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Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
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Investigation of Microbial Cooperation via Imaging Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Bacterial Colonies Grown on Agar and in Tissue During Infection
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Microbiomes Reduce Their Host's Sensitivity to Interspecific Interactions.

Sara L Jackrel1, Kathryn C Schmidt2, Bradley J Cardinale3,4

  • 1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA sjackrel@ucsd.edu vdenef@umich.edu.

Mbio
|January 23, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Host-associated bacteria significantly impact eukaryotic species interactions and community diversity. These microbiomes can alter interaction strengths, influencing species coexistence and modulating overall biodiversity.

Keywords:
biodiversityeukaryotic species interactionsmicrobiomespecies coexistence

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Microbiology
  • Community Ecology

Background:

  • Bacteria associated with eukaryotic hosts can influence host fitness and inter-eukaryotic trophic interactions.
  • The impact of bacteria on species interactions within trophic levels, which modulate biodiversity and species coexistence, is largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether associated bacteria alter the strength and type of species interactions within a trophic level.
  • To determine the role of microbiomes in regulating host species' interspecific interactions and eukaryotic community composition.

Main Methods:

  • Phytoplankton, a classic model for species interaction studies, were grown with and without associated bacteria.
  • Interspecific interaction strengths were quantified by assessing host growth rates and carrying capacity in the presence and absence of associated bacteria.

Main Results:

  • Host-associated bacteria were found to alter host growth rates and carrying capacity.
  • While the type of interaction did not change, the strength of host interspecific interactions was frequently altered, often by facilitating host growth in the presence of an established species.

Conclusions:

  • Microbiomes have the potential to regulate their host species' interspecific interactions.
  • By influencing between-species interaction strength, microbiomes can modulate eukaryotic species diversity and community composition, impacting ecosystem functioning.