We know you are in there: Conversing with the indigenous gut microbiota

The vertebrate gut harbors a coevolved consortium of microbes that plays critical roles in the development and health of this organ. Here we discuss recent insights into the microbial–host molecular dialogs that shape the digestive tracts of the model vertebrates, mice and zebrafish, and consider the parallels between vertebrate–microbial mutualisms and the well-studied squid–Vibrio symbiosis.