New paper shows how to predict prebiotic responders using metagenomics and machine learning

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Although several prebiotic substrates have been consistently shown to provide health benefits in human clinical trials, researchers have often struggled to account for responders and non-responders. Observations of variable responses to prebiotics have led to interest in identifying, a priori, prebiotic responders and non-responders as a basis for personalized nutrition.

In a new study led by Synbiotic Health co-founder Bob Hutkins, shotgun metagenomics and machine learning tools were used to identify microbial gene signatures from adult subjects that could be used to predict prebiotic responders and non-responders.

The results confirmed that in general, bifidobacteria were enriched by the prebiotic substrates XOS, FOS, and inulin, and that individuals also showed variable responses to these substrates. The researchers trained classifiers to predict prebiotic responders, and then demonstrated the utility of the model in a human prebiotic consumption trial.

Overall, the findings from this study highlight how pre-intervention profiling of individual microbiomes can be used in a practical manner to enhance the prebiotic response.

Read the study here.

Tolerance and adaptation to dietary fiber linked to Bifidobacterium longum

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Research from Synbiotic Health co-founder Prof. Jens Walter and collaborators showed that consumers can ‘adapt’ to high doses of arabinoxylan, an emerging prebiotic fiber.

In a new study, participants consumed high doses of arabinoxylan experienced symptoms for the first 3 weeks of the trial, but by the 6th week, symptoms had returned to baseline. Interestingly, tolerance to arabinoxylan was linked to increased levels of Bifidobacterium longum in the gut.

This work, published in Gut Microbes, forms an important basis for the development of personalized microbiome-targeted strategies. In a collaboration between APC Microbiome Ireland and Synbiotic Health, the arabinoxylan-enriched strains of B. longum are now being studied for next-generation probiotic and synergistic synbiotic applications.

Read the published paper here.

 

Synbiotic Health Team to Attend Probiota 2024

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The Synbiotic Health Team will be attending Probiota Americas + IPA World Congress, June 10-12, 2024 in Salt Lake City, USA to participate in this exciting gathering of microbiome science and business. The company is a proud Gold Sponsor of the event.

In Salt Lake City the team will be sharing information about the company’s flagship strain, B. adolescentis iVS-1®, which is an important new probiotic with increasing scientific data to show its efficacy.

Scientific co-founder Bob Hutkins will also be hosting a roundtable at the event.

Contact us here to schedule a meeting on site!

iVS-1® lactose intolerance clinical study completed

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Synbiotic Health is pleased to announce that a randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial to assess the ability of its flagship probiotic strain (B. adolescentis iVS-1®) to reduce symptoms associated with lactose intolerance was recently completed by researchers at Purdue University.

This pilot study, soon to be submitted for publication, showed that participants who consumed iVS-1® had improved symptom scores compared to the placebo group. The genome of iVS-1® was previously found to feature genes involved in lactose metabolism, and this trial provides important real-world evidence for its potential application for improving symptoms of lactose intolerance in humans.

New paper describes the complete genome of B. adolescentis iVS-1®

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Scientists from Synbiotic Health have published the complete genome of B. adolescentis iVS-1® in the ASM journal, Microbiology Resource Announcements. The paper, published in December 2023, reveals novel traits for this important probiotic microbe.

Although the draft genome of B. adolescentis iVS-1® was obtained several years ago, now the complete genome sequence has filled in the gaps. The paper reports that iVS-1® contains multiple genes encoding for lactose metabolism and other potentially beneficial traits, including production of folate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This strain also contains stress response genes, as well as the metabolic capacity to consume a wide variety of carbohydrates, including FODMAPs (which cause digestive problems in those with irritable bowel syndrome).

The company scientists hope the complete genome will help shape future clinical trials on this important, emerging strain.

Read the full paper here.

Synbiotic Health Discovers New Potential Health Benefits for its Flagship Ecologically Advanced Probiotic® Strain B. adolescentis iVS-1®

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Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts Presents Synbiotic Health with the 2022 Governor’s Bioscience Award

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Synbiotic Health is delighted to announce that its team has received the Bio Nebraska 2022 Governor’s Bioscience Award, which recognizes companies making significant contributions to the Nebraska bioscience industry. CEO Tim Brummels received this prestigious award in a presentation ceremony at Bio Nebraska’s Annual Meeting on Oct. 20, 2022, in Omaha, Nebraska.

Governor Pete Ricketts, who presented the award to Synbiotic Health, highlighted the company’s solid science: “The University of Nebraska scientists who co-founded Synbiotic Health have dedicated their careers to better understanding microbiology and food science. They’ve drawn on insights gleaned through decades of research to develop breakthrough products clinically proven to improve digestive health.”

The award’s selection criteria range from conducting innovative research to product development to investment that grows the bioscience community in Nebraska. The recipient is selected based on input from Bio Nebraska Board of Directors and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, as well as conversations with state leaders. Synbiotic Health has been a member of Bio Nebraska since 2019.

See the official press release here.

Synbiotic Health Team Welcomes Mallory Van Haute as Lab Scientist

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With a decade’s experience in food and microbiology, Van Haute will help execute on Synbiotic Health’s ambitious R&D program

LINCOLN, Neb.  – October 1, 2021 – Microbiome-based ingredient company Synbiotic Health welcomes team member Mallory Van Haute this week in the role of Laboratory Scientist. Van Haute brings ten years’ scientific experience in food and gastrointestinal microbiology, having worked in multiple academic laboratories at University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She has been Research Manager at the Nebraska Food for Health Center and has more than a dozen peer-reviewed publications.

In the role of Scientist at Synbiotic Health, Van Haute will report to CSO Dr. Zac Lewis and carry out research and development activities in the company’s innovation pipeline. She will lead lab work and bioinformatic projects to guide product development and deliver new health-promoting ingredients to market. She holds an M.S. in Food Science & Technology from University of Nebraska – Lincoln and is nearing completion of her Ph.D.

“Mallory has worked closely with some of our founders for many years, and brings exceptional knowledge and experience in diet-microbiome interactions to our team” says CSO Dr. Zac Lewis. “We could not be happier that she is joining us. Her presence increases our capacity to discover new ecologically advanced probiotic strains, design intelligently paired synbiotics, and rationally target the aspects of human health where our product development approach will yield superior results for consumers.

About Synbiotic Health

Synbiotic Health was founded in 2018 by four well-known microbiome research scientists to develop targeted microbiome ingredients to support health. Based on over 10 years of research, Synbiotic Health will develop and commercialize Ecologically Advanced Probiotics™ as well as rationally designed Synergistic Synbiotics™.

The foundation of Synbiotic Health’s research focuses on understanding the gut environment and its ecological framework: how probiotics and other microbiome-based ingredients interact with and influence the resident microbes in the gut. Synbiotic Health’s approach considers the entire ecosystem and the specific traits and functions necessary for microbiome-altering ingredients to perform and improve human health.

The Scientific Founder team includes Dr. Robert Hutkins and Dr. Andy Benson with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Food for Health Center; Dr. Jens Walter with APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork; and Dr. Tom Burkey, an animal scientist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Synbiotic Health will commercialize its first ecologically-advanced probiotic – iVS-1™ Advanced Probiotic™ – in 2021 and is in the process of completing additional clinical studies to further define the health benefits of additional novel ingredients.

For more information, please contact:

Kristina Campbell

Kristina@synbiotichealth.com

Thomas Auchtung, PhD, joins Synbiotic Health as Lab Manager

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Experienced microbiologist to manage the company’s microbiome-focused research and development platform

LINCOLN, Neb.  – August 3, 2021 – Microbiome-based ingredient company Synbiotic Health is pleased to welcome Dr. Thomas Auchtung to the team in the key role of Laboratory Manager. Auchtung comes to Synbiotic Health with a wealth of microbiology research experience and scientific talent. He holds a PhD from Harvard University and joins the company after spending three years as Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science and Technology at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Auchtung will manage internal laboratory operations and external testing to execute on the company’s product development and improvement strategy, as the company prepares to release its first commercially available ingredient, the iVS-1 Advanced Probiotic™ strain. The author of 19 peer-reviewed publications, Auchtung has previously worked in the labs of Joseph Petrosino at Baylor College of Medicine, Robert Britton at Michigan State University, Colleen Cavanaugh at Harvard University, Alan Grossman at MIT, and Robert Hausinger at Michigan State University.

“Tommy brings an impressive breadth of scientific experience from working in leading academic labs,” says Zac Lewis, CSO of Synbiotic Health. “We are delighted to have him join our growing company to help develop our unique portfolio of ecologically-designed ingredients. Having him lead our internal discovery and bench research activities will let us continue to bring truly innovative and disruptive offerings to the market for the long term. This capability will help position us as the leading science-based and data-driven strain provider in the probiotic industry; delivering demonstrably superior ecology-based technology as envisioned by our founders.”

About Synbiotic Health

Synbiotic Health was founded in 2018 by four well-known microbiome research scientists to develop ecologically-advanced microbiome ingredients for improved health. Based on over 10 years of research, Synbiotic Health will commercialize Advanced Probiotics™ as well as Synergistic Synbiotics™ – complementary combinations of probiotics with fiber and/or prebiotics.

The foundation of Synbiotic Health’s research focuses on understanding the gut environment and its ecological framework: how probiotics and other microbiome-based ingredients interact with and influence the resident microbes in the gut. Synbiotic Health’s approach considers the entire ecosystem and the specific traits and functions necessary for microbiome-altering ingredients to perform and improve human health.

The Scientific Founder team includes Dr. Robert Hutkins and Dr. Andy Benson with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Food for Health Center; Dr. Jens Walter with APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork; and Dr. Tom Burkey, an animal scientist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Synbiotic Health will commercialize its first ecologically-advanced probiotic – iVS-1™ Advanced Probiotic™ – in 2021 and is in the process of completing additional clinical studies to further define the health benefits of additional novel ingredients.

For more information, please contact:

Kristina Campbell

Kristina@synbiotichealth.com

Faculty-Led Startup Takes Aim at Improving Gut Health

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This is a press release from NUtech Ventures, first published on the website of University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Nebraska faculty have founded a university spin-off company, Synbiotic Health, to develop a combination of beneficial gut bacteria and the fuel that feeds them.

A synbiotic, the company’s namesake, refers to the mixture of beneficial bacteria and fiber-like fuel that may be more effective at delivering health benefits when paired together. Working with NUtech Ventures, the university’s technology commercialization affiliate, the startup company has licensed its first synbiotic strains and plans to begin human clinical trials next year.

The company’s founding members include Nebraska’s Bob Hutkins, Andy Benson and Tom Burkey, as well as the University of Alberta’s Jens Walters and CEO Tim Brummels. The team formed Synbiotic Health with the goal of commercializing synbiotic combinations as ingredients for food and beverage companies.

The Nebraska researchers have long been studying how fiber-like prebiotics can support the growth of probiotics, beneficial bacteria that reside in the gastrointestinal tract. Their research also focuses on pairing the right prebiotic with the right probiotic, which may help good bacteria stick around long enough to have health benefits.

“We’re excited to provide a scientific foundation that supports the commercialization of safe, effective synbiotics,” Brummels said. “The gut microbiome, and its impact on human health, is a key product-development platform for a number of leading nutritional companies.”

According to food scientist Andy Benson, the partnership with Synbiotic Health is also an important achievement for the Nebraska Food for Health Center. The center focuses on developing foods with proven health benefits, particularly those that affect the human gut microbiome.

“This partnership demonstrates the center’s commitment to translating and commercializing research-based products,” said Benson, presidential chair and center director. “These synbiotics are a rapidly emerging class of ‘next generation’ probiotics that can ultimately improve human and animal health.”