Thursday, July 9, 2026

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Room DM.1.15

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Details

Recent advances in high-throughput DNA and RNA sequencing have revolutionized our ability to characterize the taxonomic composition, diversity, and functional potential of complex host-associated microbial communities—including microeukaryotes, prokaryotes, and viruses. Among these, the prokaryotic component of the gut microbiota remains the most extensively studied. Established early in life, it plays fundamental roles in food assimilation, metabolism, immune system development, and pathogen defense, thereby shaping host health and survival (Koskella & Bergelson, 2020). Beyond physiological functions, animal microbiota may also enhance host adaptability to varying environments, diets, and pathogen pressures, and therefore, their conservation status (Hauffe & Barelli, 2018; Trevelline et al., 2019). The composition and diversity of host-associated microbiota is influenced by a complex interplay of intrinsic (genetics, age, sex) and extrinsic (diet, lifestyle and environmental exposure) factors (Flores et al., 2025). However, the diversity and ecological roles of host-associated fungi and other microeukaryotes remain comparatively underexplored, underscoring the need for more integrative studies on their contributions to animal health and adaptive potential. Moreover, within the framework of the One Health approach, recent research has revealed that environmental reservoirs such as soil and water, among the most microbially diverse ecosystems on Earth (Labouyrie et al., 2023), can act as sources of both beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms influencing animal microbiota across taxa (Banerjee & van der Heijden, 2023; Zanovello et al., 2025). This symposium aims to explore how our understanding of host-associated microbial diversity and function, under both controlled and natural conditions, is advancing, and how these results are essential for elucidating the intricate links between microbiomes and long-term animal conservation. We will encourage submission showing how multidisciplinary approaches integrating microbiology, ecology, and environmental sciences are critical to assessing the impacts of anthropogenic activities, habitat alteration, pollution, and climate change on host–microbe interactions and the resilience of animal populations.

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Speakers and Presentation Titles

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Organiser