All animals and plants form associations with hundreds or thousands of different beneficial microorganisms. These symbiotic microbes play an important role in the development, adaptation, health and evolution of their hosts. This book brings together a group of diverse biologists to discuss microbial interactions with multicellular life forms including insects, corals, plants, and mammals, including humans. The various mechanisms by which microorganisms benefit their hosts are discussed, including providing essential nutrients, preventing disease, inducing the immune system, and combating stress. Since the microbiota can be transferred from parent to offspring, it plays an important role in the origin and evolution of animal and plant species. This book should be of interest to the widest range of biological scientists, merging the studies of host and microbial physiology, symbiosis, and the ecology and evolution of symbiotic partners.

<p>Microbial symbioses in the digestive tract of lower termites

Insect "symbiology" is coming of age, bridging between bench and field
Chironomids and Vibrio cholera
Role of bacteria in mating selection in Drosophila melanogaster
Legume-microbe symbioses
Plant growth promotion by rhizosphere bacteria through direct effects
Rhizosphere microorganisms
Microbial protection against plant disease
Bacterial Symbionts of Corals and Symbiodinium
Coral-associated heterotrophic protists
Effect of ocean acidification on the coral microbial community
Towards the educated design of bacterial communities
Oral microbes in health and disease
Role of rumen microbiota in determining the feed efficiency of dairy cows
The intestinal microbiota and intestinal disease: irritable bowel diseases
Intestinal microbiota and intestinal disease: inflammatory bowel diseases
A role for bacteria in the development of autoimmunity for type 1 diabetes
Impact of Intestinal Microbial Communities upon Health
Commensalism versus virulence
Prebiotics - Modulators of the human gut microflora
Host genetics and gut microbiota
Microbial symbiont transmission - basic principles and dark sides
Hydra go bacteria
The hologenome concept.</p>