Bacterial Symbionts of Macrotermes Species: Assessing their Impact on Phagocytic Indices of Albino Wistar Rats

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, Uli, Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria.
  • C. M. Iheukwumere Department of Applied Microbiology & Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria.
  • B. C. Nnaeze Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Faculty of Biosciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, 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, Uli, Campus, 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.v5i1.106

Keywords:

Macrotermes, bacterial symbionts, phagocytic indices, immunomodulation

Abstract

Termites of the genus Macrotermes host a complex gut microbiota essential for lignocellulose degradation and nitrogen fixation. Recent studies have highlighted the immunomodulatory properties of microbial symbionts in priming innate immune responses, such as phagocytosis. This study investigated the impact of dietary supplementation with bacterial symbionts isolated from Macrotermes species on the phagocytic indices of Albino Wistar rats. The bacterial symbionts were isolated using standard microbiological techniques and identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strain ZG308 (LPZ3), Limosilactobacillus fermentum strain 2760 (LF2), Bifidobacterium dentum strain MB0148 (BDM1), and Bifidobacterium bifidum strain CNCM1-4319 (BBC4). The results showed a significant increase in the phagocytic index of the rats fed with the bacterial symbionts, with the Nutrient-Enhanced Symbiont Group (D3) recording the highest phagocytic index (p < 0.05). The phagocytic indices of the rats fed with the bacterial symbionts were significantly higher than the control group, indicating enhanced phagocytic capacity. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in the phagocytic indices among the treatment groups (p < 0.05). This study concludes that bacterial symbionts from Macrotermes species significantly enhanced the phagocytic capacity of the innate immune system in Albino Wistar rats. The findings suggest that these bacterial symbionts may be potential natural agents for immunomodulation and disease prevention.

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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 Macrotermes Species: Assessing their Impact on Phagocytic Indices of Albino Wistar Rats. IPS Interdisciplinary Journal of Biological Sciences, 5(1), 187–196. https://doi.org/10.54117/iijbs.v5i1.106

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.