ISB News

ISB researchers use single-cell sequencing to reveal hidden defenses against bacteriophages — and introduce a powerful new way to study phage-microbe interactions.

New research from ISB’s Gibbons Lab shows that computer models of gut metabolism can predict whether probiotics will successfully establish in an individual’s microbiome and how dietary prebiotics shape health-related molecules in the gut. The findings point toward a future of more personalized, predictable microbiome-based interventions.

ISB Professor Dr. Nitin Baliga has been elected to the American Academy of Microbiology as part of the 2026 Fellowship Class — a highly selective honor recognizing exceptional scientific achievement and leadership in the microbial sciences. Baliga joins 62 peers from 14 countries selected through a rigorous peer-review process.

Six leading experts from across the field presented new insights to more than 1,000 registrants worldwide, with over 400 participants joining live.

Researchers at ISB have developed personalized models to predict C. diff colonization risk and test targeted probiotics. This approach could prevent infection before it starts and paves the way for precision microbiome therapies tailored to individual gut ecosystems.

ISB scientists have developed a simple, low-cost method to measure the total amount of bacteria in the gut using existing sequencing data. This breakthrough could speed up microbiome research and unlock new insights into health and disease.