On the topic of beneficial/harmful bacteria, I would be remiss not to point out that I am in agreement with Ramona that a great deal has been discovered about the symbiotic nature of bees and most organisms. However, it is very important to realize that the relative benefit/harm has nothing to do with the type of organisms involved, but the relationships. A healthy organism is poised at a very precarious balance point. Even a seemingly slight insult can topple the house of cards (like a tiny cut that introduces tetanus into a susceptible person)

Wolbachia usually affect their host reproduction, and in some cases were
found to conditionally improve host fitness (Weeks et al. 2007; Brownlie et al.
2009). Yet, in the bedbug, Wolbachia seems to have shifted roles: it is found in
specific mycetomes; is vertically transmitted by a transovarial mechanism; and has
become an obligate mutualist possibly involved in vitamin biosynthesis (Hosokawa
et al. 2010). Since over 60% of insect species may carry Wolbachia, the bedbug
case may not be an exception (Hosokawa et al. 2010). This suggests that specific
symbionts may not be as functionally compartmentalized as previously thought and
may evolve to fill rather different niches in different hosts.

Edouard Jurkevitch  Insect "Symbiology" Is Coming of Age, Bridging Between Bench and Field

* * *

It is now clear that it is impossible to understand the health of plants, animals,
and man without taking into consideration their microbiota. For example, it has
recently been shown that the diverse symbionts in the human gut play a major
role in obesity, priming the immune system, resistance to pathogenic bacteria,
angiogenesis, fiber breakdown, and vitamin synthesis. There are also recent data
on the importance of diverse symbionts in plant productivity, salt tolerance and
mineral uptake, and the health of animals as diverse as sponges, corals, insects,
and mammals. There is clearly a potential to combat diseases in animals, plants, and
man by manipulating symbionts, i.e., by using probiotics (introduction of beneficial
microorganisms) and prebiotics (alteration of the diet, or other environmental
conditions, to encourage beneficial microorganisms). The success of these therapeutic
approaches will depend upon a fundamental understanding of host–microbiota
interactions – the major theme of this book.


Both excerpts from
"Beneficial Microorganisms in Multicellular Life Forms" edited by Eugene Rosenberg and Uri Gophna 2011

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