{"title":"Comparison of Surface Sterilization Methods for the Analysis of insect gut microbiota: Solenopsis invicta (Formicidae) as an example","authors":"Defu Chen, Zhonghao Huang, Youbang Li, Zhilin Chen","doi":"10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.8263","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"The gut microbiota of vertebrates and invertebrates has become the focus of recent research. However, current sterilizing practices need more systematic quantitative methods due to limitations caused by their minute body size. Thus, an effective sterilization process incorporating organic and inorganic methods to obtain invertebrate microbiota, particularly when evaluating smaller insects, has yet to be elucidated. This study investigated if the whole abdomen should be utilized as the material to sterilize and examined whether physical and chemical surface sterilization methods could be combined to facilitate the acquisition of gut microbiota from theimported red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972). Eight methods were designed by incorporating three chemical reagents (sterile water, 2.0 mg/L NaClO, and 75% ethanol) and one physical treatment (250 nm UV). The length range of the amplified fragment in the red imported fire ant is 401-450 bp. According to the results of the GLM regression model and interaction effect model, none of these factors (sterile water, 2.0 mg/L NaClO, and 75% ethanol, 250 nm UV) were significant for statistical regression of the Chao index, and these factors did not significantly interact with each other. Based on Alpha and Beta diversity analysis, none of the methods significantly affected the diversity of insects’ gut microbiome. Finally, we suggested that it is feasible for different species of small insects to select appropriate methods according to the current situation. Still, it is best to achieve unity in the same group.","PeriodicalId":21971,"journal":{"name":"Sociobiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7000,"publicationDate":"2023-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Sociobiology","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.8263","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"ENTOMOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The gut microbiota of vertebrates and invertebrates has become the focus of recent research. However, current sterilizing practices need more systematic quantitative methods due to limitations caused by their minute body size. Thus, an effective sterilization process incorporating organic and inorganic methods to obtain invertebrate microbiota, particularly when evaluating smaller insects, has yet to be elucidated. This study investigated if the whole abdomen should be utilized as the material to sterilize and examined whether physical and chemical surface sterilization methods could be combined to facilitate the acquisition of gut microbiota from theimported red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972). Eight methods were designed by incorporating three chemical reagents (sterile water, 2.0 mg/L NaClO, and 75% ethanol) and one physical treatment (250 nm UV). The length range of the amplified fragment in the red imported fire ant is 401-450 bp. According to the results of the GLM regression model and interaction effect model, none of these factors (sterile water, 2.0 mg/L NaClO, and 75% ethanol, 250 nm UV) were significant for statistical regression of the Chao index, and these factors did not significantly interact with each other. Based on Alpha and Beta diversity analysis, none of the methods significantly affected the diversity of insects’ gut microbiome. Finally, we suggested that it is feasible for different species of small insects to select appropriate methods according to the current situation. Still, it is best to achieve unity in the same group.
期刊介绍:
SOCIOBIOLOGY publishes high quality articles that significantly contribute to the knowledge of Entomology, with emphasis on social insects. Articles previously submitted to other journals are not accepted. SOCIOBIOLOGY publishes original research papers and invited review articles on all aspects related to the biology, evolution and systematics of social and pre-social insects (Ants, Termites, Bees and Wasps). The journal is currently expanding its scope to incorporate the publication of articles dealing with other arthropods that exhibit sociality. Articles may cover a range of subjects such as ecology, ethology, morphology, population genetics, physiology, toxicology, reproduction, sociobiology, caste differentiation as well as economic impact and pest management.