Modularity and the Emergence of Bacterial Pathogens

Pathogen emergence is a complex multifactorial phenomenon that poses a major threat to public health. To date, the underlying molecular mechanisms and ecological drivers controlling this non-linear transition remain mostly enigmatic. In this presentation, Dr. Almagro-Moreno will discuss ecological and evolutionary approaches that can be applied to unravel the emergence of bacterial pathogens using pandemic Vibrio cholerae, the etiological agent of the diarrheal disease cholera, and other members of the Vibrionaceae family as model systems. He will present recent work from his lab using holistic and multidisciplinary perspectives that encompass a mix of molecular biology, genomics, ecology and pathogenesis. The knowledge gained by deciphering the rules that control pathogen emergence will ultimately allow us to forecast the traits of emergent virulent strains and develop surveillance networks to predict sources of outbreaks. Furthermore, the conceptual advances put forth will be broadly applicable to the understanding of other complex phenomena.

To learn more about The Moreno Lab please visit: www.vibriocholerae.org