Unlocking the Gut Microbial Functional Diversity

Workshop overview

The human gut microbiome is a complex microbial ecosystem with well-established links to human health and disease. As a “genuine human organ” with many more genes than the rest of our body and far-reaching interactions, from the immune system to the brain, the gut microbiota offers unprecedented opportunities for controlled modulation in personalized health efforts. Such applications heavily rely on our ability to map causal effects, and on discovering the underlying molecular players (genes, proteins, metabolites) and mechanisms.

In the past two decades, data-driven research has revealed a remarkable stability, diversity, genomic richness and individuality for the human gut microbiome. Yet, our current view on its functional capacities and its interplay with the host remains mostly descriptive, often lacking molecular understanding. As the field is now striving for causality and mechanistic insights towards a deeper understanding of the microbiome-human health links, these efforts are hindered by the lack of model gut microorganisms and foundational functional knowledge. Our current knowledge of bacterial gene functions, pathways and cellular architecture stems from very few model bacteria, which fail to capture the phylogenetic and genetic diversity of the gut microbiota. As a consequence, the vast majority of genes in the gut microbiome remain “dark matter” with respect to function, that is of elusive or completely unknown function.

This workshop aims at fostering discussion and charting a framework on how we can systematically tackle this vast dark genetic matter in the human gut microbiome by selecting and establishing new model microbes. What tools and approaches are needed? What knowledge will propel microbiome research and help to dissect correlative from causal links, reveal underlying molecular mechanisms and ultimately, to progress to health applications? A targeted group of participants has been invited to discuss and plan initiatives that can help creating this foundational knowledge towards transforming the field and providing a roadmap for targeting other microbial ecosystems.

Session Topics

Data-driven functional discovery

Genetic tools for mapping gene function and interactions

Multi-omics for mapping gene function and cellular organization

Visualizing functional units

Gene function in ecological context (communities, host, phages)

Looking outward & forward – links to other microbiomes

Programme

Day 1

Time	Speaker	Location
12:00 – 13:30	Registration and lunch	Operon Registration Desk, ATC Foyer
13:30 – 14:00	Opening remarks	Large Operon
14:00 – 15:30	Session 1: Data-driven functional discovery Talks: Peer Bork, Pedro Beltrao, Ami Bhatt, Nicola Segata Panel: Eran Segal, Jeroen Raes, Isabel Gordo, Thomas Lemberger	Large Operon
15:30 – 16:00	Coffee break	Operon Foyer
16:00 – 17:30	Session 2: HT Reverse Genetics & Genetic tools for Gene Function Talks: Laurie Comstock, David Bikard, Adam Deutschbauer, Csaba Pal Panel: Nassos Typas, Carol Gross, Victor Sourjik, Nonia Pariente	Large Operon
117:30 – 18:00	Coffee break	Operon Foyer
18:00 – 19:30	Session 3: Multi-Omics for Gene Function Talks: Jörg Vogel, Mikhail Savitski, Michael Zimmermann, Markus Ralser Panel: Uwe Sauer, Paul Wilmes, Caroline Ash	Large Operon
20:00 – 23:00	Dinner in Schloss

Day 2

Time	Speaker	Location
09:00 – 10:30	Session 4: Visualising Functional Units Talks: KC Huang, David Berry, Martin Pilhofer, Julia Mahamid Panel: Orsolya Barabas, Mathias Wilmanns, Tâm Mignot, Sri Narasimhan	Large Operon
10:30 – 11:00	Coffee break	Operon Foyer
11:00 – 12:30	Session 5: Gene function in ecological context Talks: Kevin Foster, Karina Xavier, Bärbel Stecher, Colin Hill Panel: Kiran Raosaheb Patil, Pascale Cossart, Rotem Sorek, Lakshmi Goyal	Large Operon
12:30 – 13:45	Lunch & discussions	ATC Foyer
13:45 – 15:30	Session 6: Looking forward & outward Talks: Melanie Blokesh, Rob Finn, Funding Agency, Funding Agency Panel: Jan Van der Meer, Eric Pamer, Edith Heard, Dirk Heinz	Large Operon
15:30 – 15:45	Closing remarks	Large Operon