Building a new lifestyle by understanding the trends of gut microbiota

gut microbiota, microbiome, metagenome, metabolome, metabolic network analysis of microbiota

“We want to create services and businesses that contribute to realising a healthy lifestyle centered on microbiota."

Resident flora, which has pioneered the frontier in the field of life science, has been said to have a great effect on human health. Dynamically understanding the microbiota does not only lead to the discovery of diseases or treatments, but it also unravels presymptomatic diseases.
Currently, we are conducting an analysis by utilizing our original database and metagenome, metatranscriptome or metabolome data, which can be obtained from a next generation sequencer. Moreover, our analysis is not limited to conventional microbiome data. We integrate data obtained from proprietary sensors and apply statistical approaches as well as machine learning techniques. We believe that our development may become an important technology, which will uncover the cause and effect relationship of unexplained phenomena and give a new significance to the microbiome.

Background issues

It is estimated that there are more than 1000 strains of bacteria in human intestines. The whole community of bacteria is called microbiota. It has been reported that the function of the gut microbiota is related to various health conditions of humans including obesity, colon cancer and mental illness. Dynamically assessing and understanding various changes in gut microbiota will lead to the discovery, prevention and treatment of these diseases. However, it is very difficult to assess the gut microbiota in which a wide variety of bacteria exist, and the whole picture is unknown.

Our technologies

In order to dynamically comprehend gut microbiota, it is necessary to acquire comprehensive data of gut microbiota such as strain and proportion of bacteria, the genetic function and sequential change of metabolite; and integrated omics analysis is also required to find the relation to health conditions and the meaning of the change. We use metagenomic data that are acquired using the next generation sequencer and comprehensive metabolite data acquired using the mass spectrometer. We perform principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering and network analysis based on the obtained data.
For data analysis of microbiome, we utilize the databases of microorganisms potentially involved in oxidation-reduction of nitrogen and sulfur and that of microorganisms whose substrates and products are known. We are also updating the databases every day.

Current status

Participating in the Japan Microbiome Consortium (JMBC), contributing to the development of recommended analytical protocols and reference materials for human microbiome research
Developing highly competitive analytical technologies through the construction of proprietary databases
Providing contract services for metabolome analysis, including sulfur metabolites, and data analysis from environmental samples and human clinical specimens
Delivering condition-improvement support services for multiple domestic sports teams, gyms, and educational institutions, based on analysis of gut microbiota and lifestyle habits

Locations

Japan

Partner

New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan Microbiome Consortium (JMBC)