Minicourse on Epidemic Modeling for Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention

Microbes get sick too. These viral infections transform the fates of microbial cells, populations, and communities. The infection and lysis of individual microbes releases new virus particles and redirects carbon and nutrients back into the environment. Yet, there is increasing evidence that the ecological outcome of infections is often nuanced and includes a spectrum of fates beyond rapid infection and lysis. This talk combines insights from mathematical models, in vivo experiments, and field data to explore how inefficient infection and non-lytic outcomes shape the use of phage as therapeutics and the impact of phage on marine ecosystems.