Microbiome Sequencing Services CapitalBiotech

Microorganisms inhabit human bodies, plants, soil, oceans, and many other environments. The collective community of microorganisms, together with their genetic information and functions, is known as the microbiome. Microbiome sequencing is widely used in medical research, agricultural breeding, food processing, environmental studies, and other fields. In human health research, the microbiome is sometimes described as the “second genome.” In particular, the gut microbiota plays an important role in host physiology and is closely associated with human health, making it a major focus of current research. Microbiome sequencing provides researchers with essential tools for exploring microbial community composition, function, and interactions across diverse hosts and environments.

Microbiome Sequencing Service Types

Advances in high-throughput microbiome sequencing enable comprehensive analysis of microbial communities in specific environments without isolating and culturing individual microorganisms. Approaches such as targeted 16S rDNA sequencing, full-length 16S rDNA sequencing, and metagenomic sequencing support parallel analysis of multiple samples to characterize microbial composition, community structure, evolutionary relationships, and functional potential.

CapitalBio offers the following advantages in microbiome sequencing services:

Advanced Sequencing Platforms: Our Illumina NovaSeq and HiSeq 2500 platforms support high-quality, cost-effective sequencing.
Comprehensive Coverage: We support targeted 16S rDNA sequencing, full-length 16S rDNA sequencing, and metagenomic sequencing, enabling integrated experimental design and data analysis.
Broad Applications: Flexible microbiome research strategies can be tailored to meet a wide range of study needs.

16s/18s/ITS

16S/18S/ITS amplicon sequencing uses universal or group-specific primers to amplify selected 16S rRNA gene, 18S rRNA gene, or ITS regions for microbial community profiling.

Shotgun Metagenomics Sequencing

Metagenomic sequencing analyzes the genetic material of an entire microbial community in a given environment. DNA is extracted directly from the sample and sequenced without isolating or culturing individual microorganisms.

Microbiome Sequencing Application

Medicine: Investigating associations between microbial community composition and function and human health or disease, including studies of the gut, stomach, oral cavity, and other body sites.
Agriculture: Studying microbial communities associated with plant growth, plant pathogens, and biological control in soil, root systems, and endophytic environments.
Animal Husbandry: Characterizing differences in microbial composition and function in the rumen and intestinal tract under different nutritional or immune conditions.
Environmental Treatment: Monitoring changes in microbial communities in wastewater, sludge, and other environmental treatment systems.
Industry: Characterizing changes in microbial communities and functions during fermentation processes, including distiller's grains, yogurt, and other cultured products.
Bioenergy: Investigating microbial composition and function in renewable biological resource systems, including activated sludge and marine microbial communities.

Application Cases:

Healthspan and lifespan extension by fecal microbiota transplantation into progeroid mice

Metagenomic and metabolomic analyses reveal distinct stage-specific phenotypes of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer

Meta-omics analysis of elite athletes identifies a performance-enhancing microbe that functions via lactate metabolism

Difference Between 16S/18S/ITS And Shotgun Metagenomics Sequencing

Targeted vs. Comprehensive Analysis: 16S rRNA gene sequencing (primarily for bacteria and archaea), 18S rRNA gene sequencing (for eukaryotes), and ITS sequencing (commonly for fungi) target specific marker regions for microbial identification and classification. In contrast, shotgun metagenomic sequencing analyzes DNA across the microbial community, enabling broader taxonomic and functional profiling without targeting a predefined marker.
Resolution and Diversity: Depending on the marker region, reference database, and community complexity, 16S, 18S, and ITS sequencing can provide taxonomic resolution ranging from higher taxonomic levels to genus or, in some cases, species. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing can provide higher taxonomic resolution and broader detection of microbial diversity, with strain-level resolution possible in suitable datasets
Functional Insights: Marker-gene sequencing is primarily used to profile microbial composition, whereas shotgun metagenomic sequencing can also characterize the functional potential of a microbial community by identifying genes and inferring metabolic pathways, antimicrobial resistance determinants, and other functional features.
Data Complexity and Analysis: Shotgun Metagenomics Sequencing typically generates substantially more data than targeted 16S, 18S, or ITS sequencing and therefore requires greater computational resources and more complex bioinformatics analysis. Its broader scope can provide a more detailed view of microbial communities but also increases data-processing and interpretation requirements.
Application-Specific Suitability: The optimal method depends on the study objective. Targeted 16S, 18S, or ITS sequencing is often suitable for taxonomic profiling and diversity studies, whereas shotgun metagenomic sequencing is generally preferred when broader taxonomic coverage and functional profiling are required.