Dynamics of Colonization and Transmission in the Human Gut Microbiome

Explore the dynamics of colonization and transmission in the human gut microbiome through this comprehensive lecture by Katherine Xue from Stanford University's David Relman and Dmitri Petrov labs. Delve into the importance of strain-level inference for understanding the function, ecology, and evolution of the gut microbiome. Learn about the challenges associated with inferring strain-level microbiome composition from metagenomic sequencing data and current methods for addressing these issues. Discover the results of a controlled perturbation study using ciprofloxacin to investigate gut microbiome transmission in cohabiting adults. Gain insights into the ecological barriers to colonization, the effects of antibiotic disruptions, and the role of historical contingency in colonization processes. Understand the implications of these findings for microbiome research and potential applications in human health.