Lately, for a variety of reasons, I've been moving much of the lab research away from single gene pathogenesis studies towards the application of bacterial genomics and metagenomics to studies of microbial ecology and adaptation to the environment. Of particular interest is to examine whether environmental (climate) change may be driving adaptation and selection of the microbial community, with a focus on adaptation that leads to increased virulence of specific pathogens. We are using a variety of genetic, genomic, and phylogenetic tools for this now, and soon we will be applying comparative whole genome strategies to get at the questions we want to answer. The overall goal is to develop better sensors, forecasting tools, or add additional data to risk models that can be used to improve human health (prevention of infectious disease) or as measurements of environmental health.
Over the years I've occasionally had trouble fitting my laboratory's microbiology research into the main research and resource management focus of my immediate line office. Overall, this newer direction now fits in well with the mission of my agency, in that the results of the basic research can be more easily shown to have direct applicability to products that should benefit resource and public health managers. (Some other time I may write about ecosystem services.)
This direction has necessitated some self 're-training' in the disciplines of genomics and bioinformatics, although I've been moving into this arena for some time now (recent publication). The challenge is stimulating and energizing, something I think many of us need time to time in this profession. I'm eager to get going.
