Collaborations in Microbiome Research: An Academic Scientist’s Dilemma
Posted 10th April 2017 by Jane Williams
Knowledge is the key to innovation. When companies and universities collaborate to push the frontiers of knowledge, they become a powerful engine for innovation and economic growth (Santoro & Betts, 2002).
Probiotics on the Skin: An Undiscovered World
Posted 5th April 2017 by Jane Williams
For many years, the gut microbiome has been driving the development of novel probiotic treatments. However, as the first scientifically validated products start to hit the market and more data from clinical trials become available (Olle, 2013), interest in other types of microbiomes is increasing.
Cross-Cultural Research into Microbiome Therapeutics for Cancer
Posted 31st March 2017 by Jane Williams
While microbiome therapeutics to support healthy gut function have garnered the lion’s share of attention, exciting approaches to oncology and anti-inflammatory therapeutics presage a new golden age for drug development, akin to the early commercialisation of chemically synthesised antibiotics from soil biofilms in the mid-20th century.
Mushroom Polysaccharides: Promising Prebiotics for Healthy Gut Microbiota
Posted 17th March 2017 by Jane Williams
Edible fungi or mushrooms are widely used as healthy food and nutraceutical products due to their high nutritive and medicinal value. The world production and consumption of edible and medicinal mushrooms has experienced a steady increase over the last few decades (>25-fold increase in 35 years from 1978 – 2012) and is projected to grow at 9.5% annually from 2014 to 2019, tripling the world GDP growth from 2013 – 2018 (2.5 – 3.0%).
Microbiome Research and Development: An Open Letter From Karin Loser
Posted 3rd March 2017 by Jane Williams
Dear colleague,
The skin acts as an interface between the body and the external environment, protecting us from infections or toxins. It is also home to various microbial communities. The balance of commensal bacteria is indicative of healthy skin, with dysbiosis having been linked to various skin diseases, such as psoriasis. A high relative abundance of Actinobacteria has been detected in healthy human skin but inflammatory lesions from psoriasis patients are characterised by an over-representation of Proteobacteria and an under-representation of Actinobacteria.
Identifying New Probiotics Using In Vivo Models
Posted 8th February 2017 by Jane Williams
Dysbiotic characteristics are increasingly attributed to a range of serious, and sometimes fatal, digestive disorders affecting humans. These include inflammatory bowel diseases, chemotherapy-induced mucositis, radiation enteritis, NSAID-enteropathy and colon cancer.
Microbiome Research and Development: An Open Letter From Philip Hugenholtz
Posted 3rd February 2017 by Jane Williams
Dear colleague,
The structure and function of the human gut microbiome is being revealed through culture-independent molecular techniques. Many studies have found a great deal of interpersonal variability due to factors such as diet, age and ethnicity. However, there are a small number of relatively abundant microbial species that appear to be widespread in the human population.
Translating Skin Microbiome Research into Clinical Products
Posted 25th January 2017 by Jane Williams
Collaboration between academia and industry
It has been demonstrated many times in the past that academia and industry, working in tandem, can achieve results to their mutual benefit much faster than when they work in isolation. However, one critical challenge for academic researchers is finding the right partner to commercialise their technology.