Small-molecule-mediated interactions in complex microbial communities

In complex biological systems, small molecules often mediate microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions. Identifying these molecules, characterizing their biological activity, and explaining their relevance in a native context are challenging endeavors. Here, I will describe our ongoing efforts to develop computational and experimental tools for discovering small molecules encoded and produced in complex host-associated microbiomes. Examples from several systems will be discussed, including human and marine invertebrate microbiomes.