Resolving structure and function of metaorganisms through a holistic framework combining reductionist and integrative approaches
Jaspers, Cornelia, Fraune, Sebastian, Arnold, A. Elizabeth, Miller, David J., Bosch, Thomas C.G., Voolstra, Christian R., Adamska, Maja, Ainsworth, Tracy, Ball, Eldon, Boote, Chlöe, Bourne, David, Butterfield, Nicholas J., Chan, Cheong Xin, Cooke, Ira, Cowman, Peter F., Darling, Aaron, Davy, Simon K., Mohamed, Amin, Fabricius, Katharina, Valero Fortunato, Sofia V., Hernandez Agreda, Alejandra, Hoogenboom, Mia, Moya, Aurelie, Pita, Lucia, Ragan, Mark A., Robbins, Steven J., Andrade Rodriguez, Natalia R., Sakamaki, Kazuhiro, Schoepf, Verena, Seemann, Thorsten, Shinzato, Chuya, Stolarski, Jarosław, Strugnell, Jan, Takahashi, Shunichi, Tang, Sen-Lin, Webster, Nicole N, Whitelaw, Brooke, and Ying, Hua (2019) Resolving structure and function of metaorganisms through a holistic framework combining reductionist and integrative approaches. Zoology, 133. pp. 81-87.
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Abstract
Current research highlights the importance of associated microbes in contributing to the functioning, health, and even adaptation of their animal, plant, and fungal hosts. As such, we are witnessing a shift in research that moves away from focusing on the eukaryotic host sensu stricto to research into the complex conglomerate of the host and its associated microorganisms (i.e., microbial eukaryotes, archaea, bacteria, and viruses), the so-called metaorganism, as the biological entity. While recent research supports and encourages the adoption of such an integrative view, it must be understood that microorganisms are not involved in all host processes and not all associated microorganisms are functionally important. As such, our intention here is to provide a critical review and evaluation of perspectives and limitations relevant to studying organisms in a metaorganism framework and the functional toolbox available to do so. We note that marker gene-guided approaches that primarily characterize microbial diversity are a first step in delineating associated microbes but are not sufficient to establish proof of their functional relevance. More sophisticated tools and experiments are necessary to reveal the specific functions of associated microbes. This can be accomplished through the study of metaorganisms in less complex environments, the targeted manipulation of microbial associates, or work at the mechanistic level with the toolbox available in model systems. We conclude that the metaorganism framework is a powerful new concept to help provide answers to longstanding biological questions such as the evolution and ecology of organismal complexity and the importance of organismal symbioses to ecosystem functioning. The intricacy of the metaorganism requires a holistic framework combining reductionist and integrative approaches to resolve the structure and function of its member species and to disclose the various roles that microorganisms play in the biology of their hosts.
Item ID: | 59991 |
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Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
ISSN: | 1873-2720 |
Keywords: | reductionism, integrative approach, holobiont, adaptation, model system, model organism, Aiptasia, Hydra, Nematostella |
Copyright Information: | © 2019 The Authors. |
Funders: | Australian Academy of Science, Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Ian Potter Foundation, ARCCOE for Coral Reef Studies, Collaborative Research Centre (CRC), German Research Foundation, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research |
Projects and Grants: | CRC 1182 |
Date Deposited: | 05 Jun 2019 07:40 |
FoR Codes: | 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3101 Biochemistry and cell biology > 310112 Structural biology (incl. macromolecular modelling) @ 100% |
SEO Codes: | 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 100% |
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