Microbiology and Parasitology Lecture
Microbial Ecology: Symbiotic Microbes
Characteristics, classification, and Medical
Significance of:
 Commensalism
 Symbiosis
 Neutralism
 Commensalism
 Mutualism
 Parasitism
Ecology
 The systematic study of the interrelationships
that exist between organisms their
environment.
 Mutualism
Microbial Ecology
 The study of the numerous interrelationships
between microbes and the world around them;
how microbes interact with other microbes,
how microbes interact with organisms other
than microbes, and how microbes interact with
the nonliving world around them.
 Microbes are essential in the fields of
biotechnology, bioremediation, genetic
engineering, and gene therapy.
Symbiotic Relationships Involving
Microorganism
 Symbiosis
-Symbiosis, or symbiotic relationship, is
defined as the living together or close
association of two dissimilar organisms
(usually two different species)
- The organisms that live together in such a
relationship are referred to as symbionts.
 Neutralism
- The term neutralism is used to describe a
symbiotic relationship in which neither
symbiont is affected by the relationship. In
other words, neutralism reflects a situation
in which different microorganisms occupy
the same ecologic niche, but have
absolutely no effect on each other.
- A symbiotic relationship that is beneficial
to one symbiont and of no consequence
(i.e., is neither beneficial nor harmful) to
the other.
- The relationship is of obvious benefit to the
microorganisms (they are provided
nutrients and “housing”) but the
microorganisms have no effect on the host.
- One example of a commensal is the tiny
mite called Demodex, which lives within
hair follicles and sebaceous glands,
especially of the eyelashes and eyebrows.
- A symbiotic relationship that is beneficial
to both symbionts (i.e., the relationship is
mutually beneficial).
- Humans have a mutualistic relationship
with many of the microorganisms of their
indigenous microbiota. An example is the
intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli, which
obtains nutrients from blood materials
ingested by the host and produces vitamins
(such as vitamin K) that are used by the
host.
- In addition, some members of our
indigenous microbiota prevent colonization
by pathogens and overgrowth by
opportunistic pathogens.
- As another example of mutualistic
relationship, consider the protozoa that live
in the intestine of termites. Termites eat
wood, but they cannot digest the wood.
Fortunately for them, the protozoa that live
in their intestinal tract break down the large
molecules in wood into smaller molecules
that can be absorbed and used as nutrients
by the termites. In turn, the termite provides
food and a warm, moist place for the
protozoa to live. Without these protozoa,
the termites would die of starvation.
- The lichens that you see as colored patches
on rocks and tree trunks are further
examples of mutualism. A lichen is
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 Microbiology and Parasitology Lecture
Microbial Ecology: Symbiotic Microbes
composed of an alga (or a cyanobacterium) surgical procedures, or diseases that
and a fungus, living so closely together that debilitate (weaken) the host or interfere
they appear to be one organism. The fungus with host defense mechanisms.
uses some of the energy that the alga - Immunosuppressed individuals are
produces by photosynthesis (recall that particularly susceptible to opportunistic
fungi are not photosynthetic), and the chitin pathogens.
in the fungal cell walls protects the alga - Opportunists can also cause disease in
from desiccation. Thus, both symbionts otherwise healthy persons if they gain
benefit from the relationship. access to the blood, urinary bladder, lungs,
 Parasitism or other organs and tissues of those
- Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship that is individuals.
beneficial to one symbiont (the parasite)
and detrimental to the other symbiont (the
host).
- Being detrimental to the host does not
necessarily mean that the parasite causes
disease. In some cases, a host can harbor a
parasite, without the parasite causing harm
to the host.
- “Smart” parasites do not cause disease, but
rather take only the nutrients they need to
exist.
- The especially ”dumb” parasites kill their
hosts; then they must either find a new host
or die.
- Nonetheless, certain parasites always cause
disease, and some cause death.
- For example, the protozoan Trypanosoma
gambiense (refer to the previous
illustration), is the parasite that causes
African sleeping sickness, a human disease
that often causes death of the host.
- A change in conditions can cause one type
of symbiotic relationship to shift to another
type.
- For example, conditions can cause a
mutualistic or communalistic relationship
between humans and their indigenous
microbiota to shift to a parasitic, disease-
causing (pathogenic) relationship.
- Recall that many of the microbes of our
indigenous microbiota are opportunistic
pathogens (opportunists), awaiting to cause
disease.
- Conditions that may enable an opportunist
to cause disease include burns, lacerations,

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