Animals in a bacterial world, a new imperative for the life sciences

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Animal Biology

Background:

• Genetic and genomic approaches have unveiled the ubiquity and diversity of bacteria.
• Animal-bacterial interactions occur in diverse settings, from shared ecosystems to intimate symbioses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review how knowledge of animal-bacterial interactions is altering the understanding of animal biology.
• To highlight technological and intellectual advances addressing key questions in animal-bacterial relationships.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on animal-bacterial interactions.
• Examination of advances in genetic and genomic approaches.
• Analysis of ecological and symbiotic relationships.

Main Results:

• Bacteria have played a role in the origin and evolution of animals.
• Animal and bacterial genomes influence each other.
• Normal animal development and homeostasis depend on bacterial partners.
• Ecological approaches deepen the understanding of these interactions.

Conclusions:

• The study of animal-bacterial interactions is fundamental to understanding animal biology.
• Future research should integrate investigations of bacteria and their animal partners.
• A broadened appreciation of these relationships is essential for biological discovery.