Gut Microbiota Is Not Essential for Survival and Development in Blattella germanica, but Affects Uric Acid Storage

• Published in: Life (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 14; no. 1; p. 153
• Main Authors: Domínguez-Santos, Rebeca, Baixeras, Joaquín, Moya, Andrés, Latorre, Amparo, Gil, Rosario, García-Ferris, Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.01.2024
• Subjects: Blattabacterium; Blattella germanica; Cockroaches; Complementation; Coprophagy; Digestive system; Embryos; Feces; fitness; Food; Gastrointestinal tract; germ-free; Germfree; gut microbiome; Hatching; Insects; Intestinal microflora; Life cycles; Microbiota; Microorganisms; Molting; Performance evaluation; Phenotypes; Survival; Uric acid; uric acid reservoir; germ-free; gut microbiome; uric acid reservoir; Blattabacterium; Blattella germanica; fitness

Cockroaches harbor two coexisting symbiotic systems: the obligate endosymbiont Blattabacterium cuenotii, and a complex gut microbiota. Blattabacterium is the only bacterium present in the eggs, as the gut microbiota is acquired by horizontal transmission after hatching, mostly through coprophagy. Bl...