Welcome

The biology of prokaryotic cells is directly dependent on the differential gene pools that characterize each cell or strain. This has been a fundamental aspect of epidemiology for delimiting outbreaks and pathogenicity. The focus of this second meeting on pangenomes is on the relevance of the prokaryotic pangenome for human, animal and environmental health as part of the One-Health context, tackling the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. The diversity in gene pools of different pathogenic strains plays a substantial part in determining the virulence of infections but is also critical for new forms of therapies such as phages as antimicrobials. In addition, understanding intraspecific genetic variability within the human microbiome will also be crucial for its manipulation and/or maintenance. We will also review recent developments in the evolution of pangenome diversity both in nature and in animal hosts of relevance to human health.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for scientific advance in this field. The microbial Pangenome in One-Health is a forum covering veterinary and human medicine, microbiology, ecology, public health, and epidemiology, aiming to address the complex intersection bringing together animal, human and environmental microbial genomics.