8 An Emerging Interdisciplinary Field: Fungal–Bacterial Interactions
Résumé
Fungus–bacterium interactions (FBIs) occur frequently in the environment, and they are mediated by physical association and molecular communication. The FBI affects both fungal and bacterial development and functioning, and their applicable value has become apparent for medicine, biotechnology, and agriculture. Symbiotic relationships that fungi actively engage with plants and animals are also strongly affected, and even facilitated, by bacteria. Common themes have recently emerged, which govern the physical and biochemical characteristics of these associations, whatever the ecological niches or applications investigated. This chapter highlights recent contributions to the understanding of FBI and addresses the rapid methodological development made in this area.