“The future of microbiology”

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Nature Microbiology, a recent feature article looks at how the field is likely to develop in the coming years. The article ‘The future of microbiology’ sheds light on the key scientific challenges and possibilities. To do this, some of the top minds in microbiology were asked for their thoughts.

Among those interviewed is Lisa Maier, microbiome researcher at the University of Tübingen and Board Member of the Cluster of Excellence CMFI. She emphasizes the importance of microorganisms that have been little studied to date and advocates broadening the focus of research beyond classic model organisms. Many bacterial species remain poorly characterized to date, although numerous species hold significant potential for applications relevant to society.

In the feature, Maier refers, among other things, to work on intestinal bacteria that are capable of accumulating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A better understanding of such microbial processes may enable new approaches for environmental and health applications. However, this requires a willingness to systematically research new organisms and question established experimental routines.

In addition to Lisa Maier, the feature highlights other topics such as the use of artificial intelligence in antibiotic development, advances in vaccine research and the potential of phage therapy. Overall, the feature paints a picture of a field of research characterised by increasing interdisciplinarity and a growing diversity of methodological approaches.

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