The Billions (of bacteria) that Enrich Us

     Each of us is teeming – nay, practically oozing – with microbes. How did we get to be such fertile bacterial breeding grounds? Actually, we are not the only ones who associate with microbes: over evolutionary time, many animals have forged myriad relationships with bacteria. How do such symbioses begin, and what is their long-term fate? In this talk, I will introduce you to the fascinating microbes that live with and within us. We will discuss exciting new discoveries about animal-microbial symbiosis, and get a glimpse of the next frontiers in this field.