Scope

Microbial Symbioses is a specialty section of Frontiers in Microbiology devoted to communicating cutting-edge research on symbiotic microbial interactions. Here symbiosis is defined as any permanent or stable association between a microbe and at least one other organism. These symbiotic interactions may span any combination of bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes and the relationships may fall within the bounds of mutualism (beneficial to both partners), commensalism (beneficial to one partner without effect on the other) or parasitism (beneficial to one and detrimental to the other). The study of symbiosis has dramatically accelerated over recent decades with genetic and genomic approaches revealing an astounding array of novel and diverse relationships that are fundamentally challenging our understanding of basic biology and ecology. Determining how these symbiotic associations evolved, how they are maintained and how they benefit the respective hosts is essential to predicting interactions with the broader environment. This specialty aims to accelerate the field of symbiosis research by providing a platform for outstanding publications related to understanding complex microbial interactions with other organisms. The specialty particularly welcomes submission of manuscripts related to the evolution of symbiotic partnerships and those that enhance our understanding of how symbiotic partnerships adapt to or fail in changing environments. Interdisciplinary studies and novel technological approaches that enhance our ability to decipher the nature of complex symbiotic relationships are also welcomed. Authors submitting work aimed at unraveling the mechanisms and outcomes of microbial pathogenesis might also consider the sections "Virology", "Fungi and their Interactions", and ”Plant Microbe Interactions” within Frontiers in Microbiology, or Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.

Submission

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