Interspecific Microbial Communications: A Fundamental Driving Force Shaping Pathogenesis, Symbiosis, and Ecosystems

Microorganisms in nature engage in intricate interactions with a diverse array of co-existing organisms including other microorganisms across different taxa and higher eukaryotic organisms. These interactions encompass various dynamics such as competition, predation, cooperation, antagonism, parasitism, symbiosis, and pathogenesis. Despite the richness of these interactions, much of our understanding of microorganisms stems from studies conducted on pure-cultured populations, limiting our insight into their interactions with neighboring organisms of different taxa. Especially, research on intercellular communication of microorganisms has focused on the signaling systems within microbial species using pure-cultured population, neglecting the influence of other living organisms in the same niche. For getting deeper insights into microbial behaviors, particularly in the contexts of pathogenesis, symbiosis, and ecosystem dynamics, it is crucial to understand how microbial organisms communicate and interact with other organisms.

This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of microbial communication mechanisms underlying interspecific interactions in natural conditions, particularly in the contexts of (but not limited to) pathogenesis, symbiosis, or ecosystem dynamics, by introducing most updated and innovative research activities. Expanding our understanding of microbial intercellular communications to and beyond interspecific levels is essential for elucidating the behaviors of microorganisms in nature more accurately for their diverse ecological functions. Through this Research Topic, we also seek to deeper insights into various outcomes of interspecific microbial interactions such as competition, antagonism, cooperation, and predation. These endeavors will contribute to a broader understanding of microbial biology in various ecosystems.

The scope of this Research Topic would include (but not be limited to) interspecific microbial interactions focusing on intercellular communications via signal molecules between microorganisms in different taxa or inter-kingdom interactions between microorganisms and eukaryotic hosts in pathogenic or symbiotic relations.

We invite Original Research, Review, and Perspective articles covering this Research Topic. The sub-areas in this Topic include but are not limited to:
- Cell biology studies demonstrating microbial behaviors in various types of relation to adjacent microorganisms or host cells.
- Multi-omics studies for a holistic view of cellular changes upon various interspecific interactions.
- Molecular genetics studies to identify genes crucial for interspecific communications and understanding their mechanisms.
- Biochemistry and molecular biology studies to elucidate the signaling mechanisms for interspecific communications.
- Beneficial or adverse effects of antibiotics or other chemicals on interspecific interactions of target microorganisms.