Symbiotic, parasitic, and commensal relationships have precise definitions in biology, but often the nature of the relationship between two organisms is not clear-cut and fluctuates over time. This Microbiology Select highlights recent studies that demonstrate how communication between the host and its microbial inhabitants largely determines whether their interaction is beneficial, hurtful, or...

The field of microbiology has experienced significant growth due to transformative advances in technology and the influx of scientists driven by a curiosity to understand how microbes sustain myriad biochemical processes that maintain Earth. With this explosion in scientific output, a significant bottleneck has been the ability to rapidly disseminate new knowledge to peers and the public. Prepr...

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 M...

The responses of microorganisms (viruses, bacterial cells, bacterial and fungal spores, and lichens) to selected factors of space (microgravity, galactic cosmic radiation, solar UV radiation, and space vacuum) were determined in space and laboratory simulation experiments. In general, microorganisms tend to thrive in the space flight environment in terms of enhanced growth parameters and a demo...

Examples of inter- and intramolecular direct co-functioning of lectins and enzymes are summarized. The data indicate importance of lectin-enzyme relationships in molecular and clinical microbiology and medical biotechnology. Lectin-enzyme relationships have extended prospects in medicine and biotechnology.