Characterization of lactic acid bacteria in the larval midgut of the keratinophagous lepidopteran, Hofmannophila pseudospretella

Abstract

In two of eight Hofmannophila pseudospretella specimens studied by microscopy, the larval midgut contained an unidentified micro-organism. Although not seen microscopically in midgut sections, bacteria were isolated from dissected midgut. Microscopy, carbohydrate utilization and ribosomal sequence data all separated the isolates into the same three classes. These were identified as Lactococcus lactis, Carnobacterium piscicola and, tentatively, Bacillus subtilis, the first two being facultative anaerobes and the latter, an aerobe. The bacteria were therefore not specifically adapted to the reducing conditions of the midgut.