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Related Experiment Video

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Author Spotlight: Axenic Rearing of Delia antiqua to Detect the Impact of Intestinal Microbes on Its Growth and Development

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Microbial evolution and transitions along the parasite-mutualist continuum.

Georgia C Drew¹, Emily J Stevens¹, Kayla C King²

¹Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Nature Reviews. Microbiology

|April 20, 2021

Summary

Microbial symbionts rapidly evolve, shifting between beneficial and harmful interactions with hosts. This review explores the evolutionary mechanisms and ecological factors driving these dynamic host-microorganism relationships.

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Evolutionary Biology
Ecology

Background:

Most organisms host symbiotic microorganisms, with interactions ranging from neutral to beneficial or harmful.
Microbial symbionts exhibit rapid evolution, capable of significant shifts along the parasite-mutualist spectrum.
Understanding these dynamics is crucial given their impact on host biology and community structure.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the mechanisms driving evolutionary shifts in microbial symbionts.
To discuss the ecological factors influencing host-microorganism interactions.
To explore reasons why some symbioses remain fixed on the parasite-mutualist continuum.

Main Methods:

Integration of theoretical findings on symbiont evolution.
Synthesis of empirical data on host-microorganism interactions.
Analysis of ecological drivers and evolutionary constraints.

Main Results:

Microbial symbionts can rapidly transition between parasitic and mutualistic roles.
Ecological factors play a significant role in shaping symbiont evolution.
Certain host-microorganism interactions may become evolutionarily constrained.

Conclusions:

Symbiont evolution profoundly impacts host biology and ecological communities.
Understanding dynamic symbioses is vital in a changing global environment.
Rapid microbial evolution presents both challenges and opportunities in host-microorganism interactions.