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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Insect Biology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Insect gut microbiota are often acquired from the environment.
  • These microbes can be transient, existing for short periods within the host.
  • Transient microbes are frequently assumed to be non-functional commensals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore definitions of microbial transience in insect guts.
  • To review evidence of functional roles for transient gut microbes in insects.
  • To challenge the assumption that only permanent gut microbes benefit hosts.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of insect systems.
  • Analysis of microbial transience definitions.
  • Synthesis of studies on environmentally acquired gut microbes.

Main Results:

  • Transience does not preclude beneficial functions for insect hosts.
  • Environmentally acquired microbes can contribute to host fitness.
  • Some transient microbes actively enable host fitness benefits.

Conclusions:

  • The functional significance of transient insect gut microbes is underestimated.
  • Rethinking microbial association is crucial for understanding insect gut microbiota.
  • Environmentally acquired microbes play vital roles in host health and fitness.