The interaction between host cells and bacteria can be beneficial (microbiota) or detrimental (invading pathogens) for the host. These interactions have been classically studied at the population level, where host cells and bacteria were thought to behave uniformly. Recent advances in technology and bioinformatics have enabled the study of bacteria-host interactions at the single cell level and have shown a high level of cell-to-cell heterogeneity, which has been historically overlooked. Heterogeneity can occur on both bacterial and host sides and enables dynamic interactions between both organisms. Significant examples in bacteria include the bet-hedging strategy of formation of persister cells, the distinct production of virulence factors or biofilm formation. On the other side, host cells can vary in migration, cell-cell interactions or in the way they employ antibacterial defense mechanisms. Bacterial and host heterogeneity can lead to diverse phenotypic outcomes, which are hard to predict with analyses performed at the population level.
Traditional approaches used to study bacteria-host interactions average individual cell-to-cell variations and obviate their impact on the global outcome of the interaction. However, heterogeneity of both bacteria and host cell populations is increasingly being shown to be critical for the outcome of these interactions. Recent technological advances allow the dynamics of bacteria-host interactions to be studied at a single-cell level. These single cell analyses are crucial to extend our understanding of the mechanisms that generate heterogeneity as well as how both bacteria and host benefit from this heterogeneity.
This Research Topic seeks to highlight the importance of heterogeneity among bacterial and host cells and how single cell analyses can provide a better understanding of bacteria-host interactions. We aim to emphasize novel discoveries and techniques that explore cell-to-cell variations in the context of pathogenic bacteria, microbiome or host cells. We encourage submissions covering methodological advances, descriptions of population heterogeneity and personal perspectives on future developments of the field. We welcome articles of these types: Brief Research Report or Original Research, Methods, Mini Review or Review, Perspective and Opinion.
The interaction between host cells and bacteria can be beneficial (microbiota) or detrimental (invading pathogens) for the host. These interactions have been classically studied at the population level, where host cells and bacteria were thought to behave uniformly. Recent advances in technology and bioinformatics have enabled the study of bacteria-host interactions at the single cell level and have shown a high level of cell-to-cell heterogeneity, which has been historically overlooked. Heterogeneity can occur on both bacterial and host sides and enables dynamic interactions between both organisms. Significant examples in bacteria include the bet-hedging strategy of formation of persister cells, the distinct production of virulence factors or biofilm formation. On the other side, host cells can vary in migration, cell-cell interactions or in the way they employ antibacterial defense mechanisms. Bacterial and host heterogeneity can lead to diverse phenotypic outcomes, which are hard to predict with analyses performed at the population level.
Traditional approaches used to study bacteria-host interactions average individual cell-to-cell variations and obviate their impact on the global outcome of the interaction. However, heterogeneity of both bacteria and host cell populations is increasingly being shown to be critical for the outcome of these interactions. Recent technological advances allow the dynamics of bacteria-host interactions to be studied at a single-cell level. These single cell analyses are crucial to extend our understanding of the mechanisms that generate heterogeneity as well as how both bacteria and host benefit from this heterogeneity.
This Research Topic seeks to highlight the importance of heterogeneity among bacterial and host cells and how single cell analyses can provide a better understanding of bacteria-host interactions. We aim to emphasize novel discoveries and techniques that explore cell-to-cell variations in the context of pathogenic bacteria, microbiome or host cells. We encourage submissions covering methodological advances, descriptions of population heterogeneity and personal perspectives on future developments of the field. We welcome articles of these types: Brief Research Report or Original Research, Methods, Mini Review or Review, Perspective and Opinion.