Tiny Health Helpers

As humans move from traditional lifestyles to modern urban living, we are also transforming the invisible communities of microbes that live in and around us. This talk explores how urbanization affects the gut microbiome in both humans and wildlife, drawing on research from city animals to global initiatives like the Microbiota Vault. Together, these stories reveal why microbial diversity matters and what we can do to protect it in a rapidly changing world.

We explore the hidden world of the lower urinary tract and how the bacteria living there can shape the health and the disease. At the same time, we are developing virus-based treatments that use bacteria’s natural enemies to fight hard-to-treat urinary tract infections - a real “enemy of my enemy” approach. By bringing these two sides together, we hope to turn new discoveries into smarter and more effective care for patients.