Microbial markets: socio-economic perspective in studying microbial communities.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Mostafa, Fariha Krüger, Aileen Nies, Tim Frunzke, Julia Schipper, Kerstin Matuszyńska, Anna
Copyright Year	2024
Description	This figure illustrates the concept of microbial markets within lichen symbioses, as explored through a socio-economic lens. Panel A shows a Peltigera lichen thriving on a rock near Düsseldorf, Germany, highlighting the physical presence of these resilient communities. Panel B provides a microscopic view of the lichen structure, where the mycobiont (blue) and photobiont interact closely (green). Panel C schematically represents the lichen as a microbial marketplace, emphasizing the exchange of resources and services that sustain this symbiotic association, reflecting the complex trade-offs and interactions that mirror human economic behaviors. This visualization underscores the paper's exploration of microbial interactions through the lens of market economics, shedding light on the delicate balance of cooperation and competition in microbial ecosystems. AbstractStudying microbial communities through a socio-economic lens, this paper draws parallels with human economic transactions and microbes’ race for resources. Extending the ‘Market Economy’ concept of social science to microbial ecosystems, the paper aims to contribute to comprehending the collaborative and competitive dynamics among microorganisms. Created by a multidisciplinary team of an economist, microbiologists, and mathematicians, the paper also highlights the risks involved in employing a socio-economic perspective to explain the complexities of natural ecosystems. Navigating through microbial markets offers insights into the implications of these interactions while emphasizing the need for cautious interpretation within the broader ecological context. We hope that this paper will be a fruitful source of inspiration for future studies on microbial communities.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC11421381&blobtype=pdf
Page Count	17
Volume Number	5
DOI	10.1093/femsml/uqae016
PubMed Central reference number	PMC11421381
PubMed reference number	39318452
Journal	microLife
e-ISSN	26336693
Language	English
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Publisher Date	2024-08-28
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@oup.com © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.
Subject Keyword	biological market theory comparative advantage evolutionary game theory spatial economics
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Immunology and Microbiology