Dr. Siobhan O'Brien
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Trinity College Dublin
Seminar: ‘Conflict and cooperation in human microbiomes’ (16.00h)
Understanding how and when pathogens evolve is urgent if we want to successfully treat diseases. However, pathogens do not exist in isolation – they are embedded within complex microbial communities (such as the gut microbiome). My talk will focus on my past and ongoing research investigating how interactions between pathogens and the community within which they reside can be key drivers of the rate and trajectory of pathogen evolution. Using experimental evolution in semi-natural gut microbiome and cystic fibrosis lung microbiome systems, we have shown that social interactions can be important drivers of virulence, antibiotic resistance, and mutation rates in a focal pathogen. Hence, in order to understand and treat infections there is a need to consider them in the context of the microbial community within which they reside.
Workshop (14.00h)
This workshop will expand on the topic of microbial cooperation. We will explore exactly what we mean by the term cooperation, and learn how cooperation is a continuum rather than a fixed attribute. Finally, in microbial communities, there is much potential for cooperation – but how can we measure it? And does it even matter? The workshop will take place 14:00 -15:30 online. Registration is required (space limited to 15), so please email Alanna Leale (alanna.leale@wur.nl) to register. She will then email you the Zoom link to participate. The workshop gives attendees the opportunity to meet the speaker of the seminar and have a discussion based on recent publications. The workshops are a good possibility to become acquainted with hot topics in science and to gain experience in discussing these topics with leading scientists in the field. Furthermore, BSc and MSc students can get 1 ECTS for attending 2 workshops.
The seminar will be hosted on zoom and the seminar can be accessed via the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83427593069?pwd=SlFFWklzb2ZWUnh0YXNIRW5VYWs4dz09
If you experience any problems with accessing the seminar, please contact us at weeswageningen@gmail.com.
Meeting ID: 834 2759 3069
Passcode: 958340
WEES background
WEES is an initiative of PhD students and postdocs at Wageningen University to organize a continuing series of stimulating seminars on contemporary topics in evolution and ecology. We aim to bring together different groups at Wageningen University using a variety of systems, but with a common interest in evolutionary and ecological questions. For this series we invite researchers from all over the world who have leading roles in their field. After the talk there will be drinks for an informal discussion. WEES is funded by graduate schools PE&RC, WIMEK, EPS, VLAG and WIAS.
For more information please visit: www.weeswageningen.nl
Interested in joining the WEES committee and organizing seminars yourself?
WEES is looking for new members! We aim for a broad and diverse range in topics and would like to welcome new members to help and include topics not represented yet. If you are curious, send an email to weeswageningen@gmail.com and join one of our meetings.