Fiona Whelan -- Gene-gene associations in microbes from human-associated microbial communities [IN PERSON]
| Dates: | 14 October 2024 |
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| Times: | 14:00 - 15:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Department of Mathematics |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, External researchers, Current University students |
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| Speaker: | Fiona Whelan |
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Join us for this seminar by Fiona Whelan (Manchester) as part of the North West Seminar Series in Mathematical Biology and Data Sciences. More details about the joint series can be found here https://northwestseminars.great-site.net/ .
The talk will be hosted in person in room 1.34 of the Simon Building. For those who cannot attend in person the talk will also be streamed via zoom, please contact carl.whitfield@manchester.ac.uk or igor.chernyavsky@manchester.ac.uk for the zoom link, or sign up to the mailing list.
Title: Gene-gene associations in microbes from human-associated microbial communities
Abstract: The strain-to-strain variability of evolutionary-related microbes can have important implications on mechanisms of self-defence, virulence, and – more broadly – on the ability to co-exist as part of mixed microbial communities. Bacteria are unique in the rate with which they undergo horizontal gene transfer (HGT), leading to lineage independent acquisition of particular genes. We hypothesize that the variability in gene content observed in sets of related strains is maintained by selection and thus that gene gain and loss is not random but instead reflects functional patterns within the genome. If this is the case, we might expect sets of genes to be gained and/or lost together across a set of strains which would manifest as patterns of gene-gene co-occurrence (i.e., association) and/or avoidance (i.e., dissociation). To test this, we developed software called Coinfinder which can detect sets of genes present more than we expect by chance across a set of genomes. Using Pseudomonas sp. as a case study, we find that the vast majority of genes with signatures of HGT are involved in gene-gene co-occurrence relationships, indicating that the strain-to-strain variability within Pseudomonas sp.(and other microbes) is likely a result of natural selection. Similarly, when we examine the longitudinal variability of P. aeruginosa in the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis, we find ample genetic diversity in the population which fluctuates over the course of pulmonary exacerbation, further indicating the importance of genetic diversity in mixed microbial communities.
To subscribe to the mailing list for this event series, please send an e-mail with the phrase “subscribe math-lifesci-seminar” in the message body to listserv@listserv.manchester.ac.uk
Speaker
Fiona Whelan
Role: Senior Lecturer
Organisation: University of Manchester
Travel and Contact Information
Find event
1.34
Simon Building
Manchester
