Background One promise of the recently presented microbiome definition suggested that, in
combination with unifying concepts and standards, microbiome research could be important …

Organismal biology has undergone a dramatic paradigm shift in the last decade. The
realization that host cells and genes are outnumbered by symbiotic microbial cells and their …

Over the past decade, research has shown that microorganisms living on and inside
eukaryotes—the microbiota—are drivers of host health. For plants, microbiota can greatly …

Plants rely on their microbiome for a number of life-support functions including nutrient
acquisition and protection against (a) biotic stress factors. For crop plants, however, the …

Microbes have driven eco-evolutionary adaptations organizing biodiversity from the origin of
life. They are ubiquitous and abundant, facilitating the biochemical processes that make …

Communities of microorganisms (microbiota) are present in all habitats on Earth and are
relevant for agriculture, health, and climate. Deciphering the mechanisms that determine …

The field of microbiome research has evolved rapidly over the past few decades and has
become a topic of great scientific and public interest. As a result of this rapid growth in …

Microorganisms associated with plants may alter the traits of the human microbiome
important for human health, but this alteration has largely been overlooked. The plant …

Microbial life represents the majority of Earth's biodiversity. Across disparate disciplines from
medicine to forestry, scientists continue to discover how the microbiome drives essential …

Microbiomes have highly important roles for ecosystem functioning and carry out key
functions that support planetary health, including nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and …