At NIZO, we have long term experience in detailed functional characterization by genome research of lactic acid bacteria and Bacillus and, more recently also in characterization of gut and skin commensal organisms. We offer our customers:
- Whole genome sequencing of single bacterial strains, strain collections and bacterial communities.
- Genome assembly and annotation on single genome level, using our software pipeline and visualization tools tuned towards the interpretation of genomics data.
- Analyzing phylogenetic relationships and gene content between strains using our comparative genomics software pipeline to compare multiple genomes combing from, for example, culture collections.
- Studying/Indentifying genotype (gene) to phenotype (function) associations using our in-house developed gene trait matching algorithms.
- Predicting possible intervention strategies to influence the population with compounds obtained from comparing strains with different in vivo behavior (e.g. pathogens vs. commensals).
- Functional interpretation of genome sequences with respect to properties such as probiotic function, spoilage behavior (e.g. bacteriospores) or metabolic functionality using dedicated genomics tools and databases.
- Validating strain functionality using transcriptomics (analysis of gene expression) and proteomics (analysis of protein production).
- Safety assessment of a strain with respect to virulence and antibiotic resistance, using our in-house databases and search tools.
- Identification of new strain functionalityand mechanistic understanding of food and health processes, using our expertise on microbiology, food processing, nutrition and immunology.