The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in determining health and wellbeing, influencing the development of the immune system and its interactions with pathogenic microbes. Changes in the microbiome can significantly alter health status and contribute to the development of intestinal infection, with an altered microbiome being found to confer resistance to or promote infection by pathogenic bacteria.

With the emergence of antibiotic-resistance and the decreasing effectiveness of antimicrobials, the gut microbiome represents an important resource for new antimicrobials or bioactives which directly target pathogens or strengthen mucosal immune defences.

This meeting will provide insights into the current state of research in the field, offering opportunities for collaboration and to foster new ideas.

Key topics

• Gut microbiome in health and disease
• Antimicrobial resistance in bacteria
• New sources of antimicrobials
• Bioactives including effector organisms, probiotics and postbiotics