Gut Microbiome Analysis

Introduction

Trillions of bacteria reside in and on the human body forming a complex synergistic network rich in diversity and metabolic activity. The bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract form the gut microbiome, and play a particularly important role in critical health-relevant processes such as:
- the maturation and training of the immune system
- protection against pathogens
- host energy biogenesis

Gut microbes also participate actively in human metabolism by producing a range of important metabolites including vitamins and neurotransmitters that affect the host.

Research Applications

Research suggests that the gut microbiota may influence most aspects of human health, and therefore areas of research vary greatly. At Clinical Microbiomics, we have experience helping research projects in the following areas:

• interactions of prebiotics, probiotics, or vitamins with the gut microbiome in health and disease
• the role of the microbiome on the gut-brain axis
• gut microbiota changes during pregnancy
• infant gut microbiome development
• intrinsic factors (such as stress) contributing to a change in the gut microbiome
• extrinsic factors (such as diet, and drugs) contributing to a change in the gut microbiome
• fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) research

Our Services for Gut Microbiome Research

Inter- and intrapersonal variability in the gut microbiome results from various endogenous and exogenous factors. At Clinical Microbiomics, we offer custom gut microbiome analysis services meaning that we approach each project independently to accurately analyze how the microbiome varies between samples.

Sample Preparation - We offer DNA extraction for all types of gut microbiome projects, performed under highly controlled and traceable conditions in our advanced, Copenhagen-based, ISO17025 certified laboratory.

Sequencing - We offer Illumina-based 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics of fecal samples.

16S rDNA amplicon sequencing provides insights into the taxonomical composition of the microbiome (genus/species resolution), whereas shotgun metagenomics powered by our MGS bioinformatics platform provides detailed characterization with the highest taxonomical (species/strain) and functional resolution (genes) possible.

Data Analysis - We offer our clients gut microbiome analyses that take advantage of our extensive human gut microbiome MGS catalogue that have been extensively annotated for taxonomy and functional potential. In the typical human gut microbiome sample our gene catalogue accounts for more than 90% of the microbiome sequence reads, which greatly supersedes the typical 25-40% representation seen for reference-based approaches.