The Rasputin Effect: When Commensals and Symbionts Become Parasitic

By: Christon J. Hurst

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Synopsis: Thisvolume focuses on those instances when benign and even beneficial relationshipsbetween microbes and their hosts opportunistically change and becomedetrimental toward the host. It examinesthe triggering events which can factor into these changes, such as reduction inthe host's capacity for mounting an effective defensive response due tonutritional deprivation, coinfections and seemingly subtle environmentalinfluences like the amounts of sunlight, temperature, and either water or airquality. The effects of environmentalchanges can be compounded when they necessitate a physical relocation ofspecies, in turn changing the probability of encounter between microbe andhost. The change also can result whenpathogens, including virus species, either have modified the opportunist or attackedthe host's protective natural microflora. The authors discuss these opportunistic interactions and assess theiroutcomes in both aquatic as well as terrestrial ecosystems, highlighting theimpact on plant, invertebrate and vertebrate hosts.