Bacillus species in the intestine of termites and other soil invertebrates

Soil invertebrates harbour a complex microbial community in their intestinal system. The total number of microbes in the hindgut of soil invertebrates can reach a titre of 10(11) ml(-1). The gut microbes play an indispensable role in the digestion of food and are of ecological importance in the global carbon cycle. The gut microbiota can include a variety of micro-organisms from the three domains Bacteria, Archaea and Eucarya. The bacterial groups from the intestinal systems are mainly affiliated to the proteobacteria, the gram-positive groups Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, the Bacteroides/Flavobacterium branch and the spirochetes. The Archaea are represented by methanogens. The eukaryotic groups consist of protozoa, yeasts and fungi. Intestinal bacteria are involved in the degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose and aromatic compounds as well as nitrogen fixation. They also contribute to the redox status of the gut. Bacilli form a significant portion of the intestinal microbial community of soil invertebrates, especially among cellulose degraders. The diversity and function of bacilli in soil invertebrates will be discussed in this paper.