Join the free mSystems® Thinking Series of webinars, where editors come together with some of their favorite speakers on a variety of topics, using an interactive forum to allow the community to both hear the best science and meet speakers in small groups. Presentations are followed by an open forum panel discussion with all speakers and participants. Discussions and Q&A will be live.
One Health and the African Microbiome
Jan. 9, 2026, 9 a.m. ET (3 p.m. West Africa Time)
The One Health concept underscores the fundamental connections among humans, animals and the environment. Microbial communities lie at the heart of these interactions, sustaining both public health and ecosystem resilience. Disruptions to these microbial linkages can heighten disease risks and undermine environmental stability.
Although microbiomes are inherently dynamic and evolve across the lifespan, most studies have focused on limited geographic regions. As a result, much less is known about the diversity, structure and functional potential of microbial communities across the African continent. This webinar brings together 4 leading experts in African microbiome research, who will explore how the One Health framework can be applied to understand microbial ecosystems across diverse environments.
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Key Learning Objectives:
- Describe the current state of microbiome research in Africa, including major knowledge gaps and emerging opportunities.
- Discuss methodological and ethical considerations in conducting microbiome research within African contexts. 
- Critically evaluate and integrate microbiome-derived insights to design innovative strategies that advance health, food security and environmental sustainability across the African continent.
Presenters
- Rehab Abdallah, Dr. rer. nat., assistant professor, Misr University for Science and Technology.
- Nonsikelelo Hlongwa, Ph.D., researcher, Stellenbosch University. Soumaya Kouidhi, Ph.D., associate professor, University of Manouba.
- Anthony Okoh, Ph.D., professor, Fort Hare University.
Moderator
- Thulani Makhalanyane, Ph.D., Senior Editor, mSystems®, professor, Stellenbosch University.
About the Journal
® is an open-access 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀ journal dedicated to publishing diverse systems microbiology research—everything from cell metabolism to ecosystem dynamics, tools and techniques, to novel synthetic microbiology.
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