestion. Advances in omic technologies have exponentially increased our knowledge of termite symbiosis, revealing the identities, functions, and interdependence of symbionts, as well as the complexities of host-symbiont complementarity. The merging of classical twentieth-century approaches with evolving omic tools is expected to provide even deeper insights into the interplay between hosts and symbionts.