Gut microbiome of Oecophylla smaragdina: potential functions in host and environment

Abstract Oecophylla smaragdina (red weaver ant) is widely consumed either in the form of protein and nutrient rich diet or as a source of medicine provided by traditional healers in various parts of the world. Similar to other animals, ants also form mutualistic relationship with the microbes that live inside them. These endosymbionts perform various crucial functions in their host such as nutritional upgrading, digestion, nitrogen recycling and pathogen defence. However, not much literature is available on the role of gut specific microbes and their functions in the ant host. In this study, we have determined the microbiome profile of O. smaragdina colonies using 16S rRNA sequencing and biochemical characterization for understanding the role of both culturable and non-culturable microbes present in ant gut. While, a number of microbes are reported for the first time, Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcaceae were found to be the most dominant families found in O. smaragdina. Some endosymbionts were similar to human gut microbiota depicting the diversity of microbes inside an ant gut. We also focused on the bioactive compounds produced by endosymbionts, which may find an application in the treatment of various ailments in humans.