Microbiome sequencing services are becoming more and more popular. This is due to researchers and clinicians learning about the importance of the microbiome in human health. By sequencing the DNA of the bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the gut, for example, scientists can better understand how these organisms contribute to human health and disease.

What is microbiome sequencing?

Microbiome sequencing determines which microbes are present in a microbiome at a certain point in time. Microbes are microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Researchers can use this information to research further how these organisms contribute to human health and disease.The microbiome analysis includes identifying the types and amounts of each microorganism present in a test subject’s microbiome. This can help show whether the gut microbiome is healthy or contains disease-causing bacteria. In addition, researchers can use this information to determine how well a particular drug works for a person with a certain type of microbiome.

What sequencing methods are used?

Several sequencing methods can be used to sequence the microbiome. The most common techniques include:

• 16S rRNA sequencing:

This technique uses specific DNA sequences to identify bacteria and other microorganisms in a sample. The 16S rRNA gene is found in all bacteria and is unique for different types of bacteria. Researchers can identify different microorganisms by sequencing this gene and comparing the results to databases of known types of organisms.

Metagenomics uses high-throughput sequencing on DNA isolated from biological samples such as gut microbiome, soil, or ocean water. It allows researchers to study entire genomes directly from environmental samples without the need for culturing.

• The corebiome:

This is a technique that sequences the DNA of the core microbiome, which are the most common and abundant microorganisms in a particular sample. It lets researchers understand the types of microorganisms present in a microbiome and how they interact with one another.

What are some applications of microbiome sequencing?

Microbiome sequencing can be used in a variety of applications such as:

• Personalized medicine:

Researchers use microbiome sequencing to study how the human microbiome impacts health and disease. One application studies how the gut microbiome can affect drug metabolism; another uses microbiota transplants to cure infections that current drugs cannot treat.

• Designing more effective drugs:

Sequencing a healthy microbiome can help researchers determine how a disease-causing microbe affects the overall community of organisms. Asking what types of organisms are present in a healthy person’s microbiome and how they interact with each other can give clues as to what types of treatments might work if one part of the system is disturbed (i.e., by a disease-causing microbe).

• Environmental studies:

Microbiome sequencing can also be used to study the role of microbes in the environment. For example, sequencing the microbiome of ocean water can help identify new and unknown strains of bacteria that may be useful for biotechnology or pharmaceutical applications.

• Diagnostics:

Microbiome sequencing can be used diagnostically to detect specific microorganisms in the gut or other body parts. Sequencing the human microbiome is one way to determine if someone has an infection, such as bacterial pneumonia.

What are the benefits of microbiome sequencing?

There are many benefits to microbiome sequencing. Some of these include:

• Understanding how the gut microbiome contributes to human health and disease
• Determining which drugs work best for a person with a certain type of microbiome
• Detecting early signs of disease by studying the changes in the microbiome over time
• Studying how the microbiome changes in response to different treatments, such as antibiotics or probiotics
• Microbiome sequencing data may benefit research on autism, diabetes, cancer, and other diseases

In conclusion, microbiome core facility sequencing services allow you to sequence the microbiome of a certain sample. These services use different sequencing methods depending on what kind of information you are trying to obtain.