EMBL Seminars

Abstract
The use of genomics in the surveillance of infectious disease has been hindered by the reliance on single genome assemblies, which only provide a partial view of the microbial population within a sample and usually requires enrichment steps such as isolating individual bacterial colonies or amplicon sequencing.

 Metagenomics offers an attractive alternative, enabling the simultaneous consideration of multiple strains and species in a single analysis. Despite its benefits, the computational tools available for tracking transmission using metagenomic data are challenging to use or lack the necessary resolution to accurately differentiate between recently transmitted and distantly related strains.

 To address this issue, we developed TRACS, an accurate and easy-to-use algorithm for establishing if two samples are plausibly related by a recent transmission event. We illustrate the utility of TRACS by inferring transmission networks in patients colonised with multiple strains of the same species, utilising diverse datasets such as deep population sequencing data of Streptococcus pneumoniae, and single-cell whole genome sequencing data from patients infected with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

 Analysis of gut metagenomic samples from a large cohort of 176 mothers and 1,288 infants born in UK hospitals revealed species-specific transmission rates between mothers and their infants. Notably, we identified an increased persistence of Bifidobacterium breve in infants, a finding missed by previous analyses due to the presence of multiple strains.

 Our findings highlight the limitations of using representative genomes to track microbial transmission and persistence in public health,  and advocate for the use of metagenomics as a more robust and sensitive alternative.

Connection details
Zoom*:https://embl-org.zoom.us/j/97568860001?pwd=aPzMMyMASuAlRvPUiQta7eVNEpoqMq.1
Meeting ID: 975 6886 0001
Passcode: 416699
 

Please note that the talk will not be recorded.
*For the FAQ section, as a zoom participant, please use either the chat function (the host will read out your question) or the “raise your hand” function and turn on your microphone.

Abstract
“Mendelian randomization” (MR) is an approach that uses the special properties of germline genetic variation to help establish how an exposure phenotype influences an outcome phenotype. The recent exponential growth in the use of MR reflects the rapid expansion in data that are available for conducting such studies. This talk will take a long view on the relationship between genetics and phenotypic causation, cognisant of the fact that since natural selection is through phenotype the issue of phenotypic causality has been central to evolutionary and genetic thought in their modern formulations. Emphasis will be on the fact that for making inferences on phenotypic causality – both in epidemiological and evolutionary settings – the key assumption is of gene-environmental equivalence. The evolution of MR over the past 2 decades will be reviewed and what it can – and importantly cannot – do affirmed, and speculations about its future advanced.

About the speaker
Professor George Davey Smith FRS, FRCP, FMedSci is a clinical epidemiologist and the director of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU) at the Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol. His research has pioneered approaches to causal inference in population health science, including developing and applying Mendelian randomization approaches. He is currently Scientific Director of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

Abstract
In the last hundred years the human population and its energetic burden on the planet grew super exponentially. Yet, the global population is projected to begin declining rapidly in less than a generation. Humanity must prepare for the coming deceleration. I will discuss how microbes offer alternative models for re-imagining urban and planetary futures.

Connection details
Zoom*: https://embl-org.zoom.us/j/92270281662?pwd=TVLvDbIDQYftgICCCXvdB8fbRi5Amy.1

Meeting ID: 922 7028 1662 Passcode: 007635

Please note that the talk will not be recorded.
*For the FAQ section, as a zoom participant, please use either the chat function (the host will read out your question) or the “raise your hand” function and turn on your microphone.

We live in an era of unprecedented scientific breakthroughs – gene editing, stem cell research, AI-driven discoveries, and rapid vaccine development are revolutionizing our world. Yet, alongside these advancements, misinformation, ethical dilemmas, and scientific scepticism have become more prominent, raising crucial questions about trust in science.

How do we navigate a "post-truth" society where scientific credibility is constantly challenged? How can researchers, policymakers, and science communicators strengthen the bond between science and society?

The 2025 Science & Society Conference "In Science We Trust?" is your opportunity to tackle these pressing issues head-on. Over two thought-provoking days, we’ll examine how public perception of science has evolved, explore the societal impact of trust in research, and discuss the role of scientists in fostering transparency and engagement. Through inspiring keynote speeches, lively panel discussions, and poster sessions, you’ll gain insights from leading experts and discuss together about the future of trust in science.

The conference welcomes not only life science researchers and students, but also professionals from different fields who are dedicated to fostering a trustworthy relationship between science and society. Whether you are a science communicator, educator, policy-maker, ombudsman or ethicist, this event is sure to be of interest to you!

Abstract
Drastic epigenetic reprogramming occurs during mammalian early embryogenesis. Deciphering the molecular events underlying these processes is crucial for understanding how epigenetic information is transmitted between generations and how life really begins. Probing these questions was previously hindered by the scarce experimental materials that are available in early development. By developing a set of ultra-sensitive chromatin analysis technologies, we investigated chromatin reprogramming during early mouse development for chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, and 3D architecture. These studies unveiled highly dynamic and non-canonical chromatin regulation during maternal-to-zygotic transition and zygotic genome activation (ZGA). However, how ZGA is kickstarted and how the early development program is progressively driven by transcription factors (TFs) remain enigmatic. Recently, we identified key TFs that act at the onset of ZGA, and those that connect ZGA to the first cell fate commitment. In this talk, I will discuss how TFs and epigenetic factors cooperatively establish embryonic program and restore the embryonic epigenomes when the life begins. 

Abstract
Memory formation relies on a bidirectional interplay between synaptic plasticity and nucleus-templated transcriptional programs, but how precisely this interplay is orchestrated by epigenetic mechanisms remains to a large extent unknown. In this talk, I will showcase our recent efforts to better understand this aspect from two angles. First, we have found that chromatin plasticity in the mouse brain is a key determinant for memory allocation, the process by which neurons become recruited into the memory trace: When we increased chromatin plasticity by enzymatic overexpression of histone acetyl transferases (HATs), neurons with elevated histone acetylation were preferentially recruited into the encoding ensemble and memory retention was enhanced, while optogenetic silencing of the epigenetically altered neurons prevented memory expression. Second, we have found that after learning, the epigenetic make-up of a single locus in the encoding ensemble is necessary and sufficient to bidirectionally alter memory performance across different phases of memory consolidation. Together, these findings stipulate that before and after memory encoding, epigenetic mechanisms play a pivotal role as molecular memory aids. 

Abstract
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About the speaker
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Attachments
[Link to a file (for example a pdf of the seminar’s programme) - the file can be uploaded on the intranet]

Connection details
Zoom*: [https://embl-org.zoom.us/j/96374261689?pwd=TnNxRWtQY2lyc2pSa2JpY3NGcDlhZz09] (Meeting ID: [963 7426 1689], Password: [DBU])

Please note that the talk will yes/not be recorded.
*For the FAQ section, as a zoom participant, please use either the chat function (the host will read out your question) or the “raise your hand” function and turn on your microphone.