白蚁的分子生物学研究进展

白蚁是危险性社会昆虫,建立安全有效的白蚁防治方法有赖多学科的参与,分子生物学已经成为白蚁研究的重要工具。目前,DNA序列分析方法已应用于白蚁鉴定和分类,其中线粒体基因是最通用的分子标记;基因工程技术成功构建了可用于白蚁防治的白蚁肠道工程菌;Hexamerin、COX Ⅲ、纤维素酶等白蚁功能基因以及白蚁品级分化相关的若干蛋白相继得到了分离和鉴定。文章从白蚁分类、防治、功能基因、品级分化4个方面综述白蚁分子生物学的研究进展,为白蚁的防治提供新的方法和思路。

Advances in the molecular biology of termites

Termites are dangerous social insects.Different subjects of sciences have been involved in establishment of safe and effective control methods against termites.Molecular biology has played an important role in termite research.DNA sequence analysis has been used to identify and classify termite populations,and the most commonly used markers are mitochondrial genes.Genetic engineering technology has been successfully introduced to establish the genetically improved bacteria from termite intestines for termite control.Different functional genes,such as Hexamerin,COXⅢ and cellulose gene among others,and proteins that control caste differentiation,have been isolated and identified.The present paper reviews the advances in molecular biology related to classification,control,functional genes and caste differentiation of the termites,aiming to provide new insights into termite control.