The human gut consists of a complex community of microbes that consume and secrete hundreds of small molecules—a phenomenon called cross-feeding. However, it is challenging to study these processes experimentally. A new study, published in Nature Communications, uses models to predict cross-feeding interactions between microbial species in the gut. Predictions from such computational methods could eventually help doctors get a more complete understanding of gut health.

Just like humans, microbes have equipped themselves with tools to recognize and defend themselves against viral invaders. In a continual evolutionary battle between virus and host, CRISPR-Cas acts as a major driving force of strain diversity in host-virus systems.

Microbial communities can be found everywhere – from lakes to the soil on the ground, they are omnipresent yet invisible to the naked eye. Within those environments there exist dynamic communities which fluctuate in response to environmental changes. One such example is the human gut microbiome, which is comprised of microbes that influence the overall landscape of the gut.

A mathematical model created by IGB researchers could help scientists better understand an intriguing characteristic of microbial communities: their ability to achieve stability despite being so diverse.

Microbial communities are groups of microorganisms that exist in a variety of environments — in the soil, in the oceans, and in our bodies. Though these communities are complex and diverse, they are able to form stable ecosystems.

A popular economic concept is helping IGB researchers understand how microbial communities operate.

Microbial communities are in our bodies, in the soil, in forests and oceans, and more. They’re made up of microorganisms that interact with each other in various ways, and these interactions can affect the surrounding environment.

Researchers like Sergei Maslov, a Bliss Faculty Scholar and professor of bioengineering in the Biocomplexity theme, want to understand microbial communities so they can learn how to manipulate them.

Sergei Maslov, a professor of bioengineering and physics at the University of Illinois, sees a “universe in a grain of sand.” His research seeks to explore that universe by focusing on the genomic diversity of its constituents: the millions of microbes that thrive and reproduce within it.