Researchers Discover Potential Biofuel Enzymes from Insects

Researchers from the USA and China reported in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics the results of their study comparing the genetics and metabolic capabilities of microbes residing in the intestinal tracts of grasshoppers, termites, and cutworm. These insects represent three distinct orders and consume different food types.

The study revealed remarkable diversity of microbes living in the insects' guts and a strong correlation between the plant-digesting capabilities of the gut microbes and their hosts' diet. It showed further that grasshoppers harbor efficient cellulose-digesting enzymes that can be tapped for biofuel applications. According to the researchers, the characteristic adaptation to diet changes shown by the gut microbes may be exploited in designing new biotechnological approaches for breaking down the tough molecules involved in bioenergy conversion such as cellulose and lignin.