Microbes influence and respond to other organisms. This theme explores the dynamic relationships within plant and animal microbiomes, and the immune responses that govern host defense. Using model systems such as zebrafish, insects, and plants, we investigate fundamental processes and engineer microbes and microbiomes to support sustainable health and resilience across species.

Strengths

• We use unique model systems with hosts with editable trait sets, such as zebrafish and insects and plants
• We study individual host-microbe interactions in the context of entire microbiomes
• We disentangle molecular pathways involved in host-microbe interactions
• We steer host-microbe interactions to improve human, animal and agricultural crop health
• We combine chemical, molecular, genetic ecological interactions