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Cooperative Microbial Tolerance Behaviors in Host-Microbiota Mutualism
1Nomis Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Cell
|June 4, 2016
Summary
Beneficial microbes, like pathogens, use host manipulation for their own fitness. This perspective suggests these behaviors promote host health and tolerance, fostering cooperative host-microbe evolution.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Host-Microbe Interactions
Background:
- Animal defense against microbes traditionally focuses on immune system resistance mechanisms.
- This antagonistic view complicates understanding beneficial host-microbe relationships.
- Pathogenic microbes exhibit behaviors that enhance their fitness at the host's expense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a complementary framework for host-microbe interactions.
- To suggest beneficial microbes also evolve behaviors to manipulate host processes.
- To explore how these behaviors promote host health and microbial fitness.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis and synthesis of existing research on host-microbe dynamics.
- Exploration of microbial behaviors in the context of both pathogenic and beneficial interactions.
- Theoretical modeling of evolutionary dynamics in host-microbe systems.
Main Results:
- A proposed framework where beneficial microbes employ behaviors similar to pathogens.
- These behaviors are suggested to promote host tolerance and health, not harm.
- This dual role of microbial behaviors can lead to cooperative evolutionary dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Beneficial microbes may manipulate host processes to enhance their fitness via host health promotion.
- Microbial behaviors traditionally linked to pathogenesis can also drive host tolerance.
- This perspective supports mutualistic co-evolution between hosts and microbes.
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