Microbial symbioses include beneficial, harmful and neutral relationships and are important in animal and plant health, immunity and disease and in ecology and the environment. This special Focus issue highlights exciting advances in our understanding of partnerships between organisms and their environments.
The topics covered in this Focus include manipulation of insects by endosymbiotic bacteria, marine chemosynthetic symbioses, the ancient arbuscular mycorrhiza, model symbiosis systems, the highly distinctive features of gut microbiotas and how they have evolved, and a glimpse of how experimental approaches will shape the future of this fascinating field. These Reviews and Perspectives highlight this emerging and important field. The accompanying library collates the most recent relevant original Research Papers, News & Views and Reviews from across the Nature Publishing Group.
Foreword
'Til death do us part': coming to terms with symbiotic relationships
David A. Relman
doi:10.1038/nrmicro1990
Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 721-724 (2008)
Research Highlight
Symbiosis: Follow the scent
Susan Jones
doi:10.1038/nrmicro2006
Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 713 (2008)
Reviews
Symbiotic diversity in marine animals: the art of harnessing chemosynthesis
Nicole Dubilier, Claudia Bergin & Christian Lott
doi:10.1038/nrmicro1992
Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 725-740 (2008)
Chemosynthetic symbioses occur in a wide range of ocean habitats, from deep-sea vents and cold seeps to whale falls and shallow-water sediments. This Review reveals the diversity and complexity of these symbioses, some of which include multiple symbiotic partners.
Arbuscular mycorrhiza: the mother of plant root endosymbioses
Martin Parniske
doi:10.1038/nrmicro1987
Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 763-775 (2008)
Fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota form tree-like structures called arbuscules within plant root cells. The fungi transport water, phosphate, nitrogen and other nutrients to the plant roots, and in return, obtain carbohydrates from the plant. The short arbuscule half-life results in constant renewal and rewiring of the hyphal network and competition between potential fungal partners.
Symbiotic conversations are revealed under genetic interrogation
Edward G. Ruby
doi:10.1038/nrmicro1958
Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 752-762 (2008)
In this Review, Edward Ruby examines five widely investigated systems that describe the morphology, behaviour, ecology and evolution of symbiotic partners. This descriptive foundation allows the correct questions to be framed in a biologically relevant context.
Wolbachia: master manipulators of invertebrate biology
John H. Werren, Laura Baldo & Michael E. Clark
doi:10.1038/nrmicro1969
Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 741-751 (2008)
Wolbachia are symbiotic bacteria that live inside invertebrate host cells and can manipulate host biology in dramatic ways, such as sperm–egg incompatibility, feminization and male killing. This Review focuses on the basic biology of these symbionts and their interaction with a range of host invertebrates.
Analysis
Worlds within worlds: evolution of the vertebrate gut microbiota
Ruth E. Ley, Catherine A. Lozupone, Micah Hamady, Rob Knight & Jeffrey I. Gordon
doi:10.1038/nrmicro1978
Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 776-788 (2008)
Ley, Gordon and colleagues have analysed and compared published sequences of bacterial communities from humans with both free-living communities and those that are associated with diverse animals. They conclude that gut-associated microbiotas are profoundly different from other free-living microbiotas, and call for widespread sampling of the human gut microbiota to study how different cultures, lifestyles and technologies are impacting on the biodiversity within these fascinating communities.
Perspective
Are biologists in 'future shock'? Symbiosis integrates biology across domains
Margaret McFall-Ngai
doi:10.1038/nrmicro1982
Nature Reviews Microbiology 6, 789-792 (2008)
New and improved technologies are helping us to detect and characterize symbiotic microorganisms, whereas model symbiosis systems are revealing the molecular basis for partnerships. In this Essay, Margaret McFall-Ngai provides the historical context for the study of symbiosis and discusses the challenges that this emerging field faces.
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