MYRA HUGHEY

All organisms, including humans, harbor a diverse assemblage of microbes. My research seeks to understand patterns of diversity in these host-associated microbiomes and the relationship to host health. I ask questions such as: (1) How does variation in microbiome composition and structure influence host susceptibility to disease? And, conversely, how does disease impact the diversity and function the microbiome? (2) Does exposure to environmental contaminants alter microbiome diversity and function? and (3) How can we apply probiotic therapies to prevent and treat disease? My general approach to answering these questions combines my strong background in ecology with new skill sets in microbiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.