Form & Function of the Intestinal Ecosystem
OVERVIEW
In art and design, it is often said that form follows function. The same can also be said of biological systems throughout nature, from the inner workings of tiny cells to large-scale global ecosystems. One goal of the Wiles Lab is to identify how the spatial organization and dynamics (i.e., the form) of microbial communities living within the intestines of animals is connected to their function (e.g., their assembly and stability as well as their beneficial and pathogenic potential). To dissect the form and function of the intestinal ecosystem, we are using optically transparent larval zebrafish as a host model because they enable direct observation of microbial communities within a living animal. We aim to apply what we learn to develop new approaches for engineering gut microbial communities to promote human and animal health.