Microorganism Diversity Found in Blatta orientalis L. (Blattodea: Blattidae) Cuticle and Gut Collected in Urban Environments.

Simple Summary: Urban cockroaches raise health concerns due to their association with pathogens. However, their microbial associates can enhance their physiological and reproductive functions. This article details the bacterial community associated with the oriental cockroach Blatta orientalis Linnaeus, 1758 (Blattodea: Blattidae) using metabarcoding for the first time. We analyze bacterial communities on the exoskeleton and within the gut of this cosmopolitan pest. Specimens were collected from the urban area of Santiago, Chile. DNA extraction and metabarcoding were performed for analysis. Our findings reveal a variety of bacterial lineages, including mutualistic symbionts and pathogenic strains. We examined the metabolic functions of these bacterial communities and their implications for B. orientalis as a pathogen reservoir and vector of zoonosis. Lastly, we consider how the microbial diversity in cockroaches might facilitate their adaptation to human-altered environments. Pest cockroaches share urban habitats with us; their prevalence in urban areas prompts concerns regarding their effect on human health, as synanthropic cockroaches often host pathogenic microorganisms. Nonetheless, microbial associates in these insects can also be related to their biology, contributing to their physiological homeostasis and reproductive success. In this article, we present in detail, for the first time, the bacterial community associated with the oriental cockroach Blatta orientalis, one of the world's five most prominent pest cockroaches. We report the composition of the communities of bacteria found over the exoskeleton and inside the gut of this global pest. We collected B. orientalis in Santiago, Chile's capital city, and the urban nucleus in this country. We conducted DNA extractions and metabarcoding analysis. We found diverse bacterial lineages, including mutualist symbiotic strains, and microorganisms considered pathogenic to humans. We also analyzed the metabolic functions of the bacterial communities identified and discussed the role of B. orientalis as a reservoir and vector of pathogens in urban areas. We discuss to what extent the diversity of functions of the microbial community associated with cockroaches may contribute to emergent properties enabling these insects to inhabit human-modified habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]