Blow flies are commonly associated with decomposing material. In most cases, the larvae
are found feeding on decomposing vertebrate remains; however, some species have …

Although scientists have long appreciated that metazoans evolved in a microbial world, we
are just beginning to appreciate the profound impact that host-associated microbes have on …

Background As the importance of beneficial bacteria is better recognized, understanding the
dynamics of symbioses becomes increasingly crucial. In many gut symbioses, it is essential …

All insects, including pest species, are colonized by microorganisms, variously located in the
gut and within insect tissues. Manipulation of these microbial partners can reduce the pest …

Background Many arthropods rely on their gut microbiome to digest plant material, which is
often low in nitrogen but high in complex polysaccharides. Detritivores, such as millipedes …

The quest to manipulate microbiomes has intensified, but many microbial communities have
proven to be recalcitrant to sustained change. Developing model communities amenable to …

Many symbiotic microorganisms in animals, including insects, have parallels to microbial
nutrient factories of biotechnology: just as the metabolism of individual microorganisms and …

Lower termites, as well as their sister group, the subsocial wood-feeding cockroach
Cryptocercus, rely on flagellated eukaryotic symbionts in the hindgut to cooperatively digest …

Animal-associated microorganisms (microbiota) dramatically influence the nutritional and
physiological traits of their hosts. To expand our understanding of such influences, we …

Digestive-tract microbiota exert tremendous influence over host health. Host-symbiont model
systems are studied to investigate how symbioses are initiated and maintained, as well as to …