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Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level
Published on: June 23, 2022
Bacterial/Fungal interactions: from pathogens to mutualistic endosymbionts
Donald Y Kobayashi1, Jo Anne Crouch
1Department of Plant Biology & Pathology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520, USA. Kobayashi@aesop.rutgers.edu
This review explores bacterial and fungal interactions, from antagonism to pathogenesis. Understanding these microbial partnerships is key to advancing biological and medical research.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Eukaryotic Pathogenesis
Background:
- Bacterial and fungal interactions with hosts are fundamental to biology.
- Knowledge of bacterial/fungal associations is less developed than microbe-eukaryote interactions.
- These interactions span antagonism, parasitism, pathogenesis, and endosymbiosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in bacterial/fungal interactions.
- To highlight diverse forms of these associations.
- To emphasize insights from natural, agronomic, and model systems.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent research advances.
- Analysis of interactions in various ecosystems (natural, agronomic, human disease models).
- Focus on molecular-level understanding.
Main Results:
- Bacterial/fungal interactions exhibit a wide spectrum of relationships.
- Examples include biological control, endosymbiosis, mushroom diseases, and human disease models.
- Molecular insights are crucial for understanding these complex associations.
Conclusions:
- Studying bacterial/fungal interactions offers significant biological and medical insights.
- Diverse contexts, from agriculture to human health, benefit from this research.
- Molecular-level investigation is key to unraveling these partnerships.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Interactions: Cooperation
Microbial Interactions: Mutualism
Microbe-Plant Interactions
Microbial Interactions: Parasitism
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

