Impact of Rain Forest Transformation on Roots and Functional Diversity of Root-Associated Fungal Communities
Impact of Rain Forest Transformation on Roots and Functional Diversity of Root-Associated Fungal Communities
- Research Article
19
- 10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.104247
- Oct 8, 2021
- Applied Soil Ecology
Diverse compost products influence soil bacterial and fungal community diversity in a potato crop production system
- Research Article
59
- 10.3390/microorganisms12112378
- Nov 20, 2024
- Microorganisms
Soil fungi are closely tied to their surrounding environment. While numerous studies have reported the effects of land-use practices or elevations on soil fungi, our understanding of how their community structure and diversity vary with elevation across different land-use practices remains limited. In the present study, by collecting soil samples from four different land uses in the Gaoligong Mountain area, namely shrublands (SLs), coffee plantations (CPs), cornfields (CFs), and citrus orchards (COs), and combining them with the changes in altitude gradients (low: 900 m, medium: 1200 m, high: 1500 m), high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the composition and diversity of soil fungal communities based on the collected soil samples. The results showed that the interaction between land-use types and elevation significantly influenced the structure and diversity of fungal communities, although their relative importance in shaping fungal diversity or community structure varied. Specifically, elevation posed a stronger effect on fungal community alpha-diversity and functional guilds, whereas land-use types had a greater influence over fungal community composition. Our study reveals the individual and combined effects of land-use practices and elevation on the structure and diversity of soil fungal communities in the Gaoligong Mountain region, enhancing our understanding of the distribution patterns and driving mechanisms of soil fungal communities in this biodiversity-rich region.
- Research Article
1
- 10.13227/j.hjkx.202307209
- Jul 8, 2024
- Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue
This study aimed to explore the effects of different disturbances on the fungal communities in the sediments of the Jialing River in order to provide scientific basis for the protection of the river ecosystem. The fungal community in the sediments of the main stream of the Jialing River was taken as the research object, and high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics techniques were used to analyze the differences in the composition and function of fungal communities in river sediment of different types of disturbance (project disturbance, tributary disturbance, sand mining disturbance, and reclamation disturbance) and non-disturbance sections. The results showed that: ① The reclamation and project disturbances significantly inhibited the diversity and richness of fungal communities (P<0.05). The tributary disturbance increased the richness of fungal communities, whereas the impact of sand mining disturbance on sediment fungal communities was not significant. ② The diversity and composition of fungal communities tended to be similar at the different sampling sites in the section with low input of exogenous substances (non-disturbance and sand mining disturbance), whereas there were obvious differences in the diversity of fungal communities at the different sampling sites of high input of external substances (tributary disturbance, project disturbance, and reclamation disturbance) sections. ③ Ascomycota, Rozellomycota, and Basidiomycota were the main dominant fungal phyla in the sediments of the Jialing River. The relative abundance of Rozellomycota was the highest in the sand mining interference section, and the relative abundance of Basidiomycota was the highest in the tributary interference section. Project disturbance significantly increased the relative abundance of saprotrophs, animal pathogens, plant pathogens, and dung saprotrophs, whereas other disturbances inhibited the relative abundance of fungal parasitic fungi, plant pathogens, and plant saprophytes. In conclusion, human disturbance has caused changes in fungal diversity, community structure, and function in the sediment of the Jialing River, and xenobiotic input was a key factor contributing to this phenomenon. The results can provide a reference for predicting and evaluating the ecological quality of river sediments.
- Research Article
59
- 10.1111/j.1744-7348.2009.00335.x
- Sep 14, 2009
- Annals of Applied Biology
An ecological approach was used to investigate the relationship between diversity of soil fungal communities and soil‐borne pathogen inoculum in a potato growing area of northern Italy affected by yield decline. The study was performed in 14 sites with the same tillage management practices: 10 named ‘potato sites’, that for many years had been intensely cultivated with potatoes, and 4 named ‘rotation sites’, subject to a 4‐year rotation without potatoes or any recurrent crop for many years. Fungal communities were recorded using conventional (soil fungi by plate count and endophytic fungi as infection frequency on pot‐grown potato plant roots in soil samples) and molecular approaches [Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes with specific and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis]. Diversity of fungal communities in potato sites was significantly lower than that in rotation sites. In addition, fungal communities in rotation sites showed lower Berger–Parker dominance than those in the potato sites, suggesting that rotation sites had a higher diversity as well as a better fungal community balance than potato sites. The ANalysis Of SIMilarity test of soil fungi and root endophytic fungi revealed that the two cropping systems differed significantly for species composition. Root endophytic fungal communities showed a greater ability to colonise potato roots in soil samples from potato sites than those from rotation sites. Moreover, the majority of endophytic root fungal community species in potato sites belonged to the potato root rot complex and storage disease (Colletotrichum coccodes,Fusarium solaniandFusarium oxysporum), while those in rotation sites were mainly ubiquitous or saprobic fungi. Soil rDNA analyses showed that Ascomycetes were much more frequent than Basidiomycetes in all the soils examined. DGGE analysis, with the Ascomycete‐specific primer (ITS1F/ITS4A), did not reveal distinctions between the communities found at the potato and rotation sites, although the same analysis showed differences between the communities of Basidiomycetes (specific primer ITS1F/ITS4B). These findings showed that recurrent potato cropping affected diversity and composition of soil fungal communities and induced a shift in specialisation of the endophytic fungi towards potato.
- Research Article
177
- 10.3852/09-297
- Jan 1, 2011
- Mycologia
The fungal loop model of semiarid ecosystems integrates microtopographic structures and pulse dynamics with key microbial processes. However limited data exist about the composition and structure of fungal communities in these ecosystems. The goal of this study was to characterize diversity and structure of soil fungal communities in a semiarid grassland. The effect of long-term nitrogen fertilization on fungi also was evaluated. Samples of rhizosphere (soil surrounding plant roots) and biological soil crust (BSC) were collected in central New Mexico, USA. DNA was amplified from the samples with fungal specific primers. Twelve clone libraries were generated with a total of 307 (78 operational taxonomic units, OTUs) and 324 sequences (67 OTUs) for BSC and rhizosphere respectively. Approximately 40% of soil OTUs were considered novel (less than 97% identity when compared to other sequences in NCBI using BLAST). The dominant organisms were dark-septate (melanized fungi) ascomycetes belonging to Pleosporales. Effects of N enrichment on fungi were not evident at the community level; however the abundance of unique sequences, sampling intensity and temporal variations may be uncovering the effect of N in composition and diversity of fungal communities. The fungal communities of rhizosphere soil and BSC overlapped substantially in composition, with a Jaccard abundance similarity index of 0.75. Further analyses are required to explore possible functions of the dominant species colonizing zones of semiarid grassland soils.
- Research Article
5
- 10.1007/s00248-022-02129-y
- Nov 4, 2022
- Microbial Ecology
Soil fungi are essential to soil microorganisms that play an important role in the ecosystem's soil carbon cycle and mineral nutrient transformation. Understanding the structural characteristics and diversity of soil fungal communities helps understand the health of forest ecosystems. The transition from tropical rainforest to artificial forest greatly impacts the composition and diversity of fungal communities. Hainan Limushan tropical rainforest National Park has a large area of artificial forests. Ecologists have conducted in-depth studies on the succession of animals and plants to regenerate tropical rainforests. There are few reports on the diversity of soil fungi and its influencing factors in the succession of tropical rainforests in Limu Mountain. In this study, 44 soil samples from five different stands were collected in the tropical rainforest of Limushan, Hainan. High-throughput sequencing of rDNA in its region was used to analyze fungal communities and study their α and β diversity. Analysis of variance and multiple regression models was used to analyze soil variables and fungal functional groups to determine the effects of interaction between fungi and environmental factors. A total of 273,996 reads and 1290 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained, belonging to 418 species, 325 genera, 159 families, eight phyla, 30 classes, and 73 orders. The results showed that the composition of soil fungal communities in the five stands was similar, with ascomycetes accounting for 70.5% and basidiomycetes accounting for 14.7%. α and β diversity analysis showed that soil fungi in Limushan tropical rainforest had high abundance and diversity. Multiple regression analysis between soil variables and functional groups showed that organic matter, TN, TP, TK, and AK were excellent predictors for soil fungi. TP was the strongest predictor in all functional groups except soil saprotroph. Organic matter and total nitrogen were the strongest predictors of soil rot. The transformation from tropical rainforest to artificial forest in Limushan did not change the soil fungal community structure, but the richness and diversity of soil fungi changed. The forest transformation did not lead to decreased soil fungal abundance and diversity. Different vegetation types and soil properties affect the diversity of soil fungal communities. We found that Caribbean pine plantations can improve soil fungal diversity, while long-term Eucalyptus spp. plantations may reduce soil fungal diversity.
- Research Article
1
- 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20200814.101
- Nov 1, 2020
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
This study is aimed to reveal the rhizosphere soil fungal community structure difference of Coptis chinensis cropping between natural forest and artificial shed modes, and provide theoretical guidance for soil improvement and C. chinensis planting. The rhizosphere soil samples of 1-5-year-old C. chinensis under natural forest and artificial shed modes were collected. Illumina high-throughput sequencing technology was used to analyze the community structure and diversity of soil fungi under the tow cropping modes,and the effects of soil nutriment indices on soil fungal community structure. The results suggested that the abundance and diversity of fungal communities in soil of 2-5-year-old C. chinensis were not significant different in both two cropping modes, but it was significantly higher than that in the 1-year-old C. chinensis. Comparing soil samples from the same year-old C. chinensis under the two cropping modes, it was found that there was no significant difference in the abundance and diversity of fungal communities. The fungal community of the rhizosphere soil was different in composition and abundance between tow cropping modes, and between different planting years. The 17 phyla,59 classes and 155 orders,and 17 phyla,59 classes and 157 orders were detected in the rhizosphere soil of C. chinensis under the cropping modes of natural forest and the artificial shed, respectively. Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Mortierellomycota were dominant phyla in rhizosphere soil, and the average abundance of the 3 phyla accounted for 74.36% and 74.30% of the total fungi. The results of analysis of similarities showed that there were significant differences in the fungal community structure of 1-year-old and 2-year-old C. chinensis soil fungi, and there was no significant difference in the community structure of 3-5-year-old samples. Under the natural forest cropping mode, there were significant differences among the samples of different years. Under the artificial shed cropping, there were significant differences in fungal community structure between 1-year-old and 3-5-year-old C. chinensis soil, and between 2-year-old and 3-5-year-old C. chinensis soil. The results of canonical correlation analysis showed that soil pH and soil organic matter content were the main factors affecting the soil fungal community structure. Soil organic matter content was positively correlated with Basidiomycota and Cryptomycota, pH was negatively correlated with Basidiomycota and C. ryptomycota. The planting of C. chinensis has promoted the diversity and abundance of rhizosphere fungal community significantly. For the same year-old C. chinensis soil, abundance of fungal community was no significant difference between two cropping modes. There are significant differences in the rhizosphere soil fungal community structure between tow cropping modes in the first two years of planting. Through the interaction between the rhizosphere and the soil and the continuous selection of the rhizosphere to the fungal community, the fungal community structure tended to be the same between the two cropping modes in rhizosphere soil of 3-5-year old C. chinensis. The soil pH and orga-nic matter content were the main factors affecting the change of fungal community structure.
- Research Article
- 10.5846/stxb202101210225
- Jan 1, 2022
- Acta Ecologica Sinica
PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 柏木人工林林窗位置对香椿细根分解及土壤真菌群落多样性的影响 DOI: 10.5846/stxb202101210225 作者: 作者单位: 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家重点研发计划项目(2017YFD0600302-05);国家自然科学基金项目(32071747);绵阳师范学院生态安全与保护四川省重点实验室开放基金项目(ESP-2104);绵阳师范学院高层次人才科研启动项目(QD2020A17) Effects of gap locations on the decomposition of fine root of Toona sinensis and soil fungal community diversity in cypress plantation forest Author: Affiliation: Fund Project: The Key Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:为了解林窗位置对香椿细根分解及土壤真菌群落多样性的影响,以川中丘陵区30a生柏木人工林为研究对象,采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术研究200 m2人工林窗中心位置(GC)、边缘位置(GB)、郁闭林(CC)对香椿细根2a自然分解后土壤真菌群落结构及多样性的影响。结果表明,林窗内不同位置之间微环境差异显著(P<0.05),土壤理化性质对林窗位置变化的响应较细根养分元素更积极,GB位置细根分解速率显著高于GC和CC。土壤真菌门水平在3个林窗位置间无显著差异,其中子囊菌门、担子菌门是优势类群;腐生营养型真菌在3个林窗位置上具有显著差异,散囊菌目、粪壳菌目、肉座菌目、刺盾炱目、伞菌目是3个位置上相对丰度值>1%的优势类群,刺盾炱目、伞菌目相对丰度在GB和CC之间有显著差异(P<0.05);青霉属和曲霉属是真菌在属水平上的优势类群,其相对丰度在3个位置间有极显著差异(P<0.01)。林窗位置未对真菌群落α多样性产生显著影响,但群落β多样性对位置变化的响应显著。GB位置群落β多样性显著高于GC和CC (P<0.05),共有种数量最多,GC位置特有种数量最多。冗余分析发现较多环境因子对真菌群落的影响显著(P<0.01),Mantel test (和partial Mantel test)分析结果表明土壤pH值、土壤含水量、土壤温度、土壤速效磷、土壤全氮是真菌群落多样性的重要影响因子。综上所述,林窗内位置对土壤真菌类群构成和群落β多样性具有差异性影响,在柏木人工林内实施林窗式干扰有助于调节细根分解等地下生态进程。 Abstract:The effect of gap location heterogeneity on decomposition of plant fine roots and soil fungal community diversity was investigated in a forest with Cupressus funebris plantation for 30 years, in the hilly region in central Sichuan Province. In an area with gap size 200 m2, the structure and diversity of soil fungal community associated with 2a natural decomposition of fine root of Toona sinensis were investigated separately on three different locations:gap center (GC), gap boarder (GB) and closed canopy (CC), by using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology. The results showed that there were significant differences in microenvironment across different gap locations (P<0.05). The response of soil physical and chemical properties to the gap position was more sensitive than that of fine root nutrient elements, and the decomposition rate of fine roots at GB position was significantly higher than that of GC and CC. There was no significant difference in soil fungal community at phylum level. Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes were dominant groups across different gap locations. Base on FUNGuild results, the trophic modes of saprotrophs showed significant differences across different gap locations, the classes of Eurotiales, Hypocreales, Sordariales, Chaetothyriales and Agaricales were dominant with the relative abundances>1% across the three locations. The relative abundances of Agaricales and Chaetothyriales were significantly different between GB and CC (P<0.05). The genera of Penicillium, Aspergillus, Chaetomium and Staphylotrichum were the dominant taxa, and there were significant differences in their relative abundances across the three locations (P<0.01). The α diversities of the fungal communities were not significantly affected by the gap locations, but their β diversities were more responsive to different gap locations. The β diversity at GB was significantly higher than those at GC and CC (P<0.05), with the largest number of shared species at GB and the largest number of endemic species at GC site. Redundancy analysis revealed significant effects of the environmental factors on the fungal community (P<0.01). Partial Mantel test showed that the factors such as pH, water content (SWC), temperature (ST), available P (SNP) and total N (STN) in soil were important factors influencing fungal community diversity. In conclusion, forest gap locations significantly affected the composition and diversity of soil fungal community. The findings were helpful to regulate the underground ecological processes such as fine root decomposition in cypress plantation forests. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献
- Research Article
14
- 10.1128/spectrum.00981-23
- May 22, 2023
- Microbiology Spectrum
ABSTRACTSclerotinia sclerotiorum, a widespread pathogen of dicotyledons, can grow endophytically in wheat, providing protection against Fusarium head blight and stripe rust and enhancing wheat yield. In this study, we found that wheat seed treatment with strain DT-8, infected with S. sclerotiorum hypovirulence-associated DNA virus 1 (SsHADV-1) and used as a “plant vaccine” for brassica protection, could significantly increase the diversity of the fungal and bacterial community in rhizosphere soil, while the diversity of the fungal community was obviously decreased in the wheat root. Interestingly, the relative abundance of potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and biocontrol agents increased significantly in the DT-8-treated wheat rhizosphere soil. These data might be responsible for wheat growth promotion and disease resistance. These results may provide novel insights for understanding the interaction between the schizotrophic microorganism and the microbiota of plant roots and rhizosphere, screening and utilizing beneficial microorganisms, and further reducing chemical pesticide utilization and increasing crop productivity.IMPORTANCE Fungal pathogens are seriously threatening food security and natural ecosystems; efficient and environmentally friendly control methods are essential to increase world crop production. S. sclerotiorum, a widespread pathogen of dicotyledons, can grow endophytically in wheat, providing protection against Fusarium head blight and stripe rust and enhancing wheat yield. In this study, we discovered that S. sclerotiorum treatment increased the diversity of the soil fungal and bacterial community in rhizosphere soil, while the diversity of the fungal community was obviously decreased in the wheat root. More importantly, the relative abundance of potential PGPR and bio-control agents increased significantly in the S. sclerotiorum-treated wheat rhizosphere soil. The importance of this work is that schizotrophic S. sclerotiorum promotes wheat growth and enhances resistance against fungal diseases via changes in the structure of the root and rhizosphere microbiome.
- Research Article
1
- 10.1360/tb-2024-0330
- Sep 1, 2024
- Chinese Science Bulletin
<p indent="0mm">Microorganisms are the most active components of soil and are very sensitive to external disturbances, so they are often used as an important indicator for evaluating the function and health of soil ecosystems. Many studies have investigated the effects of grazing on soil microorganisms, however, how the grazing effects on soil microbes vary among different grassland types and the underlying mechanism are still largely unexplored. In this study, we selected four different types of grasslands in northern China, i.e., meadow steppe, typical steppe, desert steppe and alpine meadow and compared the variation of heavy-grazing effects on soil microbial community composition and diversity and explored the potential drivers of soil microbial community composition and diversity in each grassland type. The results showed that within the same grassland type, the effects of heavy grazing on the α diversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities were not significant compared with those of the control. Similarly, we found that the β diversity of soil bacterial and fungal communities from the heavy-grazing plots was not significantly different from those from the control plots. However, we found that the α diversity and β diversity of soil fungal and bacterial communities varied significantly among the four grassland types. The ASV richness and Shannon diversity of soil bacterial community in meadow steppe was consistently higher than those of the other three grassland types. In contrast, alpine meadow generally had the highest fungal α-diversity. The fungal ASV richness in alpine meadow was significantly higher than that of meadow steppe and desert steppe and the fungal Shannon diversity in alpine meadow was significantly higher than that of typical steppe. The bacterial and fungal community structures of typical steppe and meadow steppe were similar, and differed significantly from those of desert steppe and alpine meadow. The random forest results showed that the key drivers of soil bacterial and fungal α-diversity and β-diversity differed among the different grassland types. Soil organic carbon, C:N ratio, available phosphorus, nitrate nitrogen and plant belowground biomass were the most important predictors driving the α diversity of soil bacterial communities. Soil available nitrogen, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, pH and plant aboveground biomass were the most important predictors driving the α diversity of soil fungal communities. Soil organic carbon, plant belowground biomass and total nitrogen were the most important predictors driving the β diversity of soil bacterial communities. Soil organic carbon and available nitrogen were the most important predictors driving the β diversity of soil fungal communities. This study compared the difference of heavy grazing on soil microbial community diversity in different grassland types, revealed the key drivers of soil microbial diversity in different types of grasslands, and provided a theoretical basis for the management of natural grasslands as well as the restoration of degraded grasslands.
- Research Article
11
- 10.1016/j.jep.2020.113512
- Oct 23, 2020
- Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Jianqu fermentation with the isolated fungi significantly improves the immune response in immunosuppressed mice
- Research Article
10
- 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20210226.103
- Jun 1, 2021
- Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
To obtain the difference of the fungal and bacterial community diversity between wild Cordyceps sinensis, artificial C. sinensis and their habitat soil, Illmina Hiseq high-throughput sequencing technology was applied. The results show that Proteobacteria was the dominant bacterial phylum in C. sinensis, Actinobacteria was the dominant bacterial phylum in soil microhabitat, Ophiocordyceps sinensis was the predominant dominant fungus of C. sinensis. The α diversity analysis showed that the fungal diversity of stroma was lower than other parts, and the fungal diversity of wild C. sinensis was lower than that of artificial C. sinensis. The β diversity analysis showed that the fungal and bacterial community diversity of soil microhabitat samples was significantly different from that of C. sinensis. The fungal community diversity was less different between wild and artificial C. sinensis, especially in sclerotia. LEfSe analysis showed a lot of species diversity between wild and artificial C. sinensis. Those different species between wild C. sinensis, artificial C. sinensis and their habitat soil provide ideas for further research on breed and components of C. sinensis.
- Research Article
4
- 10.13227/j.hjkx.202008136
- Apr 8, 2021
- Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue
Soil fungal communities are reconstructed under heavy metal stress. This study was conducted to explore the structural and functional diversity of soil fungal communities under different land-use patterns, namely grassland and farmland, in 15-year-old or 10-year-old poplar plantations (Populus deltoides cv. 'zhonghuahongye') near the Shibahe copper tailing dam and the surrounding area, located in Yuanqu County, Shanxi. The results indicated that the abundance and diversity of fungal communities were the highest in the 15-year-old poplar plantation and lowest in the grassland on the tailing dam. The dominant fungal groups in the study area were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota. The Ascomycota members were the most abundant at all four sampling sites, reaching 92.92% of the fungal community in the grassland on the tailing dam. The highest functional diversity of carbon utilization was found in the soil fungal communities of the 15-year-old poplar plantations; moreover, the diversity in the grassland on the tailing dam was significantly higher than that in the farmland and in the 10-year-old poplar plantation. Meanwhile, we also observed the highest glucoside carbon source utilization efficiency in the grassland. Notably, the correlation analysis revealed that Ascomycota was significantly correlated with the utilization efficiency of the glucoside carbon source in our study area. Moreover, the soil total nitrogen content, but not the soil heavy metal content, was significantly correlated with the abundance of the soil fungal community. There were significant correlations between the cadmium and arsenic contents and the soil fungal community diversity indices. Our results indicated that the soil fungal communities were more influenced by soil fertility and land use than by the soil heavy metal content. This study underlies the application of soil fungal communities in soil remediation of heavy metal-contaminated areas.
- Research Article
50
- 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153565
- Jan 29, 2022
- Science of The Total Environment
Plant diversity and soil properties regulate the microbial community of monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest under different intensities of woodland use
- Research Article
6
- 10.3389/fmicb.2022.841621
- Mar 31, 2022
- Frontiers in Microbiology
Fungal communities in above-ground tree tissues are hyperdiverse and are influenced by biotic interactions with other organisms living in or on these tissues. These biotic interactions are, however, still poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to understand how insect-associated gall formation on Eucalyptus foliage correlates with the diversity of foliar fungal communities in surrounding healthy leaf tissue, as well as the co-occurrence patterns among the members of the fungal community. We used ITS metabarcoding to characterise the foliar fungal communities of 179 individual E. grandis trees. These trees were assigned to infestation levels of the wasp Leptocybe invasa (Eulophidae: Hymenoptera), which causes gall formation on shoot tips and leaves of its host. Fungal community networks were calculated using a Pearson correlation coefficient. The composition and diversity of fungal communities were influenced by the severity of L. invasa infestations. We identified potential Eucalyptus pathogens with high sequence abundance at all disease severity levels, but network analysis indicated that the co-occurrence of potential pathogens between no to mild and medium to heavy infestation differed significantly. A better understanding of microbial interactions, especially the role of pathogens, can be useful for controlling disease- and beneficial host-associated microbial communities.