Bacterial Symbionts of Insects: Exploring their Role in Insect Nutritional Composition

Authors

  • M. A. Idigo Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • I. H. Iheukwumere Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • C. M. Iheukwumere Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
  • B. C. Nnaeze Department of Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.
  • C. J. Akulue Department of Medical Microbiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.
  • N. E. Nwakoby Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • J. N. Ezendianefor Department of Microbiology, Tansian Universiy, Umunya, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • V. E. Ike Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria.
  • A. O. Nnaedozie Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • S. N. Ezekwueche Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, Imo State, Nigeria.
  • I. S. Anagor Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nigeria.
  • C. C. Aniekwe Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
  • F. C. Ezeoke Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • F. O. Okereke Department of Biological Sciences (Microbiology), Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Spiritan University, Nneochi, Abia State, Nigeria.
  • S. C. Ochibulu Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54117/iijbs.v5i1.105

Keywords:

Insects, bacterial symbionts, nutritional composition, Rhynchophorus phoenicis

Abstract

Insects have evolved complex symbiotic relationships with bacterial microorganisms that play a crucial role in their nutritional ecology. This study investigated the role of bacterial symbionts in enhancing the nutritional composition of Rhynchophorus phoenicis. The bacterial symbionts were isolated and characterized using standard microbiological techniques. The results revealed that the isolates R2 and R5 recorded the highest nutrient composition, followed by R3 and R1. The isolates were identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain ZG308 (LPZ3), Limosilactobacillus fermentum strain 2760 (LF2), Bifidobacteriu dentum strain MB0148 (BDM1), and Bifidobacterium bifidum strain CNCM1-4319 (BBC4). The distribution of the nutritional enhanced bacteria among the studied samples showed that isolate LPZ3 was the most prevalent, followed by isolate LF2, and then BDM1 and BBC4. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in the nutrient composition among the isolates (p < 0.05). The study concluded that the bacterial symbionts were able to enhance the nutritional composition of Rhynchophorus phoenicis, suggesting their potential as a natural agent for improving animal nutrition.

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Published

2025-11-11

How to Cite

Idigo, M. A., Iheukwumere, I. H., Iheukwumere, C. M., Nnaeze, B. C., Akulue, C. J., Nwakoby, N. E., Ezendianefor, J. N., Ike, V. E., Nnaedozie, A. O., Ezekwueche, S. N., Anagor, I. S., Aniekwe, C. C., Ezeoke, F. C., Okereke, F. O., & Ochibulu, S. C. (2025). Bacterial Symbionts of Insects: Exploring their Role in Insect Nutritional Composition. IPS Interdisciplinary Journal of Biological Sciences, 5(1), 177–186. https://doi.org/10.54117/iijbs.v5i1.105

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2025): Dec

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 M. A. Idigo, I. H. Iheukwumere, C. M. Iheukwumere, B. C. Nnaeze, C. J. Akulue, N. E. Nwakoby, J. N. Ezendianefor, V. E. Ike, A. O. Nnaedozie, S. N. Ezekwueche, I. S. Anagor, C. C. Aniekwe, F. C. Ezeoke, F. O. Okereke, S. C. Ochibulu

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.