Functional microbiome, prebiotic synergy & defined microbial consortia platform for metabolic health in the GLP-1 era

We provide an integrated platform to characterize, design, and validate microbiome-based solutions for gut–metabolic health. Our approach combines functional microbiome profiling, prebiotic substrate evaluation, microbial metabolite analysis, host-response assays, and the development of defined consortia of commensal and probiotic microbes to modulate satiety signaling, gut barrier integrity, bile acid metabolism, and inflammatory balance. GLP-1 receptor agonists and incretin-targeting therapies are reshaping appetite, nutrient flow, and metabolic physiology. As caloric intake declines, the availability and type of fermentable substrates reaching the colon change, altering microbial metabolism, bile acid pools, and satiety signaling. Foods and supplements must therefore deliver metabolic efficiency while sustaining beneficial microbial activity under reduced intake conditions. Gut physiology is governed by microbial networks and the substrates that fuel them. Prebiotic fibers and fermentable compounds can steer microbial metabolism, while defined consortia provide functional stability and reproducibility. Together, they enable predictable production of metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, secondary bile acids, and indole derivatives linked to satiety, gut barrier integrity, and metabolic resilience. Our platform enables partners to move beyond compositional microbiome data toward mechanistically validated, ecosystem-based solutions that integrate microbes and substrates. Functional profiling & biomarker discovery • Shotgun metagenomics and targeted profiling to identify functional shifts in microbial communities • Multi-omic integration to identify biomarkers predictive of metabolic and gut barrier outcomes • Responder/non-responder stratification to support precision nutrition strategies Prebiotic substrate evaluation We assess fermentable fibers and bioactive substrates for their ability to: • Promote beneficial metabolite production (e.g., butyrate, propionate) • Support defined consortium stability and cross-feeding networks • Modulate bile acid transformations and lipid metabolism • Enhance mucosal barrier function and anti-inflammatory signaling Defined consortium design We develop consortia of commensal and probiotic strains selected for complementary functional traits, including: • Cross-feeding networks that amplify beneficial metabolite production • Bile acid transformation and lipid metabolism modulation • Mucin utilization and barrier-supportive metabolite generation • Immunomodulatory signaling relevant to metabolic inflammation Functional validation • In vitro epithelial and gut barrier models to assess permeability, tight junction integrity, and inflammatory signaling • Evaluation of combined prebiotic–consortium effects on host pathways linked to satiety and metabolic regulation • Stability testing under varying dietary substrates and reduced caloric intake conditions Proof to date • Peer-reviewed publications linking microbiome function and fermentable substrates to host metabolic and inflammatory markers • Validated assays demonstrating improved barrier integrity and reduced inflammatory signaling in response to microbial metabolites and prebiotic fermentation products • Demonstrated cross-feeding interactions enhancing SCFA and bile acid metabolite production in co-culture systems with targeted substrates • Pilot datasets indicating improved functional stability and metabolite output from defined consortia supported by specific prebiotic fibers We are seeking collaborators to: • Validate prebiotic fibers and fermentable substrates for metabolic, satiety, and gut barrier outcomes • Co-develop synbiotic solutions combining defined microbial consortia with targeted prebiotics • Evaluate ingredient–microbiome interactions under reduced caloric intake and GLP-1 use scenarios • Identify microbiome biomarkers to support clinical endpoints and health claims • Develop precision nutrition strategies based on responder stratification

Keywords Microbiome; prebiotics; synbiotics; defined consortia; probiotics; commensals; metabolic health; GLP-1; satiety; bile acids; gut barrier; inflammation; precision nutrition; postbiotics; biomarker discovery; functional omics.