Dr Groussin will discuss how the Global Microbiome Conservancy is working to address gaps in microbiome research by collecting, culturing, and sequencing microbial communities from a large global cohort of human populations that have highly differentiated genetic backgrounds, diets, and lifestyles. He will highlight how this effort contributes to a more inclusive and accurate picture of microbial diversity, evolution, and function. In parallel, he will introduce his ERC-funded research on the gut vesiculome (the vast array of extracellular vesicles produced by bacteria that enable inter-microbial communication and influence host physiology). Together, these projects shed light on how bacterial communities adapt, share genes, and interact with their environment, offering new opportunities for understanding microbial evolution and developing microbiome-based therapies.
