Bas E. Dutilh, Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena: Mapping the Microverse and modelling its drivers
 

Abstract

The Microverse is the intricate and interconnected network of microbiomes that covers the Earth and all things on it. A key aim of our research is to understand the drivers of microbiome composition and dynamics, and understand how different biomes select for different microbes. By recycling >22k public metagenomics datasets from 140 different biomes, we charted the first map of the Microverse, providing a unique global overview of the ecological affiliations of different bacteria. Using the Microverse map as a guide, I will present examples of mechanisms that underlie the distribution of microbes and discuss their importance in microbial ecology.