My deep interest in the microbial world comes from the diversity and versatility of microorganisms. The fact that the number of microbial cells may exceed that of its host makes these organisms even more interesting to me. My research involves the gastrointestinal microbiome of pets, with a focus on a yeast recognized as commensal in herbivores, and a possible pathogen in pets. This yeast is considered to have a fastidious growth and has complex nutritional demands. This yeast had been neglected for some years and has come back as a focus of study in recent decades. My research involves ways to improve the culture of this yeast, as well as new methods of identification of the culture to better understand its biology and its interaction with pets.