Convergent evolution of signal-structure interfaces for maintaining symbioses
Reed M Stubbendieck1, Hongjie Li1, Cameron R Currie1
1Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
Current Opinion in Microbiology
|November 11, 2019
Summary
Microbial symbiosis relies on partner fidelity, where chemical signals and host structures ensure stable relationships. This study highlights the crucial "signal-structure interface" across diverse symbiotic systems.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Symbiosis Research
Background:
- Multicellular organisms depend on symbiotic microbes for ecological success and evolution.
- Maintaining stable symbiotic relationships requires mechanisms that ensure partner fidelity between hosts and symbionts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how the interface of chemical signals and host structures influences partner fidelity in bipartite symbioses.
- To illustrate the diversity and distribution of specialized host structures that house microbial symbionts.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on well-studied bipartite symbiotic associations.
- Analysis of the role of chemical signaling and morphological structures in partner fidelity.
- Examination of the phylogenetic distribution of host-housing structures.
Main Results:
- The signal-structure interface is critical for fidelity in legume-rhizobia, bobtail squid-Allivibrio, and ant-Pseudonocardia symbioses.
- Specialized host structures for housing symbionts show morphological diversity and broad phylogenetic distribution.
- The importance of signal-structure interfaces is evident throughout the evolutionary history of multicellular life.
Conclusions:
- The signal-structure interface is a fundamental mechanism for ensuring partner fidelity in symbiotic relationships.
- Understanding these interfaces in simple systems provides insights into complex microbial communities, including the human microbiome.
- Future research should focus on the signal-structure interface in multipartite symbiotic systems.
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