Modelling Microbes to Understand Ecosystem Dynamics and Infectious Diseases

Microbes are found in almost every environment on the planet. These microscopic organisms – such as bacteria and viruses – play important and diverse roles in shaping ecosystems as well as in the development of infectious diseases. Advanced techniques developed over the last four decades have revealed a complex set of interactions between microbes and their environment. Combining these techniques with sophisticated modelling could help us understand the mechanisms that drive microbial biodiversity, evolution, and ecosystem structure and function.