Microbiomes and Their Functions: Why Organisms Need Microbes

Vasu D. Appanna

Jan 2023 · CRC Press

About this eBook

This book provides a fundamental understanding of the importance of the microbiome in the life of virtually all multicellular organisms. It explains why microbes are an integral part of living organisms and describes the diverse roles they perform for their hosts. Although the significance of modified bacteria such as the mitochondrion and chloroplast is deeply rooted in the evolution of all complex organisms, it is only recently that the contribution of microbial partners within and on their hosts is becoming fully evident. These communities of microbes are as essential to organisms as are the visible organs. Microbiomes are indeed “invisible organs.” They participate in the digestive process, assist in communication networks, supply essential nutrients, guard against foreign intrusion, promote development and contribute to well-being. This unique approach, where the dependence of the hosts on their microbiomes is explained, will be a must-read for undergraduate and graduate students. Researchers and professionals probing microbial interactions with living organisms will find this book interesting and enriching.

Key Features

• Emphasizes the roles microbiomes play within their hosts
• Includes many captivating illustrations enabling easy comprehension
• Explains microbiome functions from algae to vertebrates
• Reveals how microbiomes contribute to the health of the hosts and the ecosystems
• Describes the impact of dysbiosis on diseases, food security and climate change
• Boxed sections provide a detailed analysis of concepts and are accompanied by vivid illustrations

About the author

Dr. Vasu D. Appanna has been studying, researching and teaching for more than 30 years in Canada and world-wide. He has published extensively on microbial systems surviving in stressed environments and the very successful and widely distributed book Human Microbes: The Power Within – Health, Healing and Beyond. He is currently a Professor of Biochemistry at Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario where he has also served as Department Chair and Dean of Faculty.