Characterising determinants of gastrointestinal microbiome community structure

The human gut hosts numerous microbes that are essential for health. Called the microbiome, changes in these communities are linked to a wide range of diseases from cancer to inflammation and infections. Limited understanding of the factors that alter these communities has constrained potential medical applications. This thesis characterised factors modulating human gut microbiome community structure, including antibiotics, inter-bacterial interactions, and the role of dietary compounds. Through this work, key bacterial-microbiome and diet-microbiome interactions that determine community structures were computationally and experimentally identified. This knowledge will provide an essential foundation in the development of targeted microbiome therapeutics.