Selection and cultivation of hydrolytic microorganisms extracted from the digestive tract of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis (3DV.1.55)

Biofuel production can be based on the use of fermentable substrates issued from the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass stemming from agricultural residues and by-products. However, such substrates are not easy to degrade. Enzymes (cellulases, xylanases, etc.) can be used for this purpose and pre-treatments can increase their action by providing more available extremities. The digestive tract of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis contains various microorganisms (bacteria, molds, protists) able to degrade the wood components. These microorganisms act as consortia, leading to a better hydrolysis than in the cow rumen. Our purpose is the isolation of microorganisms from termite guts in order to evaluate their potential for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials. This approach led us to isolate and to study a bacteria (Bacillus sp.) displaying a xylanase activity, a mold (Aspergillus sp.) displaying a cellulase activity and a chrysophyte (protist) displaying an amylase activity.