I am responsible for the course BIO 233 Experimental Environmental Microbiology. I cover the microbiome sequencing part of the course BIO 332 Experimental Molecular Microbiology.
My main scientific interests are transmission and establishment of gut bacteria within a host population, in addition to host-bacterial coevolution. I have a particular focus on the role of mobile genetic elements and antibiotic resistance genes in these processes.
I am also actively working with translating basic scientific findings into practical application. These efforts have led to the first CE-marked test for the role of the gut microbiota in irritable bowels syndrome (IBS) commercialized through the company Genetic Analysis (www.genetic-analysis.com ).
My main research themes cover:
• Establishment of the infant gut microbiota
• Transition from infant to adult gut microbiota
• The role of the commensal microbiota as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance
• Honey bees as a model for understanding spread of antibiotic resistance
• Dynamic interactions in the horse cecal microbiota
• The salmon gut microbiota