Microbiology Select

Bacteria are one of the most diverse groups of organisms on our planet and are exquisitely adapted for survival in diverse environments ranging from the human digestive tract to deep-sea hydrothermal vents. As bacteria have evolved to optimally inhabit and exploit their host environments, so too have their hosts changed in response to the presence of these prokaryote interlopers. This issue’s Microbiology Select highlights recent findings that shed light on the interactions of bacteria with their environments as well as the beneficial contributions that some bacteria make to their hosts.