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Symbiosis refers to the partnership (usually long-term) that is established between two or more organisms. In microbiology, symbiotic relationships are often established between a microorganism and its host, and the partnership can be mutualistic or parasitic.
Comparative metabolomics and NanoSIMs reveal that the honey bee symbiont Snodgrassella alvi uses host-derived metabolites to colonize the gut, indicating adaptation to a specific metabolic niche in its host.
Here, Rühlemann et al. analyze the gut microbiome of wild-living African great apes (Gorillas, Bonobos, Chimpanzees) in comparison to that of humans, identifying host specific patterns and shared evolutionary conserved traits disrupted in humans.
This month’s Genome Watch discusses the application of spatial transcriptomics to investigate the arrangements of microbial communities and their effects on the host.
Philip Poole narrates his career story and his motivations for studying rhizobia, the agriculturally important bacterial plant symbiont responsible for fixing nitrogen.
Metabolomics and feeding experiments demonstrate the host’s active role in sharing organic acids with a gut microbiota member, revealing host–microbe interactions that foster symbiosis.
The Nagoya Protocol was drafted to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the international use of genetic resources, but the lack of unified procedures and unclear definitions relating to microorganisms present considerable hurdles to microbiology research.