Developing integrative algorithms to accelerate microbiome-based therapies and diagnostics
In Person
DNA sequencing has transformed our understanding of the microbiome in health and disease, yet microbiome-based interventions remain scarce in clinical practice. One challenge lies in reference-based computational pipelines, which report numerous false-positive species, compromising accuracy and reproducibility across cohorts (“garbage in, garbage out”). Fourier transform-based algorithms enhance species-level annotations and minimize contamination signals. Moreover, software that integrates longitudinal DNA, RNA, and metabolomics data enables monitoring early bacterial stress-sensing. Since stress responses are often stimulus-specific, transcriptional programs of bacteria point to the stressors itself and may inform targeted therapies; for example, supplementing commensal strains that consume gluconate decolonizes antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae through ecological competition.
Date:
21 February 2025, 12:00
Venue:
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Headington OX3 7FY
Venue Details:
Kennedy Lecture Theatre
Speaker:
Dr Marie-Madlen Pust (Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard University)
Organising department:
Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology
Organiser:
Magdalena Gross
Host:
Professor Fiona Powrie (Kennedy Institute of Rheumatlogy)
Part of:
Kennedy Institute Seminars
Booking required?:
Not required
Audience:
Members of the University only
Editor:
Magdalena Gross
