The complete mitogenomes of six higher termite species reconstructed from metagenomic datasets (Cornitermes sp., Cubitermes ugandensis, Microcerotermes parvus, Nasutitermes corniger, Neocapritermes taracua, and Termes hospes)

Abstract

We reconstructed the complete mitochondrial genomes of six higher termite species from metagenomic datasets of their isolated hindgut compartments. The sequencing reads were retrieved and assembled with the mitochondrial-baiting and iterative-mapping algorithm (MITObim), which yielded closed mitogenomes without additional finishing efforts (average coverage ranging from 2300- to 17,000-fold). The genomes ranged from 16.1 to 17.6 kbp in size and had G+C contents between 32 and 35 mol%; each contained the same 37 genes present also in the mitochondria of other termite species. Our study substantially increases the number of termite mitogenomes available for phylogenetic studies and offers a facile strategy for identifying host species in metagenomic studies of their associated microbiota.

Keywords:

• Metagenome
• mitogenome
• termites

Declaration of interest

This study was financially supported by the Max Planck Society and a grant of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 987). The metagenomic datasets were obtained in the context of a collaborative project on termite gut microbiota between A. Brune and the Joint Genome Institute, Walnut Creek, California, in the Community Sequencing Program 2013 financed by the US Department of Energy.