Microbiome in Health and Disease
 

Professor
Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University

    The symbiotic bacteria (microbiome) that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract have long been unknown, but thanks to innovations in next-generation sequencing and culture technologies, their real nature has become clear these years. In the intestines, there are more than 10 trillion bacteria and more than 1,000 species of bacteria living in symbiosis. It has become clear that symbiotic bacteria (microbiome) not only live in the gut, but also in various tissues, such as the skin. These symbiotic bacteria are non-self to the immune system, which recognizes and eliminates foreign substances as non-self, but they coexist in the body without being recognized and eliminated by the immune system. It has become clear that these symbiotic bacteria play an important role in maintaining our health. It has also become clear that a disturbed balance of microbiome is related to the onset and pathology of various diseases. The rapid understanding of the symbiotic bacteria (microbiome) has been achieved by the analysis of scientists in various research fields such as bacteriology, immunology, informatics, metabolism, and clinical medicine, using their expertise and techniques. At Naito Conference this time, we will invite top scientists from all over the world who are at the forefront of various research fields involved in microbiome research to give lectures, as well as poster presentations by young researchers who will participate in the conference through an open call. This will allow participants to learn about the latest trends in microbiome research and foster the next generation of researchers in the field of microbiome research through mutual exchanges.