Friend and foe: the two faces of Xenorhabdus nematophila.
Comparisons of mutualistic and pathogenic relationships are necessary to decipher the common language of microorganism-host interactions, as well as the subtle differences in dialect that distinguish types of symbiosis. One avenue towards making such comparisons is to study a single organism that speaks both dialects, such as the gamma-proteobacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila. X. nematophila inhabits and influences the lives of two host animals, helping one to reproduce optimally while killing the other.
Herbert
Erin E
EE
Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Goodrich-Blair
Heidi
H
D000818:Animals; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D018402:Manduca / Q000382:microbiology*; D017168:Rhabditida / Q000382:microbiology*; D013559:Symbiosis; D020593:Xenorhabdus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*