Bacteria play a significant role in the complex life of lichens
In short: Researchers studying the lichen species Lobaria pulmonaria found that bacteria are not just passive residents. Using advanced metagenomics and proteomics, scientists discovered that a bacterial community is highly abundant and deeply integrated into the lichen's symbiotic structure, potentially helping the organism manage health, growth, and overall fitness.
While lichens are primarily known for the partnership between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria, recent high-throughput analyses show that bacteria are a key component of the system. This suggests the lichen symbiosis is more complex than previously thought.
The study used metagenomics and metaproteomics to identify these communities, though the exact mechanisms by which the microbiota influence the host remain a subject of ongoing research.
Why it matters: Lichens are more complex than a simple two-way partnership, involving an integrated bacterial community.
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Sources
- Source: Research: Grimm et al. (2021). The Lichens’ Microbiota, Still a Mystery?. Frontiers in Microbiology. · cc-by
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