Episode
Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology
- Podcast
- Immune
- Published
- May 20, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3805
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.microbe.tv/mm/mm-130/
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Summary
Matters Microbial #130: The Holobiont — Animals, Microbes, and Ecology May 19, 2026 Today Dr. Kevin Kohl, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, joins the #QualityQuorum to discuss how he and his colleagues study the interplay between animals, their resident gut microbes, and the overarching concept of the holobiont. Host: Mark O. Martin Guest : Kevin Kohl Subscribe: Apple Podcasts , Spotify Become a patron of Matters Microbial! Links for this episode The One Health Microbiome Center at Pennsylvania State University. A very fine essay on the holobiont concept for non-microbiologists. A general introductory overview of the holobiont concept. The holobiont concept and the coral symbiosis . A partial history of the development of the holobiont concept. Dr. Casadevall suggests that context and thus outcomes describes the term "pathogen," and a similar analysis applies to the holobiont. A very short description of the holobiont concept. Another overview of the holobiont concept in general, coauthored by Dr. Kohl. Some basic rules for thinking about the holobiont concept. A video introduction to the holobiont concept, by Dr. Seth Bordenstein. I highly recommend this essay by the science writer Carl Zimmer, " The Human Lake ," to think of the connections between lake ecology and microbial interactions with humans. Another wonderful article recommended by Dr. Kohl, by Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai and coauthors, detailing the impact microbes have on animals over evolution and development. The wood rat – creosote – microbiome connection to the holobiont concept, discussed on this podcast (coauthored by Dr. Kohl). The fascinating work by Dr. Kohl and colleagues showing the relationship between tadpole development and pond microbes discussed in thi…