The Social Biology of Microbial Communities

The Social Biology of Microbial Communities
Author :
Publisher : National Academies Press
Total Pages : 633
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780309264327
ISBN-13 : 0309264324
Rating : 4/5 (324 Downloads)

Book Synopsis The Social Biology of Microbial Communities by : Institute of Medicine

Download or read book The Social Biology of Microbial Communities written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2013-01-10 with total page 633 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Beginning with the germ theory of disease in the 19th century and extending through most of the 20th century, microbes were believed to live their lives as solitary, unicellular, disease-causing organisms . This perception stemmed from the focus of most investigators on organisms that could be grown in the laboratory as cellular monocultures, often dispersed in liquid, and under ambient conditions of temperature, lighting, and humidity. Most such inquiries were designed to identify microbial pathogens by satisfying Koch's postulates.3 This pathogen-centric approach to the study of microorganisms produced a metaphorical "war" against these microbial invaders waged with antibiotic therapies, while simultaneously obscuring the dynamic relationships that exist among and between host organisms and their associated microorganisms-only a tiny fraction of which act as pathogens. Despite their obvious importance, very little is actually known about the processes and factors that influence the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities. Gaining this knowledge will require a seismic shift away from the study of individual microbes in isolation to inquiries into the nature of diverse and often complex microbial communities, the forces that shape them, and their relationships with other communities and organisms, including their multicellular hosts. On March 6 and 7, 2012, the Institute of Medicine's (IOM's) Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop to explore the emerging science of the "social biology" of microbial communities. Workshop presentations and discussions embraced a wide spectrum of topics, experimental systems, and theoretical perspectives representative of the current, multifaceted exploration of the microbial frontier. Participants discussed ecological, evolutionary, and genetic factors contributing to the assembly, function, and stability of microbial communities; how microbial communities adapt and respond to environmental stimuli; theoretical and experimental approaches to advance this nascent field; and potential applications of knowledge gained from the study of microbial communities for the improvement of human, animal, plant, and ecosystem health and toward a deeper understanding of microbial diversity and evolution. The Social Biology of Microbial Communities: Workshop Summary further explains the happenings of the workshop.


The Social Biology of Microbial Communities Related Books

The Social Biology of Microbial Communities
Language: en
Pages: 633
Authors: Institute of Medicine
Categories: Medical
Type: BOOK - Published: 2013-01-10 - Publisher: National Academies Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Beginning with the germ theory of disease in the 19th century and extending through most of the 20th century, microbes were believed to live their lives as soli
Microbial Evolution and Co-Adaptation
Language: en
Pages: 330
Authors: Institute of Medicine
Categories: Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2009-05-10 - Publisher: National Academies Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Dr. Joshua Lederberg - scientist, Nobel laureate, visionary thinker, and friend of the Forum on Microbial Threats - died on February 2, 2008. It was in his hono
In the Light of Evolution V: Cooperation and Conflict
Language: en
Pages: 538
Authors:
Categories:
Type: BOOK - Published: - Publisher: National Academies Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Fungal Diseases
Language: en
Pages: 488
Authors: Institute of Medicine
Categories: Medical
Type: BOOK - Published: 2011-10-08 - Publisher: National Academies Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Fungal diseases have contributed to death and disability in humans, triggered global wildlife extinctions and population declines, devastated agricultural crops
Microbial Services in Restoration Ecology
Language: en
Pages: 338
Authors: Jay Shankar Singh
Categories: Technology & Engineering
Type: BOOK - Published: 2020-04-21 - Publisher: Elsevier

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Microbial Services in Restoration Ecology describes the role of microbial resources and their beneficial services in soil fertility and restoration of degraded