Editorial: Insights in microbial symbioses: 2022/2023

Editorial on the Research Topic
Insights in microbial symbioses: 2022/2023

In recent years, significant improvements have been made in understanding microbial symbiosis, unraveling the complex connections between microorganisms and their hosts (Hays et al., 2015). Researchers explored symbiotic relationships in agroecosystems and insect-microbe interactions, revealing the diversity of microbial symbionts with potential applications in biofuel production and waste management (Aschenbrenner et al., 2016). Studies extended to extreme environments have uncovered novel symbiotic relationships in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and hypersaline basins, increasing our understanding of microbial adaptability and potential extraterrestrial life (Grzymski et al., 2008). Likewise, exploring gut microbiomes in various animals elucidates the delicate balance between hosts and resident microbes. These findings affect ecological conservation, sustainable agriculture, and personalized medicine (Sariola and Gilbert, 2020). As research continues, the intricate relationships between microorganisms promise to reveal more surprises and applications in the years ahead (Duperron, 2016).

This editorial explores the diverse range of topics covered in the seven articles under the Frontiers Research Topic: Insights in microbial symbioses: 2022/2023, each contributing to the ever-expanding areas of microbe-environment interactions.

Timmusk et al. article addresses the challenges imposed on land use and agriculture by global climate change. It underscores the pivotal role of microbial communities, particularly rhizobacteria, in shaping plant fitness, and agroecosystem biodiversity. The article supports a paradigm shift in our perspective, emphasizing that microbiomes define plant phenotypes, providing genetic variability crucial for the resilience of agroecosystems in the face of environmental changes.

The article by Schwarz et al. delves into the intricate symbiotic relationships between insects and their microbial companions, and it focuses on wood digestion in the passalid beetle Odontotaenius disjunctus. This study sheds light on the significance of microhabitats and reveals a diverse fiber-associated microbiome. The findings highlight insects' diverse evolutionary paths to adapt to wood-feeding, offering a deeper understanding of these complex ecological interactions.

The third article by Li et al. introduces an innovative approach to unraveling interspecies interactions at the genome-wide level. By integrating Lotka-Volterra equations into a systems mapping model, the study explores how the genes of coexisting species shape community structures and functions. Through a co-culture experiment involving Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the researchers identify significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) combinations, providing a comprehensive view of the genetic mechanisms driving community dynamics and evolution.

The fourth article, authored by Zhang et al., focuses on the distribution patterns and traits of native rhizobia associated with Pisum sativum in Hebei Province, China. In a region experiencing an expansion of pea production, the study identifies distinct rhizobial communities and their efficiency in forming symbiotic partnerships with peas. This research offers valuable insights for optimizing crop breeding programs and enhancing the sustainability of legume cropping systems.

The fifth article, written by Yu et al., addresses the decline in yield and quality of Gastrodia elata Bl due to asexual reproduction. By isolating and identifying suitable germination fungi, particularly Mycena purpureofusca, the study provides a mechanism to enhance the yield of G. elata Bl. f. glauca. The research improves production performance and increases our understanding of the complex relationship between microbial communities and plant health.

The sixth article by Zhao et al. presents a comprehensive analysis of gut pathogens in different populations of giant pandas, both captive and wild. The study identifies unique pathogenic bacteria and virulence factors, unraveling their role in intestinal diseases that threaten the health and survival of these iconic animals. The findings contribute to our understanding of panda health and the development of effective conservation measures.

The last article gathered in this Research Topic was authored by Medina-Chávez et al.. This article explores microbial syntrophy in the extreme Cuatro Cienegas Basin. The study unveils a co-culture of a halophilic archaeon and a marine halophilic bacterium, emphasizing their shared characteristics and enhancing symbiotic association. Through genomic analysis, the research aims to uncover insights into the evolution of halophilic microorganisms and their remarkable adaptations to high-salinity environments.

In conclusion, these seven articles collectively offer a glimpse into the current state of the growing field of microbial symbiosis. Although the presented articles stand for a distinct field and cover various topics, each contribution adds a layer to our understanding of environmental microbial interactions. The decade ahead promises further revelations and breakthroughs in microbial symbiosis.

Author contributions

RC: Conceptualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. LZ: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. C-HK: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. ZL: Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. RC acknowledges the grant support of NCN SONATA BIS 10 (2020/38/E/NZ9/00007) from the National Science Center, Poland (Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Polska). C-HK acknowledges the funding support from Academia Sinica, Taiwan.

Acknowledgments

We thank all authors and reviewers for their contribution.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision.

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References

Aschenbrenner, I. A., Cernava, T., Berg, G., and Grube, M. (2016). Understanding microbial multi-species symbioses. Front. Microbiol. 7:180. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00180

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Duperron, S. (2016). Microbial Symbioses. New York: Elsevier.

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Grzymski, J. J., Murray, A. E., Campbell, B. J., Kaplarevic, M., Gao, G. R., Lee, C., et al. (2008). Metagenome analysis of an extreme microbial symbiosis reveals eurythermal adaptation and metabolic flexibility. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U S A. 105, 17516–17521. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0802782105

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Hays, S. G., Patrick, W. G., Ziesack, M., Oxman, N., and Silver, P. A. (2015). Better together: engineering and application of microbial symbioses. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 36, 40–49. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.08.008

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Sariola, S., and Gilbert, S. F. (2020). Toward a symbiotic perspective on public health: recognizing the ambivalence of microbes in the anthropocene. Microorganisms 8, 746. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8050746

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