Main description:

This volume presents a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in symbiosis research. It covers molecular, organellar, cellular, immunologic, genetic and evolutionary aspects of symbiotic interactions in humans and other model systems. The book also highlights new approaches to interdisciplinary research and therapeutic applications.

Symbiosis refers to any mutually beneficial interaction between different organisms. The symbiotic origin of cellular organelles and the exchange of genetic material between hosts and their bacterial and viral symbionts have helped shaped the current diversity of life.

Recently, symbiosis has gained a new level of recognition, due to the realization that all organisms function as a holobiome and that any kind of interference with the hosts influences their symbionts and vice versa, and can have profound consequences for the survival of both. For example, in humans, the microbiome, i.e., the entirety of all the microorganisms living in association with the intestines, oral cavity, urogenital system and skin, is partially inherited during pregnancy and influences the maturation and functioning of the human immune system, protects against pathogens and regulates metabolism. Symbionts also regulate cancer development, wound healing, tissue regeneration and stem cell function.

The medical applications of this new realization are vast and largely uncharted. The composition and robustness of human symbionts could make them a valuable diagnostic tool for predicting impending diseases, and the manipulation of symbionts could yield new strategies for the treatment of incurable diseases.

Contents:

Part I. Transfer of genetic information, nuclear symbiosis, and cellular differentiation
1. Title: "Viral Symbiosis in the Origins and Evolution of Life with a Particular Focus on thePlacental Mammals"Authors: Frank RyanCorresponding author: Frank Ryane-mail: F.Ryan@sheffield.ac.uk
2. Title: "Gene Transfer Agents in Symbiotic Microbes"Authors: Steen Christensen and Laura R. SerbusCorresponding author: Laura R. Serbuse-mail: Lserbus@fiu.edu
3. Title: "Evolution from free-living bacteria to endosymbionts of insects: genomic changes and theimportance of the chaperonin GroEL".Authors: Beatriz Sabater-Munoz and Christina ToftCorresponding author: Beatriz Sabater-Munoze-mail: b.sabater.munyoz@gmail.com
4. Title: "Epidemiology of nucleus-dwelling Holospora: infection, transmission, adaptation, andinteraction with Paramecium"Authors: Martina Schrallhammer & Alexey PotekhinCorresponding author: Martina Schrallhammere-mail: martina.schrallhammer@biologie.uni-freiburg.de
5. Title: "Trends in symbiont-induced host cellular differentiation"Authors: Shelbi L Russell and Jennie Ruelas CastilloCorresponding author: Shelbi L Russelle-mail: shelbilrussell@gmail.com
Part II. Origin, adaptations and evolutionary aspects of symbiosis
6. Title: "We're in this together: Sensation of the host cell environment by endosymbiotic bacteria"Authors: Cory D. Dunn, Tamara Somborac , and Bala Ani AkpinarCorresponding author: Cory D. Dunne-mail: cory.dunn@helsinki.fi
7. Title: "Phenotype Heritability in Holobionts: An Evolutionary Model"Authors: Saul Huitzil, Santiago Sandoval-Motta, Alejandro Frank, Maximino AldanaCorresponding author: Aldana Me-mail: max@icf.unam.mx
8. Title: "The role of constructive neutral evolution in the development of complexity fromsymbioses: A microbe-centric view"Author: Ramakrishnan SitaramanCorresponding author: Ramakrishnan Sitaramane-mail: minraj@gmail.com
9. Title: "Chemiosmosis, evolutionary conflict, and eukaryotic symbiosis"Authors: Neil W. BlackstoneCorresponding author: Neil W. Blackstonee-mail: neilb@niu.edu10. Title: "Symbiotic origin of apoptosis"Authors: Szymon KaczanowskiCorresponding author: Szymon Kaczanowskie-mail: szymon@ibb.waw.pl
11. Title: "The puzzling conservation and diversification of lipid droplets from bacteria toeukaryotes"Authors: Josselin Lupette, Eric MarechalCorresponding authors: Josselin Lupette and Eric Marechale-mail: lupettej@msu.edueric.marechal@cea.fr
Part III. Evolution and role of symbiosis in photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation
12. Title: "Evolution of Photosynthetic Eukaryotes; Current Opinion, Perplexity and a NewPerspective"Authots: Shinichiro Maruyama, Eunsoo KimCorresponding authors: Maruyama S and Kim E.e-mail: maruyama@tohoku.ac.jp; ekim1@amnh.org
13. Title: "The photosynthetic adventure of Paulinella spp."Authors: Przemyslaw Gagat, Katarzyna Sidorczuk, Filip Pietluch, Pawel MackiewiczCorresponding authors: Pawel Mackiewicz and Przemyslaw Gagate-mail: pamac@smorfland.uni.wroc.plprzemyslaw.gagat@uwr.edu.pl
14. Title: "The evolutionary aspects of legume nitrogen-fixing nodule symbiosis"Authors: Defeng Shen and Ton BisselingCorresponding author: Ton Bisselinge-mail: ton.bisseling@wur.nl
15. Title: "Early molecular dialogue between legumes and rhizobia: why are they so important?"Authors: Oswaldo Valdes-Lopez, Maria del Rocio Reyero-Saavedra, Mariel C. Isidra-Arellano, and Mariadel Socorro Sanchez-CorreaCorresponding author: Oswaldo Valdes-Lopeze-mail: oswaldovaldesl@unam.mx
Part IV. Diversity of nematode and insect symbionts
16. Title: "The Wolbachia Symbiont: Here, There and Everywhere"Authors: Emilie Lefoulon, Jeremy M. Foster, Alex Truchon, C.K.S. Carlow and Barton E. SlatkoCorresponding author: Barton E. Slatkoe-mail: slatko@neb.com
17. Title: "Molecular regulators of entomopathogenic nematode-bacterial symbiosis"Authors: Ioannis Eleftherianos and Christa HeryantoCorresponding author: Ioannis Eleftherianose-mail: ioannise@gwu.edu
18. Title: "The Diversity of Symbiotic Systems in Scale Insects"Authors: Teresa Szklarzewicz, Anna Michalik and Katarzyna MichalikCorresponding author: Teresa Szklarzewicze-mail: teresa.szklarzewicz@uj.edu.pl
19. Title: "Bacterial Symbionts of Tsetse Flies: Relationships and Functional Interactions betweenTsetse and their Symbionts"Authors: Geoffrey M. Attardo, Francesca Scolari, and Anna MalacridaCorresponding author: Attardo GMe-mail: gmattardo@ucdavis.edu
Part V. Symbiosis, adaptive and immune responses, and therapeutic interventions
20. Title: "Our microbiome: on the challenges, promises, and hype"Authors: Sara Federici, Jotham Suez, Eran ElinavCorresponding author: Eran Elinave-mail: eran.elinav@weizmann.ac.il
21. Title: "Endosymbiont-mediated adaptive responses to stress in holobionts"Authors: Siao Ye, Evan SiemannCorresponding author: Siao Yee-mail: thomasyesiao@gmail.com
22. Title: "Microbial Metabolites as Molecular Mediators of Host-Microbe Symbiosis in ColorectalCancer"Authors: Keane JM, Joyce SA, Gahan CGM, Hyland NP, Houston ACorresponding author: Hyland NPe-mail: n.hyland@ucc.ie
23. Title: "The macrophages and intestinal symbiosis"Authors: Malgorzata Kloc, Ahmed Uosef, Mahmoud Elshawwaf, Ahmed Adel Abbas Abdelshafy, KamalMamdoh Kamal Elsaid, Jacek Z. Kubiak, Rafik Mark GhobrialCorresponding author: Malgorzata Kloc