Research into Human, Animal, Plant, and Environmental Microbiomes has exploded recently and new tools are being developed

to study these communities, the types of microbes present,as well as the dynamics (stability or variability) of the communities. 

While metagenomic studies have revealed immense diversity, additional tools are required to understand the community 

structure, function, and their interaction with host environments.

Biolog has unique solutions and choices for metabolic profiling of bacterial communities, as well as individual strains of

interest, including those that are anaerobic or microaerophilic.

Microbiome Analysis Using Phenotypic Profiling

•  Provides a different perspective on microbiomes based on metabolism 

   which may predict the phenotypic behavior better than metagenomic 

   sequencing

•  Detects changes in the relative metabolic rates of various substrates 

   (polysaccharides, sugars, proteins, amino acids, carboxylic acids, fatty 

   acids)

•  Detects changes in the relative sensitivity to anti-bacterials and other 

   toxic compounds 

•  May be used to examine other important aspects of microbial 

   communities such as toxin production

•  Is easy to perform in 96 well plates pre-coated with metabolic substrates 

   or inhibitory chemicals

1.  ANAEROBIC COMMUNITY ANALYSIS  

   Option #1:  AN (Anaerobic) MicroPlates:

   •  A 96 well plate containing 95 carbon sources specifically selected for anaerobic bacteria using a colorimetric redox dye.

   •  Plates can be read in the OmniLog instrument which provides important advantages for throughput, kinetics, and accessing 

      Biolog data analysis software. Plates can also be read on the MicroStation or other microplate readers

   •  Results are obtained in 24 hours or less, usually within 8 hours

   Option #2:  Phenotype MicroArray MicroPlates:

   •  Collection of 20 defined plates representing 1920 phenotypic tests to investigate aspects of cellular metabolism, as well as

      sensitivity to a broad range of microbial inhibitors  

   •  In this method, these assays are growth-based and use turbidity rather than dye formation. Assays take typically 2 to 4 days

      depending on the specific anaerobe and their growth rate

   •  The plates can be read in a microplate reader (OD-750) to measure cell density in the wells 

     For a listing of chemicals in Phenotype MicroArrays MicroPlates 1-10 (metabolic panels)    click here. 

     For a listing of chemicals and antimicrobials in Phenotype MicroArrays MicroPlates 11-20 (chemical sensitivity panels)     click here. 

   (Both of the above options require the use of an anaerobic chamber for inoculating the MicroPlates)

2.  AEROBIC COMMUNITY ANALYSIS

   Option #1:  EcoPlates

   Used by Microbial Ecologists for more than 25 years to assess the diversity of microbial communities. The EcoPlate contains

   31 different carbon sources, repeated 3 times.The plate can be used for 3 different samples – or 1 sample in triplicate. 

   Option #2:  GEN III MicroPlate

   Used for identification of more than 1,500 aerobic bacterial species. It contains 71 carbon source and 23 chemical sensitivity

   tests chosen to optimally differentiate aerobic bacteria.It can also be used to assess microbial community function. 

   Option #3:  Phenotype MicroArray Plates

   •  Collection of 20 defined plates representing 1920 phenotypic tests to investigate aspects of cellular metabolism, as well as

      sensitivity to a broad range of microbial inhibitors. In addition to profiling carbon metabolism, these plates also offer the

      option to profile nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur metabolism.

   •  When used with the appropriate redox dye, optimal results are achieved using an OmniLog (incubator, automation, reader)

      and associated software

     For a listing of chemicals in Phenotype MicroArrays MicroPlates 1-10 (metabolic panels)    click here. 

     For a listing of chemicals and antimicrobials in Phenotype MicroArrays MicroPlates 11-20 (chemical sensitivity panels)     click here. 

3.  SINGLE STRAIN IDENTIFICATION AND METABOLIC ANALYSIS

   Multiple different plates can be used for species level identification of aerobes, anaerobes, yeast and filamentous fungi. 

   In addition, all of these organisms can be used with the Phenotype MicroArray Plates to provide a full analysis of the 

   cells’ metabolic and chemical and sensitivity phenotypes.

   Plate options include: 

    GEN III MicroPlate       (Aerobes) 

    AN MicroPlate            (Anaerobes)

    YT MicroPlate             (Yeasts)

    FF MicroPlate             (Filamentous Fungi)

    Phenotype MicroArray Plates (Detailed Phenotypic Characterization)

                 Gut Microbiome - New Approaches to Analysis from Biolog on Vimeo.