Prof Philip Hugenholtz on Metagenomic Stool Analysis for Optimal Gut Health The Gut Health Gurus Podcast

We have a groundbreaking discussion with Prof Philip Hugenholtz co-founder of Microba, a company specialising in Metagenomic Stool Testing using DNA based sequencing to analyse the microbiome. We cover the history and application of DNA based sequencing to classify and identify micro-organisms, using the technology to improve health outcomes on a personalised level, the future prospects for precision medicine, IBD, what a healthy microbiome looks like and much more.
 

 

Bio: 
 
Professor Hugenholtz is a microbiologist who has made contributions in the field of culture-independent analysis of microorganisms. He discovered and characterised numerous previously unrecognised major bacterial and archaeal lineages each with greater evolutionary divergence than animals and plants combined. He has participated in the development and application of metagenomics, the genome-based characterisation of microbiomes, which has revolutionised our understanding of microbial ecology and evolution. He has made several discoveries in environmental and clinical microbiology sometimes overturning decades of misdirected culture-based studies.
 


Topics discussed:
 
Phil’s Origin story
Microbial Classification and Morphology 
The Development of DNA based sequencing technology
Carl Woese- 16s rRNA - ribosomal RNA sequencing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Woese
Did we evolve from ancient Archaea?
Norm Pace- Application of 16s rRNA sequencing in Ecology 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_R._Pace
 Culture indépendant analytical techniques
Craig Venter- Metagenomic Sequencing 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Venter
Blueprints for identifying bacteria
Development of Sequencing Technology
Discovery of Microbes
Growing Microbes on plates
What is the Greengenes reference database
16s rRNA genes identification vs Whole Genome shotgun sequencing (Metagenomics)
Metagenomics, Big Data and health patterns
The limitation of 16s rRNA technology- conserved genes
Whole Genome Sequencing Resolution
ITS gene and Fungal Classification
Virus and Parasite Classification 
The Metagenomic workflow
GTDB Database for Whole-genome sequencing
Predicting IBD, IBS, Crohns
Predicting response to drug response- Depression, Cancer
The Gut Microbiome as an early warning system
The future of Microbiome
What does a healthy cohort’s gut microbiome look like?
Discovery of new species
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
Anti Inflammatory genes and properties 
The uniqueness of the gut microbiome
Characterising IBD
The impact of the immune system
Opportunistic Pathogens- Clostridium difficile, Bilophila wadsworthia, Desulfovibrio, Helicobacter pylori 
Gut Metabolite production by microbes- e.g GABA  (a neurotransmitter linked to depression) via KEGG
The future of Gut Microbiome Testing
Metabolomics
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Algorithms for health predictions
Diet as a key driver of the microbiome
Personalised Diet based on a microbiome profile
Prebiotics and Probiotics and Precise Medicine
Fibre and Butyrate Balance
Phil’s top gut health tip
Microbiome changes and improved mental health via diet and exercise 
 

 
Brought to you by:
 
Nourishme Organics- The Gut Health Superstore
 
Check out the Microba Metagenomic Stool Testing and Nutritional Consulting Package for Personalised advice on how to optimise your gut health based on your unique microbiome
 
https://www.nourishmeorganics.com.au/products/gut-explorer-pro-metagenomic-stool-testing-personalised-nutrition-consultation
 
Use code guthealthgurus for 10% off
 


 
Connect with Prof Phil Hugenholtz
 
Website- https://www.microba.com/
 
 


 

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