Arthropod-bacteria interactions influence assembly of aquatic host microbiome and pathogen defense.

ABSTRACT: The host-associated microbiome is vital to host immunity and pathogen defense. In aquatic ecosystems, organisms may interact with environmental bacteria to influence the pool of potential symbionts, but the effects of these interactions on host microbiome assembly and pathogen resistance are unresolved. We used replicated bromeliad microecosystems to test for indirect effects of arthropod-bacteria interactions on host microbiome assembly and pathogen burden, using tadpoles and the fungal amphibian pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis as a model host-pathogen system. Arthropods influenced host microbiome assembly by altering the pool of environmental bacteria, with arthropod-bacteria interactions specifically reducing host colonization by transient bacteria and promoting antimicrobial co

SUBMITTER: Greenspan SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6599996 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature