16: Microbiome diversity vs. microbiological control

A microbiome is a community of microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses) that inhabit a particular multicellular organism, and, of course, the human microbiome is of special interest. Microbiomes are as indispensable for the normal functioning of our ecosystems as they are for the human body, and disruptions in either are associated with a loss in diversity of microorganisms. This seminar will examine if the human body can ‘control’ its own diversity. How is necessary microbial diversity established and maintained in the body? How is it affected by a hospital visit, and how can we control microorganisms in hospitals to reduce infection risks without causing resistance?
After introducing the participants to the field of microbiomes, the seminar will explore the question of how we might create a human space mission to Mars without contaminating that planet. Further, the seminar will ask how we can control our own microbiome during a space flight.