Exploring Breakthroughs in Microbiome Research

Advancements in microbiome science can usher in a deeper understanding of pathogens, diseases and immune responses. The Rust Belt Microbiome Conference, a joint effort by Carnegie Mellon University's Mellon College of Science, the Center for Medicine and the Microbiome and the University of Pittsburgh, allowed researchers from across the country to learn more about the field.

"I am really excited to learn from this group and learn things I could bring back to our lab," said Stephanie Langel, assistant professor at Case Western Reserve University.

Held at Pitt's University Club, the Rust Belt Microbiome Conference covered microbial ecology and the role of the microbiome in human health. For instance, Langel's lab showcased the potential for microbiome-based therapies in reproductive health through binding immunoglobulin A (IgA) molecules to bacteria in the vaginal microbiome.

Luisa Hiller, Eberly Family Career Development Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon, is a co-host and co-founder of the event.

"The RBM was designed to integrate concepts from microbial pathogenesis, ecology, evolution and genomics with microbiome studies to foster collaborations and discussion among scientists and physicians at all levels of their careers," Hiller said. "After our third iteration, it is such a great pleasure to see the group develop. One of my favorite moments was when Dr. Chelsie Armbruster introduced her results by starting that it started from a conversation at the first RBM!"

From Nov. 7 to 8, the conference's speakers highlighted the complexity of microbiome-host interactions, with a focus on how microbial communities shape diseases and immune responses.

One of the keynote speakers was Jennifer Bomberger, the Philip J. Hanlon Second Century Professor at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and a leading researcher in the study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa — a bacterial pathogen associated with chronic infections in the lungs. Her presentation centered on the role of polymicrobial interactions in promoting these infections.

"These interactions suggest a change in the microbiome of our samples," Bomberger said, emphasizing how varying environmental factors, such as iron bioavailability, can influence microbial competition and affect disease progression. "If we have periods of high iron bioavailability, we see higher competition for resources in the human microbiome."

Bomberger's study of P. aeruginosa suggests that understanding the dynamics between pathogens and microbiota can lead to better therapeutic strategies for chronic infections. Her work exemplifies the microbiome's influence on the trajectory of disease and immune responses.

Tim Hand, associate professor at Pitt's Department of Immunology, discussed the role of early-life microbial exposure in shaping immune responses. Many factors, especially breast milk, change our immune system's development. His talk highlighted how the bioactive components of breast milk shape infant microbiota and, by extension, immune function.

"Our mother shape and form our microbiome," Hand said. "We discovered that each mother has very different antibodies in their milk. This affects our whole lives and forms who we are."

The conference also presented new techniques to conduct microbiome research. Using Microbiome Flow Cytometry (MicFly), Hand can identify specific bacterial across most taxa in mixed cultures.

These new techniques reveal a promising future for microbiome research and a growing community.

"I'm really glad this conference is still going after all these years," said Iliyan Iliev, associate professor of microbiology at Cornell University, said during his keynote session.

The Rust Belt Microbiome Conference began in 2019, taking a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic then returning in 2022. The event grows a community of those in the microbiome field through the knowledge researchers can provide for one another.

In addition to keynote speeches, the conference provided undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral trainees with the opportunity to present their research through talks selected from abstract, rapid fire talks, and poster viewings. The event concluded with abstract awards to recognize extraordinary originality in research.