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Review
. 2023 Sep 26;87(3):e0021222.
doi: 10.1128/mmbr.00212-22. Epub 2023 Jun 27.

Microbiome Interconnectedness throughout Environments with Major Consequences for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet

Angela Sessitsch  1 , Steve Wakelin  2 , Michael Schloter  3 , Emmanuelle Maguin  4 , Tomislav Cernava  5 , Marie-Christine Champomier-Verges  4 , Trevor C Charles  6 , Paul D Cotter  7 , Ilario Ferrocino  8 , Aicha Kriaa  4 , Pedro Lebre  9 , Don Cowan  9 , Lene Lange  10 , Seghal Kiran  11 , Lidia Markiewicz  12 , Annelein Meisner  13 , Marta Olivares  14 , Inga Sarand  15 , Bettina Schelkle  16 , Joseph Selvin  11 , Hauke Smidt  17 , Leo van Overbeek  13 , Gabriele Berg  18 , Luca Cocolin  8 , Yolanda Sanz  14 , Wilson Lemos Fernandes Jr  1 , S J Liu  19 , Matthew Ryan  20 , Brajesh Singh  21 , Tanja Kostic  1
Affiliations
Review

Microbiome Interconnectedness throughout Environments with Major Consequences for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet

Angela Sessitsch et al. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. .

Abstract

Microbiomes have highly important roles for ecosystem functioning and carry out key functions that support planetary health, including nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and water filtration. Microbiomes are also intimately associated with complex multicellular organisms such as humans, other animals, plants, and insects and perform crucial roles for the health of their hosts. Although we are starting to understand that microbiomes in different systems are interconnected, there is still a poor understanding of microbiome transfer and connectivity. In this review we show how microbiomes are connected within and transferred between different habitats and discuss the functional consequences of these connections. Microbiome transfer occurs between and within abiotic (e.g., air, soil, and water) and biotic environments, and can either be mediated through different vectors (e.g., insects or food) or direct interactions. Such transfer processes may also include the transmission of pathogens or antibiotic resistance genes. However, here, we highlight the fact that microbiome transmission can have positive effects on planetary and human health, where transmitted microorganisms potentially providing novel functions may be important for the adaptation of ecosystems.

Keywords: microbiome interconnectedness; microbiome transfer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIG 1
FIG 1
Microbiome transfer between environments and modes of transfer.
FIG 2
FIG 2
Microbiome connectivity between environments and impact on environmental health, human/animal health, and plant health.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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