Phylogene and the CEA agree microbiota analysis collaboration

09-May-2022 - Last updated on 09-May-2022 at 11:36 GMT

Phylogene and The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) are to form a research collaboration to develop a range of microbiota analysis techniques.

The pact, announced last week, aims to discover improved techniques to detect the changes seen in the functional traits of microbiota as part of the DeepMicro project.

“We are delighted to share this project with our colleagues at the CEA around metaproteomics, which I remind you is the only omics capable of affecting the microbiota and its environment simultaneously,” explains Gilbert Skorski, CEO of Phylogene.

“This will allow us, through the optimisation of hardware configurations and data processing to improve our performance in terms of time, depth and delivering of results.

“This allows us to understand the effects and mechanisms of microbiota which for the moment remain limited to description by clinical practice and to potential by metagenomics.”

Medical applications

Phylogene, a Nîmes-based biotechnology firm, says the collaboration and the development of cutting-edge techniques will prove beneficial to such industries as medicine.

This is due to the detailed analysis enabled of the intestinal, oral, ocular, cancer or pulmonary microbiomes, of which the understanding of the microbiota mechanisms and functioning can then be deduced.

“The functional exploration of microbiota by metaproteomics is a key to grasp to better understand these complex biological systems,” adds Jean Armengaud, leader of the DeepMicro project at the CEA.

“Our know-how in this field and our technologies are recognised by the international scientific community.

“The field of application of the functional exploration of microbiomes is particularly broad,” Aremengaud says.

“We are enthusiastic about the idea of progressing in this field with Phylogene, a pioneering private partner recognised for the study of microbiota.”

The DeepMicro project

As part of activities the DeepMicro project is involved in, Phylogene recently revealed details of a high-resolution nano LCMS/MS quantitative proteomic technique that could help discover potential molecular targets and better map mechanisms in the ageing process.

The technique could also have its uses in the cosmetic industry, where proteomics can potentially dissect the mechanisms of molecular action of an active ingredient.

This could prove highly useful for substantiation and understanding of the damage done by UV rays or strengthening of the skin barrier.

In March 2021, Phylogene became part of The Microbiota Promotion Alliance, a collection of fifteen public and private organisations that includes research institutes, companies, and competitiveness clusters.

The Alliance’s primary aim is to promote the French microbiota ecosystem, building a position to make France a European leader in the development, production and marketing of scientific and therapeutic innovations.

“It is essential to immediately structure a microbiota sector in France,” members of the Microbiota Promotion Alliance said.

“This market is not only strategic but also extremely buoyant in terms of investment, jobs and France's international influence.

“It is crucial to build a common approach with all the players involved, and quickly! This is the raison d'être of the Microbiota Promotion Alliance, which aims to develop but must already face up to the first crucial challenges, particularly in terms of the regulatory and economic environments."