Microbiome research relies heavily on DNA sequencing to identify and characterize microbes within a particular environment. For a long-time, this has primarily involved massive sequencing using short-reads (150-300 bases); however, recent developments in DNA sequencing have led to sequencing of much longer fragments (up to 10kb), with increased usability and capacity to assemble entire genomes. The low cost and portability of some long-read sequencing platforms is allowing them to become a point-of-care tool in clinical settings, in remote settings during infectious disease outbreaks, and eve ..read more

Roles in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are critical for any country’s prosperity and economic success, but most countries in the world have not achieved gender equality in STEM-related fields. The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11, 2024 is a chance to promote full and equal participation in science for women and girls ..read more

Microbiome research has revealed the huge microbial diversity within the human body and the environment. The human gut alone contains thousands of species of bacteria, not to mention other microbes such as fungi and archaea. Each of these species can have a different function within the human body whether that is contributing to colorectal cancer or improving intestinal barrier function. This has led scientists to embark on a continuous effort to identify and characterize all microbial life within the human body and other environments.  ..read more

We were honored to sponsor and to attend the Having IMPACTT 3: Advancing Microbiome Research Symposium from July 10th to 12th, 2023 held at the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore, Alberta. Organized by the Integrated Microbiome Platforms for Advancing Causation Testing and Translation (IMPACTT) and the International Microbiome Centre at the University of Calgary (IMC), the sold out symposium brought together leading minds and highlighted the latest findings and discoveries from microbiome research teams across Canada and around the world. Hats off to Kathy McCoy for her leadership and Sydney Morga ..read more

Microbial-based products (MBPs) are a type of “green” product that contains microbes as active ingredients. In 2019, Health Canada and Innovative Solutions Canada put forward a challenge seeking robust and cost-effective solutions to identify, characterize and predict possible interactions among the micro-organisms in MBPs that may mask or enhance adverse effects (e.g. pathogenicity, toxicity) in humans. In response, Microbiome Insights, is developing a prototype to (1) accurately identify and annotate microorganisms in mixtures, (2) develop a strain-based relational database and (3) characte ..read more

Microbiome research relies on accurate identification and classification of thousands of microbial species in a single biological sample. To date, this has largely been conducted using amplicon sequencing, such as 16S rRNA gene sequencing for the identification of bacteria and archaea. However, shotgun metagenomic sequencing is a powerful tool that has distinct advantages, such as the identification of fungi, viruses, and other microorganisms in addition to elucidation of microbial gene functions. For someone who has never conducted shotgun metagenomic sequencing, it may seem difficult to kno ..read more

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Are you a company, lab or researcher planning a new microbiome study?  If so, you are probably considering whether to conduct 16S rRNA gene sequencing or shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Although 16S rRNA gene sequencing has been more commonly used for microbiome studies to date, shotgun metagenomics is becoming more accessible and popular in microbiome research. However, each method has its pros and cons which should be considered before you decide which sequencing method to use. Here is your one-stop guide to 16S rRNA gene sequencing vs shotgun sequencing to help you generate the best d ..read more

We have compiled a list of both in-person and online conferences from around the world, which cover all aspects of the microbiome from stage (science, R&D, commercialization) to application (human, animal, plant, environmental, gut, skin, oral, etc.) and more. While this isn't an exhaustive list, it does cover the larger and more popular conferences. We look forward to seeing you at a number of these events and, right now, are planning on attending these conferences: Microbiome R&D & Business Collaboration Forum: Europe on May 23 - 24, 2023 in Rotterdam, Netherlands Microbiome R ..read more

16S rRNA sequencing has been used extensively in microbiome research to identify the composition of bacteria and archaea within a wide variety of microbiomes from the human gut to the Amazon rainforest. In this guide, we will explore the principles and applications of 16S rRNA sequencing, including sample preparation, DNA extraction, library preparation, sequencing, and data analysis. We will also discuss the limitations and potential pitfalls of 16S rRNA sequencing and provide tips for optimizing your experiments ..read more