The research solution enables deeper microbiome insights.
Biotechnology company Metabolon, which specialises in metabolomics, has introduced a comprehensive microbiome research toolkit.
The solution integrates metagenomics sequencing and bioinformatics tools with a microbiome metabolite panel.
"Metabolon is now a one-stop shop for high-quality metagenomics and metabolomics data, integrated and visualised within an easy-to-use bioinformatics platform," said Metabolon chief business officer Dr Karl Bradshaw. "This synergy enables deeper microbiome insights than possible with either approach individually.
Metagenomics is the study of entire genomes extracted directly from environmental samples, but does not reveal their functional contributions, specifically the metabolic activities and bioactive compounds that microbes produce, which may impact the host.
Meanwhile, metabolomics, the study of small molecules (metabolites) within a sample, are critical mediators linking microbial functions to host physiology, immune responses, and disease progression. They provide specifics by offering a phenotypic snapshot of microbiome activity.
The combination of both metagenomics and metabolomics data within the bioinformatics platform enables deeper microbiome insights.
The research solution contains metagenomic sequencing options, offering different sequencing methods and depths to integrate metagenomics data with metabolomic and phenotypic data.
The metagenomics sequencing options can be combined with bioinformatics tools with Metabolon’s Global Discovery Panel. The microbiome bioinformatics tools include features such as bioinformatics pipelines for process data, as well as a machine learning-driven integration that supports novel associations between microbes and metabolites.
A microbiome panel focusses on hundreds of metabolites to provide insights into the microbiome and supports novel computational approaches for addressing biomedical research and precision medicine challenges.
