Holobiont Imperative

Thomas Bosch is Professor of General Zoology at Kiel University since 2000. His awards include the Dr. Honoris Cause Degree from St. Petersburg State University, Russia. The Bosch lab studies within others the evolution of immunity, by analyzing the molecular interactions between microbes and host (Hydra) cells that promote normal development and homeostasis. David Miller is an outstanding world-renowned scientist at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and School of Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences, James Cook University, Australia, where he is heading the program on genomics and metagenomics of coral reefs. The long-term aim of this Program is to understand how the “holobiome” functions under normal and stressed states.

• 1. Introduction.- 2. The diversity of animal life.- 3. Origin stories.- 4. Phylosymbiosis from Hydra to man: novel genomic approaches discover the holobiont.- 5. Negotiations between evolving animals and symbionts.- 6. The Hydra holobiont.- 7. Microbes are part of the innate immune system.- 8. Rethinking the origin of immunity.- 9. The coral holobiont.- 10. Are coral reefs doomed?.- 11. Lessons from Hydra and corals.- 12. Hidden impact of viruses.