The Chemistry of the Human Microbiome: Deciphering Gut and Vaginal Health

Interest in the human microbiome’s effects on health seems to be at an all-time high, evident by the hundreds of supplements and pre or probiotics found on store shelves. But, is this a fad or are we seeing the next great movement in healthcare?

We know that microbial metabolism plays a critical role in regulating our health, but our limited knowledge of microbial functional capabilities prevents us from fully understanding how. Emily Balskus (Harvard University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute) will describe how gut and vaginal microbial activities are linked to health and disease, including chemistry tools that she uses to study and manipulate metabolism from the microbiome.