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Abstract
Early embryos of many vertebrates and invertebrates develop outside the mother and are exposed to myriads of potential microbial colonizers. Here we discuss how these embryos are protected from microbial attacks and how they might control and shape their microbiota. In essence we delineate a new role for antimicrobial peptides both in selecting particular bacterial partners during early development and in being important components of a “be prepared” strategy providing transgenerational protection.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported in part by German Research Foundation (DFG) Grants (to T.C.G.B.) and German Research Foundation (DFG) Cluster of Excellence programs “The Future Ocean” and “Inflammation at Interfaces”.
Figures and Tables
Figure 1 Hydra vulgaris (AEP) (A) asexually polyp (B) male polyp with testis (C) female polyp with eggfleck expressing periculin1a (D) female polyp with unfertilized egg expressing periculin1a.
Figure 2 The maternal-zygotic transition of maternally and zygotically produced antimicrobial peptides in the basal metazoan Hydra and the corresponding bacterial colonization of the different developmental stages.
