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A fungal scent from the cheese
Author(s) -
Kovács Ákos T.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/1462-2920.15267
Subject(s) - biology , niche , microcosm , secondary metabolite , ecological niche , metabolite , fungus , microbial population biology , ecology , primary metabolite , bacteria , botany , biochemistry , genetics , gene , habitat
Summary Assembly of microbial communities is shaped by various physical and chemical factors deriving from their environment, including other microbes inhabiting the certain niche. In addition to direct cell–cell contacts, primary and secondary metabolites impact the growth of microbial community members. Metabolites might act as growth‐promoting (e.g., cross‐feeding), growth‐inhibiting (e.g., antimicrobials) or signalling molecules. In multi‐species microbial assemblies, secreted metabolites might influence specific members of the community, altering species abundances and therefore the functioning of these microcosms. In the current issue, Cosetta and colleagues describe a unique volatile metabolite‐mediated cross‐kingdom interaction that shapes the cheese rind community assembly. The study paves the way of our understanding how fungus‐produced volatile compounds promote the growth of a certain bacterial genus, a principal connection between community members of the cheese rind.