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.
Also, the object for analysis is not only resident flora data, it applies to statistical approaches or machine learning by the combination of data gained from the unique sensor.
We believe that our development may become an important technology, which will estimate the cause and effect of the relationship of unexplained phenomenon and give a new meaning to the current 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

We are working with Japan Microbiome Consortium (JMBC) to prepare recommended analysis protocols and develop standard substances for human microbiome analysis.
We are developing competitive analytical technology by establishing our own database.

Locations

Japan

partner

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

MessagePICK UP PERSON

Ken Kasahara

My intention is to clarify the relationship between human beings and microorganisms coexisting with human beings to create services and business that will contribute to realizing a healthy lifestyle based on microflora. I hope to create an “industry” with the gut microbiota business and grow it to become a business pillar of Chitose Group. I am working as a: ・General Manager of Microbiota Utilization Division, Chitose Laboratory Corp. ・Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer, Flora Index Corp. ・Japan Microbiome Consortium, Sterling Committee Vice Chair, R&D Committee Chair Although these are heavy responsibilities, since they are essential organizations to accomplish the gut microbiota project, I am willing to take full responsibility.