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Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level
Published on: June 23, 2022
Endosymbiotic interactions in the fungal kingdom: a framework for progressive endosymbiosis
Juan Jose Hernandez-Gonzalez1, Elva Teresa Arechiga-Carvajal1, Olga Miriam Rutiaga-Quiñones2
1Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Microbiología e Inmunología, LMYF, Unidad de Manipulación Genética, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
Abstract:
Endosymbiotic interactions in fungi are fundamental to ecological and evolutionary processes; however, despite their potential to elucidate key mechanisms of biological integration, they remain insufficiently explored. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of the available evidence on these associations across major fungal lineages, encompassing their composition, functional attributes, and breadth across diverse model systems. Additionally, the current state of artificial endosymbiosis is examined, together with its applications in multiple areas of biotechnology, spanning both natural and engineered systems. Finally, a framework of progressive endosymbiosis is proposed to describe the continuum of integration states of endosymbionts within fungal hosts. Together, these insights highlight the central role of fungal endosymbiosis in biological integration and underscore its value as a model for understanding evolutionary transitions and developing innovative biotechnological applications.
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