Nuffield Council on Bioethics and Federation of European Microbiology Societies - Horizon Scanning Lab - Tuesday 15 July 2025 by Nuffield Council on Bioethics https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab 1. What emerging scientific or technological developments and trends in microbiology have caught your attention recently? 2. What sort of social, ethical, legal, health or environmental impacts might these have in the next 5-20 years? 3. What role do you think microbiologists should play in shaping the future of these emerging developments? 4. What questions or uncertainties are you excited to explore in the workshop? Post your thoughts and ideas for any or all of the questions below en-us 2025-07-07 10:24:14 UTC 2025-07-15 10:46:49 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/8.0/png/1f52c.png The microbiome! smccully4 https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3512405092 2025-07-07 10:29:38 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3512405092 AI convergence smccully4 https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3512405406 2025-07-07 10:30:11 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3512405406 Biomaterials melissarasheeda https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3512411625 Biomaterials for sustainability


]]> 2025-07-07 10:39:33 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3512411625 Carbon capture methods with Microbes https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3513552921 Since algae already capture 50% of all biological carbon capture, can this be turned into a climate mitigation technology?

]]> 2025-07-08 08:46:56 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3513552921 Role of Microbiologists https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3519984898 Microbiologists should make sure that the scientific innovations are applied in the real world and are not just left on a shelf.

]]> 2025-07-15 08:53:25 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3519984898 Agricultural Microbiomes https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520014452 Microbiome manipulation in agriculture could reduce chemical inputs, but unintended consequences (e.g. shifts in microbial diversity or function) are poorly understood.


How do we responsibly scale up microbiome-based technologies in agriculture?


]]> 2025-07-15 09:39:43 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520014452 Gut microbiome with diseases https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520017524 Scientists are working on how gut microbes are effecting individuals life. We should be deeply focusing on other microbes on our different body parts effecting the balance of gut microbes and disease situation.

]]> 2025-07-15 09:45:32 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520017524 CRISPR editing https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520020526 2025-07-15 09:49:00 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520020526 Emerging trends https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520020697 Microbiomes for disease treatment

]]> 2025-07-15 09:49:13 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520020697 Microbiome interventions https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520020877 Deleting species

Synthetic communities

Probiotics

Amendments

]]> 2025-07-15 09:49:36 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520020877 Emerging trends https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520020969 Probiotics for global health (human, animal hosts and environment)

]]> 2025-07-15 09:49:46 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520020969 Omics integrations https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021118 Proteomics

Metabolomics

Transcriptomics

]]> 2025-07-15 09:50:00 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021118 GMO as crop plants or in microorganisms https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021138 2025-07-15 09:50:04 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021138 Emerging trends https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021184 Environmental microbial stewardship

]]> 2025-07-15 09:50:08 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021184 Small protein discovery https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021213 2025-07-15 09:50:13 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021213 fecal microbiota transfer (FMT) https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021273 FMTs are emerging as a viable treatment for gut diseases (ex: antibiotic-resistant C. difficile infections). But what are the risks of using such a blunt tool?

]]> 2025-07-15 09:50:20 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021273 Emerging trends https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021347 Microbial conservation for future similar to nordic seed bank

]]> 2025-07-15 09:50:30 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021347 Synthetic Life with alternative chemistries https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021403 2025-07-15 09:50:35 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021403 Agricultural pre-/pro-biotics https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021430 2025-07-15 09:50:39 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021430 Personalized medicine https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021606 2025-07-15 09:50:47 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520021606 Phage control of microbiomes https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022105 2025-07-15 09:50:55 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022105 Emerging technologies https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022708 Use of precision breeding techniques in agronomy.

]]> 2025-07-15 09:51:17 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022708 Cheaper & more widely available Sequencing https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022722 2025-07-15 09:51:18 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022722 Hypothetical protein function https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022846 The gut microbiome has a lot of proteins that are still considered as hypothetical protein. We could use the tool Alhpa fold to understand the structure and functions of hypothetical proteins in the gut microbiome which could help in understanding disease progrssion.

]]> 2025-07-15 09:51:37 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022846 Reclaimed water https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022865 2025-07-15 09:51:38 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022865 Gain of function https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022868 Emergence of novel pathogens

]]> 2025-07-15 09:51:39 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022868 Bioremedation https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022871 2025-07-15 09:51:39 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022871 AI! https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022877 2025-07-15 09:51:40 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022877 Genomic Precision Biocontrol https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022891 2025-07-15 09:51:41 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022891 Material substitutes from fungi https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022965

  • Packaging, furniture and more from composite mycelium materials.

  • Leather and plastics from pure mycelium materials.

    • ]]>     2025-07-15 09:51:53 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022965     Continuous misuse of antibiotics https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022994 2025-07-15 09:51:56 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520022994 Citizen Science https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023032 2025-07-15 09:51:59 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023032 One health in policy making https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023054 2025-07-15 09:51:59 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023054 Current trends https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023300

  • Crisper-based therapeutics

  • AI and machine learning

  • Phage therapy/alternative microbials


    • ]]>     2025-07-15 09:52:17 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023300     Emerging trends https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023370 Including microbiome science in biodiversity and conservation efforts of endangered species

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:52:25 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023370     Using methanotrophs in climate regulation https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023462 Bioplastics


    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:52:31 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023462     Emerging Trends https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023518 1) Microbiome Engineering

    2) Phage Therapy

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:52:36 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023518     Bioleaching https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023577 Release of metals using microbes

    Bio recovery of metals from waste

    Bio processing of waste

    This takes importance since microbial methods tend to be less energy intensive

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:52:44 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023577     New avenues / ideas for publishing https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023761 e.g eLife publishing without peer review, ERC free publication platform

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:53:16 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023761     Gain of function research https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023793 2025-07-15 09:53:18 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520023793 Phage/antimicrobial alternatives https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520024086 2025-07-15 09:53:39 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520024086 Securitisation of health https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520024139 See formation of UK Health Security Agency etc and changing paradigm (away from public health and towards "health security" risks/threats)

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:53:48 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520024139     Synthetic biology and AI discovery https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520024965 2025-07-15 09:55:15 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520024965 Modulation of microbial community by changing the conditions that they live in. Applied to livestock or to humans https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025172 To meet different objectives such as productivity or to avoid diseases

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:55:39 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025172     Bioremediation using chemosynthesis https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025326 2025-07-15 09:55:49 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025326 Research on Indigenous microbiomes as "undisturbed" or "natural" https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025436 ^ to solve issues with "Western" microbiome challenges

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:55:58 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025436     Personalised medicine/microbiome data https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025568 Data privacy, societal biases

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:56:19 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025568     Sustainable plastic production https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025994 Incorporating enzymes into plastic production to facilitate faster degradation at their end of life

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:56:57 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520025994     Biomedicalisation/"R&D R&D R&D" https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520026346 Technological solutions (new drugs) to social problems (lack of access to water/sanitation in marginalised communities)

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:57:33 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520026346     RNA Single cell research https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520026610 2025-07-15 09:58:09 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520026610 Water purification with fungi https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520027229 2025-07-15 09:59:10 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520027229 About law and market https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520027589 Every solution must follow a logic that fullfil the market or the law. So something cheap that follows both will probably be a solution

    ]]>     2025-07-15 09:59:53 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520027589     Community based/participatory research methods https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520027725 Working with affected communities to generate research questions and create accountability for research outputs to benefit those most impacted

    ]]>     2025-07-15 10:00:03 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520027725     Community based/participatory research methods https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520027763 Working with affected communities to generate research questions and create accountability for research outputs to benefit those most impacted

    ]]>     2025-07-15 10:00:09 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520027763     Social and structural determinants of health https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520028956 How does housing, healthcare access, migrant status, gender, working conditions (e.g. sex work, precarious employment) affect AMR/disease outcomes? And how in turn is unequal distribution of these factors driven by power relations between different socially constructed groups - patriarchy, racial capitalism, (settler) colonialism.

    ]]>     2025-07-15 10:02:48 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520028956     https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520029753 Using methanotrophs to use methane to make valuable chemicals or other valuable biomolecules


    Fighting climate change and giving value

    ]]>     2025-07-15 10:04:19 UTC https://padlet.com/smccully4/NCOB_FEMS_Horizon_Scanning_Lab/wish/3520029753