[Science Café] Gut Feeling : How phages and Gut Bacteria shape our health ?

​I would like to invite you to our next Science Café about health “Gut Feeling: How Phages and Gut Bacteria Shape Our Health”.

​Who ? The conversation will be led by two researchers : 

1. ​Adrien ASSIE, Ph.D.

​Adrien is a microbiologist, bioinformatician, and science illustrator. He dedicated his career to understanding how bacteria can live happily with their animal hosts. Adrien got his Ph.D. from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, where he studied the genetic factors involved in the symbiotic relationships with bacteria and deep-sea bivalves. He then moved to Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, as a Postdoctoral Associate to develop computational tools to understand how bacteria and hosts interact.

1. ​Austen TERWILLIGER, Ph.D.

​Austen is the Co-founder and Director of Operations for TAILOR Labs at Baylor College of Medicine. He grew up in central Pennsylvania, where he quickly found a love for biology in the forests, lakes, and rivers there. He completed his undergraduate work at the University of Pittsburgh and thesis studies at Baylor College of Medicine. He is the coinventor of technologies that evolve and combine bacteriophages, and helped develop the first efforts to track SARS-COV-2 and other viruses in wastewater. His hobbies include fishing, disc golf, and meditation.

​What ? 

1. ​Exposed surfaces of our body, such as the skin, mouth, gut, and reproductive tract, host a bustling community of microorganisms, commonly called the microbiome. These include bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and they play crucial roles in human health. The first presentation will be an introduction to the fascinating ecosystem of our digestive tract.

2. ​Bacteriophages, the viruses that infect and kill bacteria, outnumber the stars in the known universe. TAILOR labs at Baylor College of Medicine is pioneering new ways to discover, characterize, and wield phages for humanity's benefit. Topics covered will include the ecology of phages, their use in treating antibiotic-resistant infections, and mining for their novel capabilities.

​When ? 

​Monday, April 29  6:30-7:30 p.m.

​Pre-event reception 6:00 p.m.

​Where ?

​Alliance Française de Houston

​427 Lovett BLVD, Houston, TX 77006

​How ? 

​Free event, open to everyone, no scientific background required.

​Free coffee, drinks and food.

​Street parking