Spatial sequencing platform for studying microbiome community structure

This technology is a metagenomics platform for high-resolution spatial analysis of microbial communities that can be used to identify the composition and spatial organization of environmental and human microbiota.

Unmet Need: Comprehensive method for identifying microbial community structure

Microbe-microbe interactions are dependent on their spatial organization. Current methods to characterize microbial communities, including fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and Drop-seq single cell RNA-sequencing, probe only a limited number of species and do not preserve community spatial structure, respectively. Although current tissue clearing methods allow 3D fluorescence imaging and antibody staining of whole tissues, such technologies do not enable deep sequencing.

The Technology: Comprehensive and spatial platform for studying microbial communities

This technology uncovers the spatial structure of microbial communities by leveraging barcoded metagenomic sequencing. The community spatial structure of the microbial sample is first preserved by impregnation with a polymerized matrix and subsequently fractured into clusters. Clusters are encapsulated in microdroplets and then barcoded for next-generation sequencing. Statistical analyses of enriched microbial pairs can then be used to reveal the spatial interactions of microbes in the microbiome.

This technology has been successfully applied to study spatial interactions in the mouse microbiome.

Applications:

• Platform for routine monitoring of dynamic environmental and human microbiome community changes
• Research tool for identifying interspecies metabolic interactions
• Research tool for identifying disease-related and modifiable microbe interactions in the human microbiome

Advantages:

• Utilizes comprehensive sequencing
• Conserves microbial community structure
• High-throughput

Lead Inventor:

Harris Wang, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Related Publications:

• Sheth RU, Li M, Jian W, Sims PA, Leong KW, Wang HH. “Spatial metagenomic characterization of microbial biogeography in the gut” Nat Biotechnol. 2019 Aug; 37(8): 877-883.

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU16351

• Licensing Contact: Cynthia Lang