LAUSR

​Determining​the​evolutionary​mechanisms,​genomic​outcomes​and​ functional​consequences​of​adaptation​is​of​paramount​importance​ for​our​understanding​of​the​nature​of​evolution,​and​for​predicting​ the​evolutionary​responses​of​organisms​in​the​face​of​the​current​ and​ future​ global​ changes.​ Microorganisms​ which​ are​ associated​ with​humans​(as​members​of​the​human​microbiome,​or​associated​ with​domesticated​plants​or​animals)​provide​ideal​models​to​study​ adaptation​and​specialisation.​These​microbes​are​diverse​and​many​ possess​outstanding​experimental​assets,​such​as​small​genomes​and​ membership​in​relatively​simple​multi-​species​communities​(Gladieux​ et​al.,​2014;​Rosshart​et​al.,​2019;​Seybold​et​al.,​2020).​In​addition,​ studying​microbial​ evolution​ in​ human-​associated​ environments​ is​ effective​because​population​genetic​processes​(i.e.​genetic​drift​and​ selection)​are​often​strong​and​recent​(Gladieux​et​al.,​2014;​Ropars​ &​ Giraud,​ 2022).​ Furthermore,​ human-​associated​ microbes​ often​ have​important​impacts​on​human​health​as​members​of​our​microbiomes,​as​human​pathogens​or​as​associates​of​food​production​for​ crop​microbiomes,​ crop​ pathogens​ and​ domesticated​microorganisms​(Caron​et​al.,​2021;​Chow​et​al.,​2020;​Davenport​et​al.,​2017; Fisher​et​al.,​2020;​Seybold​et​al.,​2020;​Wolfe​et​al.,​2014). This​special​ issue​covers​a​broad​range​of​topics​related​to​the​ evolutionary​ecology​of​human-​associated​microbes,​with​methods​ ranging​from​population​genetics​to​metagenomics​and​evolutionary​ genomics,​ as​well​ as​complementary​ field​and​ lab​studies​ (in​vitro​ and​ in​ vivo).​ The​ study​ organisms​ include​ domesticated​ microorganisms​ (fungi​ and​ bacteria),​microorganisms​ thriving​ in​ anthropic​ environments,​host-​associated​microbiota,​crop​pathogens​and​animal​pathogens.​Together​these​articles​underline​the​huge​impact​of​ the​anthropogenic​environment​in​microbial​evolution,​including​the​ emergence​and​spread​of​pathogens​as​well​as​the​benefits​provided​ by​domesticated​or​mutualistic​fungi​and​bacteria.