DSSS - Symbioses in the microbial world from the origin of eukaryotes to the functioning of ecosystems

The "living of unlike organisms" - is one of the most fascinating interactions in nature. Symbioses include relationships between organisms that are beneficial to both partners, as well as relationships between parasites and their hosts. In each case, the symbiosis affects the underlying biology of the parties involved, as in the iconic relationship between corals and algae. Symbioses between unicellular organisms are no less spectacular and of crucial importance for the evolution of life on earth and the functioning of ecosystems. Endosymbiosis is a special case of symbiosis in which one partner lives in the cells of the other. It is one of the most important driving forces of eukaryotic evolution, which led to the emergence of mitochondria and plastids. Since mitochondria and plastids evolved a long time ago, we do not know the intermediate stages and have no direct insight into the process of endosymbiosis. Therefore, we are exploring the diversity of more recent endosymbioses of microbial eukaryotes (protists), where we can identify intermediate stages that may shed new light on the establishment of endosymbiosis. Diverse endosymbioses of microbial eukaryotes and prokaryotes may also alter the metabolic capacities of the partners and enable them to thrive in new ecological niches, e.g. in anaerobic environments. In my talk, I will explore the fascinating world of microbial eukaryotes and their endosymbionts. I will show how their interactions have changed life on Earth and shaped the functioning of ecosystems. I will also present our recent findings on the diversity of protist endosymbionts and insights into the endosymbiotic process.