Translational Microbiome Research and Clinical Application of Next-Generation Sequencing of Pathogens

The advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has revolutionized scientific approaches also in the field of microbiology. In order to translate the scientific discoveries of the past years into clinical practice, we are working on ways to implement and use NGS to inform healthcare practitioners at the bedside. We have performed NGS in several nosocomial infectious disease scenarios. In addition, NGS is used as a means to genetically characterize novel, emerging, and non-model microorganisms in a clinical context. Within the framework of a multidisciplinary study with the acronym IMAGINE (Identification of microbial antibiotics to protect the physiologic microbiota at body surfaces), we analyze microbiomes of a variety of body compartments, such as skin, gut, conjunctiva, gall bladder and the oral cavities. The aim is to compare the microbiomes of healthy individuals with those of diseased patients, thereby uncovering pathogens that prolong or worsen a certain common disease, and treat those specifically. On the other hand, we aim to detect beneficial commensal microbiota. Many commensal bacteria are known to produce secondary metabolites, that have a protective effect on the human host. In the course of this study, we strive to detect these microbiota and analyze the potential of novel antibiotic compounds, which they might harbor. If you are interested to learn more about this part of IMMH research, please feel free to contact us.