Modelling pangenome dynamics
Trainer: John Lees, Jacqueline Toussaint, Leonie Lorenz, Joel Hellewell
Overview: This course explores the dynamics of bacterial pangenomes through forward simulation-based modeling approaches. You will learn how bacterial populations maintain diverse gene repertoires, why gene frequencies follow characteristic patterns, and how to simulate pangenome evolution using individual-based models. The course includes practical implementation in R and applications to real-world problems such as predicting the impact of vaccination on pneumococcal populations.
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this session, you will be able to:
- Define pangenomes and understand why they are important for bacterial populations
- Explain the characteristic U-shaped gene frequency distribution in pangenomes
- Predict population dynamics following interventions like vaccination
Materials:
note: a powerpoint presentation will be downloaded when you click on the powerpoint link