Microbiome Connections to Health and Disease Symposium

Together with Calit2, IGB is co-sponsoring and co-organizing the symposium on “Microbiome Connections to Health and Disease” on September 24, 2013 held at the Calit2 Building Auditorium. Please see attached poster for the detailed agenda.

A microbiome is the collective genomes of the microorganisms that reside in an environmental niche. The term “microbiome” was coined by Joshua Lederberg, who argued that microorganisms inhabiting the human body should be included as part of the human genome, because of their influence on human physiology. Some consider it to be a “newly discovered organ” since its existence was not generally recognized until the late 1990s and it is understood to potentially have overwhelming impact on human health. Modern DNA testing of their residues has enabled researchers to find the majority of these microbes, since the majority of them cannot be cultured in a lab using current techniques.

Its most important aspect may be its possible effect on auto-immune diseases like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and perhaps some cancers. In this half-day symposium, leading experts studying these various connections to health and disease will share their findings and discuss possible opportunities for collaborations.

Complimentary registration is now available here.