Mastitis is the most frequent and costly disease for dairy producers and is the main reason for antimicrobial use in dairy herds, raising concerns regarding the emergence of antimicrobial resistant pathogens. In this project they will  use state-of-the-art genomics and metagenomics approaches to identify influential members of the mammary gland microbiota with central roles in maintaining udder health and modulating mastitis susceptibility. An innovative approach will be used for targeted isolation and characterization of these beneficial “foundation species” from the native microbial community of the udder. In addition, to bridge the gap between basic laboratory science and translational research, both safety and efficacy of our microbiome-based therapeutic will be further assessed in controlled experiments involving lactating cows.