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An ecological and evolutionary perspective on human–microbe mutualism and disease

Nature volume 449, pages 811–818 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The microbial communities of humans are characteristic and complex mixtures of microorganisms that have co-evolved with their human hosts. The species that make up these communities vary between hosts as a result of restricted migration of microorganisms between hosts and strong ecological interactions within hosts, as well as host variability in terms of diet, genotype and colonization history. The shared evolutionary fate of humans and their symbiotic bacteria has selected for mutualistic interactions that are essential for human health, and ecological or genetic changes that uncouple this shared fate can result in disease. In this way, looking to ecological and evolutionary principles might provide new strategies for restoring and maintaining human health.

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Figure 1: Site-specific distributions of bacterial phyla in healthy humans.
Figure 2: Patterns of human-associated microbial diversity.
Figure 3: Relationships between bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences from the intestinal microbiota of animals.
Figure 4: Adaptive landscapes.

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Acknowledgements

Research in the laboratory of D.A.R. is supported by funds from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Horn Foundation, the Office of Naval Research and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Research in the laboratory of M.M.-N. is supported by the NIH and the National Science Foundation. D.A.R. is a recipient of an NIH Director's Pioneer Award and a Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, California, USA

    Les Dethlefsen & David A. Relman

  2. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Symbiosis Cluster, 4835A Medical Sciences Center, 1300 University Avenue

    Margaret McFall-Ngai

  3. University of Wisconsin, Madison, 53706, Wisconsin, USA

    Margaret McFall-Ngai

  4. Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, California, USA

    David A. Relman

  5. Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System 154T, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, 94304, California, USA

    David A. Relman

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Dethlefsen, L., McFall-Ngai, M. & Relman, D. An ecological and evolutionary perspective on human–microbe mutualism and disease. Nature 449, 811–818 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06245

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