Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is arguably the most conspicuous feature of bacterial
evolution. Evidence for HGT is found in most bacterial genomes. Although HGT can …

Virtually all plants and animals, including humans, are home to symbiotic microorganisms.
Symbiotic interactions can be neutral, harmful or have beneficial effects on the host …

Animal hosts have initiated myriad symbiotic associations with microorganisms and often
have maintained these symbioses for millions of years, spanning drastic changes in …

Beetles are hosts to a remarkable diversity of bacterial symbionts. In this article, we review
the role of these partnerships in promoting beetle fitness following a surge of recent studies …

Insects share an intimate relationship with their gut microflora and this symbiotic association
has developed into an essential evolutionary outcome intended for their survival through …

In invertebrates, the cuticle is the first and major protective barrier against predators and
pathogen infections. While immune responses and behavioral defenses are also known to …

Beneficial associations with bacteria are widespread across animals, spanning a range of
symbiont localizations, transmission routes, and functions. While some of these associations …

The gut microbiota, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms of different kingdoms, impacts
host physiology and disease. Within this ecosystem, inter-bacterial interactions and their …

The study of insect-associated microbial communities is a field of great importance in
agriculture, principally because of the role insects play as pests. In addition, there is a recent …

Insights into biodiversity and trophic webs are important for understanding ecosystem
functions. Although the surfaces of glaciers are one of the most productive and biologically …