Parasites and their (endo)symbiotic microbes
Vyacheslav Yurchenko1, Julius Lukeš2
1Life Science Research Centre, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava,Ostrava,Czech Republic.
Parasitology
|August 9, 2018
Summary
Endosymbiotic bacteria significantly impact parasitic organisms, forming a spectrum of relationships from dispensable to essential. These host-microbe interactions create biological complexity and are crucial for understanding microbial ecology.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Symbiosis Research
Background:
- Modern molecular biology advances understanding of microbial endosymbionts in parasitic protists and helminths.
- This collection of 9 papers explores the diverse relationships between these microorganisms and their hosts.
Discussion:
- Host-endosymbiont interactions exist on a continuum, not as discrete types.
- Relationships range from minimally integrated dispensable endosymbionts to deeply integrated organelles like mitochondria.
Key Insights:
- Endosymbiotic bacteria contribute to novel biological complexity in parasitic hosts.
- The frequency and range of these symbiotic relationships are high.
Outlook:
- Increased awareness of parasite-endosymbiont relationships is needed.
- These interactions should be better represented in microbial ecology models.
Related Concept Videos
02:40Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
16.9K
Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...
16.9K
00:58Symbiosis
37.5K
Symbiotic relationships are long-term, close interactions between individuals of different species that affect the distribution and abundance of those species. When a relationship is beneficial to both species, this is called mutualism. When the relationship is beneficial to one species but neither beneficial nor harmful to the other species, this is called commensalism. When one organism is harmed to benefit another, the relationship is known as parasitism. These types of relationships often...
37.5K
02:16Genetics of Speciation
21.7K
Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.
21.7K
02:11The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
47.4K
Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
47.4K
02:16Comparing Mitochondrial, Chloroplast, and Prokaryotic Genomes
16.4K
The present-day mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes have retained some of the characteristics of their ancestral prokaryotes and also have acquired new attributes during their evolution within eukaryotic cells. Like prokaryotic genomes, mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes neither bind with histone-like proteins nor show complex packaging into chromosome-like structures, as observed in eukaryotes. Unlike mitotic cell divisions observed in eukaryotic cells, mitochondria and chloroplasts...
16.4K
02:17Ecological Succession
21.6K
Ecological succession is influenced by the processes of facilitation, inhibition, and toleration. Facilitation occurs when early successional species create more favorable ecological conditions for subsequent species, such as enhanced nutrient, water, or light availability. In contrast, inhibition happens when early successional species create unfavorable ecological conditions for potential successive species, such as limiting resource availability. In some cases, later successional species...
21.6K