Survival of the fittest… or the friendliest? Uncovering hidden dependencies in gut microbial communities

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• Naomi van den Berg
• Thursday 06 March 2025, 13:00-14:00
• Richard King room, Darwin College.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Alexander R Epstein.

The gut microbiome is more than a collection of individual bacteria – it is a dynamic ecosystem where survival depends on interactions between species. In fact, these interactions can be more decisive for a bacterium’s fate than external factors like the host’s diet or drug intake. In this talk, I will explore how gut microbial communities navigate challenges such as nutrient scarcity and drug exposure, often revealing surprising survival patterns that defy predictions based on single-species behaviour. I will introduce how mathematical models can capture these emergent survival dynamics, enabling predictions of which species thrive or decline in a community context. By delving into the metabolic alliances and competitive strategies of gut bacteria, my research aims to offer insights into microbiome resilience, pathogen resistance, and the design of targeted probiotic therapies. Whether you are fascinated by the gut-brain axis, applied mathematics, or simply intrigued by the unseen battles (and friendships) within, this lunchtime seminar aims to make the microscopic world come alive.

This talk is part of the Darwin College Science Seminars series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• AUB_Cambridge Seminars
• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• Centre for Health Leadership and Enterprise
• Chris Davis' list
• Darwin College Research Talks
• Darwin College Science Seminars
• Darwin Lectures and Seminars
• Guy Emerson's list
• Interested Talks
• Neurons, Fake News, DNA and your iPhone: The Mathematics of Information
• Richard King room, Darwin College
• custom

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