昆虫肠道菌群的功能研究进展

Advances in research on insect gut microbiota and their functions

昆虫肠道为某些微生物提供了一个特定的定殖环境,这些肠道菌群也为其宿主提供了很多潜在的有益作用。因而昆虫在一定范围和程度上表现出对肠道菌群的依赖并形成一种互惠互利的共生关系。近年来,随着高通量测序技术的广泛应用,促进了肠道菌群及其功能基因的研究。也为进一步了解如何区分非致病性菌(共生菌)和致病菌(病原菌)的致病机理、调控昆虫肠道菌并用来防治害虫或保护授粉昆虫在内的有益昆虫奠定了基础。本文概述了昆虫肠道菌群定殖环境、起源和进化以及传播方式,综述了近年来昆虫肠道菌群功能研究的最新进展,并对今后昆虫肠道菌群的研究方向进行了展望。

Insect guts present distinctive environments for microbial colonization, and their gut bacteria potentially provide many beneficial services to their hosts. Insects show a wide range of dependence on, and mutualistic interactions with, their gut bacteria. In recent years, the extensive use of high-throughput sequencing technology has promoted the study of gut microbiota and their functions. These technology will further understanding of how insects discriminate between non-pathogenic （gut symbionts） and harmful pathogens, and will allow us to further manipulate the gut microbes of insects to both control insect pests and protect beneficial insects （including pollinators）. This paper first overviews the gut environment required for bacterial colonization, then introduces the evolutionary origins of the microbiota before focusing on reviews of the latest developments in insect gut bacteria function studies. Directions for future research are discussed.