The Microbiome in Health and Wellness Hackathon brought together an international panel of experts from a diverse range of fields including metagenomics, business, and computer science.
For those who missed the hackathon sessions, in this blog, we will be covering glimpses from the expert talks – where we will cover topics such as what is human microbiome? What role does it play in managing overweight and obesity? How does probiotics improve women’s wellness? How does the skin microbiome of newborns differ from adults?
What Is The Human Microbiome? – Introduction To The Field
The human microbiome is a complex ecosystem of microbes that live in and on the human body. The human microbiome plays a key role in maintaining health and preventing disease by impacting nutrition and metabolism, as well as immune function.
As a part of the hackathon session, Mr. Kumar Sankaran, Founder & CEO, of Leucine Rich Bio introduced the participants to the field of the human microbiome. To get a glimpse of his talk, watch the video given below:
The Unsung Story Of Good Bacteria And Human Gut Health
Amongst all the microbes present in our body, one particular group that you will often hear about is — the bacteria! Did you know if we were to take all the bacteria out of your body, you would weigh less than 10% of your current weight? The human gut is the home of trillions of bacteria, and it is increasingly being researched for its role in health.
In her talk, Dr. Sonali Khanra, Co-founder & President at Ikiminds discussed some of the important functions that bacteria play in improving human health. She also discussed the importance of the characterization of individuals for personalized nutrition intervention. To get a glimpse of her talk, watch the video given below:
How Often Does My Gut Microbiome Change?
An interesting question that often comes to our mind is – how often does our gut microbiome change? The gut microbiome changes every time we eat, drink, or take antibiotics. It also changes when we travel and when our environment changes.
In his talk, Mr. Kumar Sankaran, Founder & CEO, of Leucine Rich Bio also discussed the factors that contribute to changing the gut microbiome composition, the frequency at which the gut microbiome changes, and how we can improve our microbiome. To get a glimpse of his talk, watch the video given below:
So now that we have gained a basic understanding of human microbiomes and human health, let us try to understand the technology used to study the human microbiomes and the various applications of the field.
Microbial Sequencing – Some Important Clinical & Non-Clinical Considerations That We Need To Keep In Mind
The field of clinical microbiology has undergone a significant transformation thanks to next-generation sequencing (NGS), which has replaced the numerous laborious and time-consuming methods currently used with a single, comprehensive diagnostic test.
As the technology continues to bridge the gap between microbial research and the practice of diagnostic microbiology, Mr. Rajavarman Kittu, Senior Bioinformatics Specialist, at Premas Life Sciences discussed what are some of the clinical and non-clinical considerations that one needs to keep in mind while performing microbial sequencing. To get a glimpse of his talk, watch the video given below:
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Application: Overweight and Obesity – What Role Does Microbiome Have To Play?
Overweight and obesity are major causes of health concerns worldwide as they contribute to a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases. Recent studies have indicated that lifestyle and diet changes can play a major role in weight loss management.
In his talk, Dr. Shibhichakravarthy Kannan, CEO – Oncophenomics discussed a real-world weight management program that led to significant improvements in gut microbiome diversity and composition. He further explained how examinations of dysbiosis-related microbiome signatures can improve the future of personalized nutrition efforts, wherein, we can orient the microbiome towards a more favorable community composition. To get a glimpse of his talk, watch the video given below:
Application: Vaginal Health Of Pregnant Women – What Role Does Microbiome Have To Play?
The vaginal microbiome is an ecosystem of microorganisms that live in the vagina. During pregnancy, the vaginal microbiome changes dramatically. But did you know that the dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome is associated with complications of pregnancy, in particular an increased risk of preterm birth?
In his talk, Dr. J.B Prajapati, Chairman at Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence, Institute of Rural Management Anand, discussed some important topics such as the introduction of the topic to the participants, growing importance of studying bacterial vaginosis and various treatment options available for vaginal disorders. To get a glimpse of his talk, watch the video given below:
Nowadays, there is a growing body of evidence that supports the use of probiotics for women's wellness. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Their applications include vaginal health and general wellness as well! In his talk, Dr. Prajapati also sheds light on this topic. To get a glimpse of his talk, watch the video given below:
Introduction To Human Skin Microbiome: Everything You Need To Know About The Field
Another interesting area of the human microbiome that is recently gaining attraction is the human skin microbiome. The human skin microbiome has been studied for more than a decade, but there are still many unanswered questions about its composition, function, and role in health and disease. The challenges in exploring the human skin microbiome include understanding how it changes over time as well as how it varies across different populations.
In her talk, Dr. Kimberly Capone, Chief Scientific Officer of FemTech Healthcare discussed the challenges, pitfalls, and opportunities in exploring the human skin microbiome. To get a glimpse of her talk, watch the video given below:
How Does The Skin Microbiome Of Newborns Differ From Adults?
Did you know the skin microbiome changes over time as the individual is exposed to more environmental factors? But how does the microbiome composition differ across newborns and adults? Dr. Capone has the answers! To get a glimpse of her talk, watch the video given below:
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Microbiome For Skin Care: What Role Does It Have In The Beauty Industry?
Nowadays, it’s not only gut bacteria that are being studied. Researchers have begun to investigate the relationship between skin bacteria and acne, eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. Some people might be surprised to hear that there are more microorganisms living on our skin than we have cells in our bodies!
In her talk, Dr. Raya Khanin, Co-founder, LifeNome discussed why the microbiome is a huge trend in the beauty industry, major start-ups in the field, and some important opportunities to harness the power of microbiomes in the beauty industry. To get a glimpse of her talk, watch the video given below:
Her talk was extremely interesting and engaging for the participants! Here is a glimpse into the Q&A session where participants shared their queries –
Gut Microbiome Business – What Are Some Of The Challenges That The Field Is Facing?
The field of the microbiome has received increasing attention over the last 15 years. Did you know, between 2013 and 2017, the number of publications focusing on gut microbiota represented four-fifths of the total number of publications?
As the field continues to grow, the human microbiome market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24% and reach USD 1,800 million by 2027. For those interested in entering the field of microbiome business, Dr. Sonali Khanra, Co-founder & President at Ikiminds discussed some of the current challenges that the field is facing in terms of accessibility, affordability, and actionability. To get a glimpse of her talk, watch the video given below:
OmicsLogic Research Fellowship Program (Metagenomics Specialization Track)
If you too are interested to enter the field of metagenomics to carry out a research project and pitch your idea, enroll for the OmicsLogic Research Fellowship Program (Metagenomics Specialization Track). The Research Fellowship program has been designed to help young researchers and students take advantage of the bioinformatics resources for the analysis of complex life science data and become versed in bioinformatics. The fellowship program will offer a combination of online resources and mentor guidance to prepare you and help you complete a bioinformatics project.
To know more, visit: https://edu.omicslogic.com/omics-logic-research-fellowship
If you have any queries about the program details or registration process, please reach out to us at marketing@omicslogic.com.
Further Reading
- All You Need To Know About Microbiome In Health & Wellness Hackathon – https://edu.omicslogic.com/blog/all-you-need-to-know-about-microbiome-in-health-wellness-hackathon
- Microbiome in Health and Wellness Hackathon: Associated Resources & Potential Student Project Outcomes – https://edu.omicslogic.com/blog/microbiome-in-health-and-wellness-hackathon-associated-resources-potential-student-project-outcomes
- Microbiome & Technology: Recap of Week 1 Microbiome in Health and Wellness Hackathon – https://edu.omicslogic.com/blog/microbiome-technology-recap-of-week-1-microbiome-in-health-and-wellness-hackathon
