Microbial flow cytometry – A powerful single-cell technology for characterization of microbial systems by Fabian MERMANS

Microbial flow cytometry – A powerful single-cell technology for characterization of microbial systems by Fabian MERMANS

Abstract: Characterization of (synthetic) microbial communities is critical to our understanding and manipulation of microbial systems. Typically, characterization is achieved through sequencing-driven technologies. However, they can be labour intensive, expensive, or prone to bias. In recent years, flow cytometry has gained increasing attention as a technique to characterize microbial communities and offers a fast and cost-effective alternative to sequencing technologies. Flow cytometry is not only a suitable tool to determine cell densities, but it also excels at providing phenotypic information on the state of the microbial community. This information can be used to generate a so-called phenotypic fingerprint of the microbial community, which in turn can be used for a variety of bioinformatic analyses. In this talk, an overview of the wide variety of applications of flow cytometry in microbial ecology will be presented. 

Biography: Fabian Mermans is a postdoctoral researcher at the Center of Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET) of Ghent University in Belgium. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Bioscience Engineering from the University of Antwerp (Belgium) and a Master of Science in Bioscience Engineering – Environmental Technology from Ghent University (Belgium). Following his studies, he started his professional career as a high school chemistry and biology teacher. After teaching for one year, he joined the Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology at Ghent University (Belgium) and the Periodontology and Oral Microbiology research group at KU Leuven (Belgium) to pursue a PhD. Fabian worked on numerous research projects, mostly focussed on various aspects of microbiology relevant to human health. Amongst others, he studied the effect of NSAIDs on the gut microbiome using an in vitro model (M-SHIME), developed a new methodology for fast identification of pathogens causing corneal ulcers, assessed potential probiotics in the context of halitosis, and mapped inter-individual effects of antimicrobials on the oral microbiome. Currently, his main research focus lies in exploring novel strategies to assist in the development of new antimicrobial compounds.

Fabian MERMANS is reasearcher at Ghent University, more details -> Fabian Mermans