Liometopum apiculatum is a species of ants widely distributed in arid and semi-arid ecosystems where there is a relative food shortage compared with tropical ecosystems. L. apiculatum has established an ecological balance involving symbiotic interactions, which have allowed them to survive through mechanisms that are still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the metabolic potential of isolated bacteria from L. apiculatum using enzymatic activity assay and substrate assimilation. Results revealed a complex bacteria consortium belonging to Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteria phylum. Most of the isolated bacteria showed activities associated with biopolymers degradation, from them Exiguobacterium and B. simplex showed the highest amylolytic activity (27 U/mg protein), while A. johnsonii and B. pumulis showed the highest cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities (1 and 2.9 U/mg protein, respectively). By other hand, some microorganisms such as S. ficaria, E. asburiae, P. agglomerans, A. johnsonii, S. rubidaea, S. marcescens, S. warneri, and M. hydrocarbonoxydans were able to grow up to 1000 mg/L of phthalates esters. These results not only revealed the important contribution of the symbionts in L apiculatum ants feeding habits, but also have shown a promising source of enzymes with potential biotechnological applications such as lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis and bioremediation processes.

中文翻译：

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从 Liometopum apiculatum 微生物群中分离的可培养细菌对顽固化合物和邻苯二甲酸盐的生物降解

Liometopum apiculatum 是一种广泛分布于干旱和半干旱生态系统中的蚂蚁，与热带生态系统相比，这里的食物相对短缺。L. apiculatum 已经建立了涉及共生相互作用的生态平衡，这使它们能够通过仍然未知的机制生存。因此，本研究的目的是使用酶活性测定和底物同化来探索从 L. apiculatum 中分离出的细菌的代谢潜力。结果揭示了属于变形菌门、厚壁菌门和放线菌门的复杂细菌聚生体。大多数分离的细菌显示出与生物聚合物降解相关的活性，其中 Exiguobacterium 和 B. simplex 显示出最高的淀粉分解活性（27 U/mg 蛋白质），而 A. johnsonii 和 B. pumulis 显示出最高的纤维素分解和木聚糖分解活性（分别为 1 和 2.9 U/mg 蛋白质）。另一方面，一些微生物，如 S. ficaria、E. asburiae、P. agglomerans、A. johnsonii、S. rubidaea、S. marcescens、S. warneri 和 M. carbonoxydans 能够生长到 1000 毫克/升邻苯二甲酸酯。这些结果不仅揭示了共生体在 L apiculatum 蚂蚁摄食习惯中的重要贡献，而且还展示了具有潜在生物技术应用（如木质纤维素生物质水解和生物修复过程）的酶的有希望的来源。Hydroxoxydans 能够生长到 1000 mg/L 的邻苯二甲酸酯。这些结果不仅揭示了共生体在 L apiculatum 蚂蚁摄食习惯中的重要贡献，而且还展示了具有潜在生物技术应用（如木质纤维素生物质水解和生物修复过程）的酶的有希望的来源。Hydroxoxydans 能够生长到 1000 mg/L 的邻苯二甲酸酯。这些结果不仅揭示了共生体在 L apiculatum 蚂蚁摄食习惯中的重要贡献，而且还展示了具有潜在生物技术应用（如木质纤维素生物质水解和生物修复过程）的酶的有希望的来源。