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Unlocking the InvisibleHealth® Behind Your Dog’s Gut Health

Discover how advanced sequencing technology and cutting-edge research help us decode your dog’s microbiome for a healthier, happier life.

Best-in-class technology

We use Oxford Nanopore sequencing platform, which employs long-read sequencing technology. This allows us to sequence the entire 16S-rRNA gene, encompassing variable regions 1-9.

By examining the entire 16S gene, we achieve accurate and replicable species-level taxonomic resolution, ensuring precise identification of bacterial species via EPI2ME catalogue database.
  • Step 1.

    In the lab

    GutDiscovery® Test arrives at the lab
  • Step 2.

    Next generation sequencing

    PCR 16S rRNA regions 1 to 9
    (1500pb)
  • Step 3.

    Nucleotide sequences compared to reference database

    This tells us which bacteria are present in the canine microbiome
  • Step 4.

    Your Dog’s GutDiscovery® Report

    Personalised insights and actionable steps that improves our AI models over time

Unlocking your dog's gut health

Sequencing involves reading the nucleotide sequence of DNA. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we amplify the gene of interest. In this case, we amplify the 16S-rRNA gene specific to bacteria, so that we have numerous copies, which serve as technical replicates.

We can confidently determine the DNA sequence with hundreds of thousands of identical gene copies in one sample. We then match these sequences to bacterial genomes to identify which bacteria are present.

What are we looking for?

We extract DNA from a dog's faeces and prepare it for sequencing in our labs. This process involves amplifying the 16S-rRNA gene and creating a library, which is then sequenced. The 16S gene is ubiquitous in bacteria and highly conserved, meaning it is present across different bacterial species but with slight variations unique to each species.

During sequencing, we read the individual base pairs that constitute these variations within the 16S gene for each species. These sequences are then mapped using a reference database to confirm their identity.

There are thousands of different bacteria in your dog's gut; here are some of the key-players.

Meet the microbes

  • Bacteroides

    Bacteroides are involved in several functions including carbohydrate metabolism, immune system regulation and inflammation control.”

  • Clostridia

    Some Clostridium are disease-causing bacteria within this group, but they're not all bad. Some Clostridium bacteria make important contributions to your dog's health through gut functions and vitamin production.

  • Fusobacterium

    Fusobacterium play an important role in the digestion of protein to create amino acids; vital for your dog's health and wellbeing.

  • Lactobacillus

    Lactobacillus are key fibre degraders and many of these bacteria have beneficial probiotic capabilities. They have been reported to reduce the production of, or to be able to inactivate toxins produced by the likes of Salmonella, pathogenic Escherichia coli, and Clostridium perfringens.

  • Sutterella

    Sutterella help with the day-to-day functioning of the immune system, protecting your dog from potentially harmful diseases, microbes, and general inflammation.

  • Escherichia

    Some strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) are beneficial to dogs and are involved in vitamin production, carbohydrate fermentation, and the maintenance of gut homeostasis. However, other strains of E. coli can be pathogenic and cause gastrointestinal disease.

And a few of their friends...

  • Faecalibacterium

    Faecalibacterium bacteria ferment carbohydrates, contribute to the regulation of the immune system, and promote overall gut health. They help fortify the gut wall barrier and protect against pathogens. They also help reduce inflammation and produce vital energy for the gut through production of a compound known as butyrate and anti-inflammatory peptides.

  • Alloprevotella

    Alloprevotella help to digest complex carbohydrates and proteins. They have also been linked to improvements in obesity. Low levels may lead to impaired energy metabolism and predispose your dog to low and unhealthy body weight and amounts of fat.

  • Phascolarctobacterium

    Phascolarctobacterium are important bacteria which contribute to your dog's energy levels and metabolic health, helping with water and mineral absorption.

  • Collinsella

    Collinsella contribute to the maintenance of intestinal lining integrity and regulation of inflammation in the gut. Dogs experiencing issues such as diarrhoea often have elevated levels of Collinsella.

  • Megamonas

    Megamonas bacteria play vital roles in supporting your dog's immune system, helping protect them against harmful bacteria.

  • Prevotella

    Prevotella play an important role in the defence against growth of harmful bacteria, help to keep inflammation in check, and they ferment fibre and carbohydrates that produce important energy sources.

Pathogens in the Report

Not all bacteria are our friends

  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • Clostridium difficile
  • Clostridium perfringens
  • Salmonella enterica
  • Helicobacter pylori
Agxio Limited
Agxio
Global 100
Cambridge
SME News
S&P Global
Oxford Nanapore
ISM
Agxio Limited
Agxio
Global 100
Cambridge
SME News
S&P Global
Oxford Nanapore
ISM
From BIOME9 UK Lab

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