This webinar was recorded on 20 March 2024. For more details please go to the EMBL-EBI Training site: www.ebi.ac.uk/...
There is a wealth of microbial diversity in the environment, in soil, on plants, and in the atmosphere. Urbanisation usually involves disturbance and sealing of soil, along with a decrease and alteration of vegetation. This process drastically reduces natural microbial sources such as soil and phyllosphere (leaf surfaces), which also contribute to enriching the atmosphere. Nevertheless, in an urban environment, other microbial sources are more common, such as wastewater treatment, trash, and human-associated microbes. Significant differences have been observed in the environmental microbial communities between urban and non-urban environments. Several hypotheses highlight the importance of contact with diverse natural microbial communities for human health, especially for children.
In this webinar, using a case study of the Belgian B@SEBALL project, we will illustrate how to investigate microbial biodiversity at school playgrounds and its potential contribution to different aspects of children’s health. This case study showcases the possibilities and limits of 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing in the context of the biodiversity hypothesis. Does microbial diversity benefit human health? The answer seems to be more nuanced than expected. We will also demonstrate the power of adjusting and generating hypotheses based on field microbiome data.
Who is this course for?
This webinar is suitable for anyone interested in microbial ecology and its impact on environment and human health. No prior knowledge of bioinformatics is required, but undergraduate level knowledge of biology would be useful.
This event is part of a webinar series that highlights contemporary concepts, methodologies, and valuable resources for examining microbial ecosystems and their influence on the environment and human health. For additional topics within this series and registration information, please visit the following link: Exploring microbial ecosystems.
Outcomes
By the end of the webinar you will be able to:
Outline the hypotheses connecting exposure to microbial biodiversity in the environment with benefits for human health
Appreciate the study set-up and methods used to explore the environmental microbiomes in relation to children’s microbiomes and health
Identify the benefits and limits of using amplicon sequencing for improved understanding of the impact of microbial ecosystems
Негізгі бет Microbial biodiversity at schools and its link with children’s health
Пікірлер