Section “Biotechnology through the lens of the microbiome”

The section will feature presentations and discussions of talks on recent advances in the development of microbiome-targeted products and technologies. Today, the gut microbiome is viewed as an organ that integrates multidirectional communication among most human organs and systems and also perceives signals from the external environment. Disorders in the composition of the microbiome (dysbiosis) correlate with many diseases, including oncological, cardiovascular, autoimmune, endocrine, and neurological disorders.

The microbiome of a healthy person is considered a source of functionally active bacteria that can serve as the foundation for the development of nature-inspired next-generation medicinal products for combination therapy across various nosologies. Genetic, genomic, omics, and biotechnological methods serve as tools for their development. The accumulated big data characterizing the microbiome and microbiome-mediated diseases require the application of bioinformatics approaches, including artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, computer reconstruction of gene and neural-network models, as well as the search for new algorithms and analytical concepts.

The talks presented in this section will demonstrate, using pharmabiotics, postbiotics, and enzymes derived from them, a range of algorithms, technologies, and biotechnological approaches to their development. It is important to note that omics technologies are used not only in the creation of target products but also in quality control of the final product obtained during fermentation.

Symposium “Microbiology and biotechnology” co-chair Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Head of the Laboratory of Genetics of Microorganisms, Head of Department of Genetic Bases of Biotechnology, VIGG RAS, Moscow Valery N. Danilenko