Scientists have mapped the first network of microbial coexistence on Earth

features of the Earth's microbiomeHow to better understand the characteristics of microorganisms, in the past, researchers often dig at the microscopic scale of its specific characteristics, but sometimes like blind people touch the elephant, can only see local. Just like human society, just know what a person's name is, can not understand the whole picture of human society, to know the relationship between people can be better described.the same time, the establishment of the world's largest standardized environmental microbiome database using unified sampling, sequencing and analysis has determined a wealth of data resources for Chinese and foreign scientists.
, Zhejiang University researchers from the big data to find the law between microorganisms, and through this law to build a set of statistical models and then sift out each other's laws.
this, Xu Jianming's team built a global network of microbial coexistence by comprehensively analyzing microbiome data from a variety of living environments around the world (soil, plants, animals, water bodies, etc.). "Through this network, we can better understand the relationship between microorganisms and provide a prerequisite for a better understanding of how they work."
with the clarity of microbial relationship in the same ecosystem, zhejiang university researchers further study cross-border interconnection. They found that the more the same relationship, the thicker the connection, and the more common the interaction. This reflects microbial relationships and interactions between different ecosystems.
study tells us to understand things from a systematic perspective and to deepen our understanding of the importance and diversity of microbes on Earth. Xu Jianming introduced the similarity of the overall social network, reflecting the intensity of potential communication. The relationship between soil and fresh water is greater than that between soil and salt water. Much of this depends on the circulation and degree of influence of water.
microbiomes in different habitats in the Earth's microbiome are closely linked and can be divided into different sub-networks according to their associated characteristics. Depending on the similarity between sub-networks, sub-networks can be further divided into two groups. It is worth noting that the soil microbiome is closely related to animal surfaces, animal intestines and freshwater microbiomes, while the microorganisms on plant and animal body tables are the bridges connecting the two sub-networks.
"if you look only at the composition of the microbiome, sometimes you don't really understand the inner mechanisms of microbiome functioning." Ma Bin, the paper's first author and a researcher at Zhejiang University's School of Environment and Resources, told The China Science Journal that all microorganisms are interrelated and cannot be separated to understand. For example, to know the gut microbiome, but also to study the impact of the environment on it. (Source: Cui Xueqin, China Science Daily)
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