MicrobiologybioRxiv
Mating promotes lactic-acid gut bacteria in a gift-giving insect
Chad C Smith, Robert B Srygley, Emma I Dietrich, Ulrich Mueller
The paper shows mating, not nuptial gift consumption, alters gut microbiome structure in Mormon crickets by reducing lactic-acid bacteria, suggesting mating influences host-microbe interactions independently of immunity.
DOI 10.1111/1758-2229.12506