Predictively linking the composition and function of microbial consortia

The eighth session of the webinar series on the theme “Building Better Ecosystems: The Rise of Synthetic Microbial Ecology”, co-organized by the MICA division of INRAE is scheduled on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 16:00 – 17:00 (CEST) with Alvaro Sanchez, Professor at CSIC – Salamanca University, as speaker.

Abstract: Microbial communities provide countless ecological services essential for sustaining life on Earth, and they perform a wide array of functions in biotechnology—from food production to biofuel synthesis. The quantitative functions delivered by microbial communities depend on their composition, i.e. the specific genotypes present and their relative abundances. To engineer microbial consortia that optimize these functions, we must establish a predictive, quantitative link between community composition and function. Yet, developing mechanistic mathematical models to achieve this is exceptionally challenging due to the complex network of interactions involved. In this talk, I will explore how concepts from fitness landscape theory in genetics can help overcome these challenges and lead to the creation of predictive, quantitative models of community function that can guide the optimization of  synthetic microbial consortia.

Zoom link here.