Name: Tiny microbes in a relationship with food, viruses, and our gut
Start: 2026-05-18T19:00:00
End: 2026-05-18T21:00:00
Location: Old Oak

Uncover hidden microbes all around us—from the risks of Listeria lurking in ready-to-eat foods to the vast, invisible communities of gut bacteria revealed through DNA analysis. You’ll also explore why studying viruses that infect bacteria might sound obscure, but could have surprising and important benefits for science, health, and society.

Is Listeria Hiding in Your Ready-to-Eat Foods?

Waleed Butt (PhD candidate)

Discover the dangers of Listeria in ready-to-eat foods. Learn how this harmful bacteria can grow in your meals, the health risks, and why it’s important to stay informed about food safety.

The hidden inhabitants of the human gut

Francesco Vacca (PhD Student)

Our gut hosts trillions of bacteria, many of which are difficult to study as they don’t grow in the lab. By using computers to read their DNA, we can see how these gut residents shape our daily lives.

Viruses vs Bacteria: what's in it for us?

John Kenny (Senior Research Officer)

Why bother spending taxpayers’ hard-earned income tax on researching viruses that infect bacteria. Why should I care? What possible good could come of that?

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