Importance of Bacteroidetes in host-microbe interactions and ecosystem functioning

Bacteroidetes are prevalent in soil ecosystems and are associated with various eukaryotic hosts, including plants, animals, and humans. The ubiquity and diversity of Bacteroidetes exemplify their impressive versatility in niche adaptation and genomic plasticity. Over the past decade, a wealth of knowledge has been obtained on the metabolic functions of clinically relevant Bacteroidetes, but much less attention has been given to Bacteroidetes living in close association with plants. To improve our understanding of the functional roles of Bacteroidetes for plants and other hosts, we review the current knowledge of their taxonomy and ecology, in particular their roles in nutrient cycling and host fitness. We highlight their environmental distribution, stress resilience, genomic diversity, and functional importance in diverse ecosystems, including, but not limited to, plant-associated microbiomes.

Automated summary

Bacteroidetes are widely found in soil ecosystems, and they interact with various eukaryotic hosts such as plants, animals, and humans. Their adaptability and genomic plasticity highlight their versatility in different environments. While much research has focused on clinically relevant Bacteroidetes, the study of plant-associated Bacteroidetes has been relatively understudied. To enhance our understanding of the functional roles of Bacteroidetes in plants and other hosts, this review explores their taxonomy, ecology, and their roles in nutrient cycling and host fitness. The review emphasizes their distribution, stress tolerance, genomic diversity, and importance in diverse ecosystems, including plant-associated microbiomes.