Description
What chemical and molecular communication mechanisms are employed by symbiotic partners?
The recent advancements in metabolomics and genomic sequencing technologies have sparked a resurgence in natural product exploration, especially in ecological contexts. Analysing the intricate chemistry of symbiotic systems has become increasingly important given the significance of diverse microbial metabolites in regulating such interactions. Our recent findings highlight that symbiotic...
Symbiotic relationships between unicellular eukaryotes (protists) and endosymbiotic bacteria are widespread, unexpectedly diverse, dynamic and have been established independently many times. We explore the interactions between intracellular rickettsiae, chlamydiae, and holosporacea and diplonemids, which are extremely diverse, abundant yet understudied free- living marine flagellates. While...
The Common Symbiosis Signalling Pathway (CSSP) plays a pivotal role in orchestrating symbiotic relationships between plants and arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, as well as between leguminuos plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. These symbioses are vital for optimal plant nutrient acquisition, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous. While the functions of CSSP genes in arbuscular mycorrhizal...
Host-microbe associations are essential for the health of seagrass meadows. While the seagrasses themselves host specific and benefical ‘microbiomes’, also symbionts of co-occurring animals can benefit the seagrass ecosystem, such as the sulfur-oxidizing Thiodiazotropha endosymbionts of lucinid clams that ‘detoxify’ seagrass sediments. Molecular surveys are revealing members of the genus...
Even though exact ecology and trophic mode of Umbelopsis (Mucoromycota) representatives remain elusive, these fungi are considered soil saprotrophes, often associated with plant matter. Umbelopsis fungi interact frequently with bacteria, and Paraburkholderia are among the most common symbionts. This relationship is facultative, unlike previously described Mucoromycota- Burkholderiaceae...
Reproductive synchronization between hosts and guests is a defining feature of obligatory endosymbioses. However, the evolutionary stability of synchronization remains unclear when hosts and guests battle to control resource allocation to maximize their own fitness. Here, we examine how control exerted by the host over the guest (or vice versa) affects the evolution of synchronization. We...
Leaf bacteria are critical for plant health, but little is known about how plant traits control their recruitment. Aliphatic glucosinolates (GLSs) are metabolites usually associated with defense that are present in leaves of Brassicaceae plants in genotypically-defined mixtures. Upon plant cell damage, they break down into products that deter herbivory and inhibit pathogens. We studied natural...
