Seminar Series: 2026–2027

"We interact with billions of microbes in a day, yet some of the most influential ones call us home. While some people believe microbes to be gross, scary, or harmful, there are actually many beneficial, commensal gut bacteria that protect us from disease. I study the bacteria known as Turicibacter and how it produces fats to prevent its host from metabolic disease. Indeed, the fats made from these small heroes prevent us from making too many fats of our own and becoming overweight or obese. This acrylic painting entitled "Small But Mighty: Turicibacter and its Fats" depicts my artist's rendition of Turicibacter as seen under the confocal microscope (top) and getting more magnified as seen with transmission electron microscopy (bottom), while floating to the surface are lipid droplets containing those protective fats produced by Turicibacter (middle). Interested in learning more? Read about Turicibacter at DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.10.007.