Historically, microbial transfer has been fecal but we are now moving towards transfer of lyophilized material either from feces or cultures. Microbial transfer studies involve preclinical models (humanized mouse models), as well as adult and pediatric patients. Current projects include the evaluation of FMT in inflammatory bowel disease in adults and children, developing microbial consortia for specific disease indications and microbiome derived probiotics. A new lyophilization facility will optimize methods for improved bacterial stability, long term storage and delivery.
This laboratory is dedicated to high throughput microbiome analysis with a particular emphasis on culturing the microbiota associated with human and laboratory animals. The facility includes three anaerobic and one hypoxic chamber for growth of in the absence or limiting oxygen concentrations, automated colony pickers and liquid handling for high throughput culturing and phenotyping of microorganisms. The lab has expertise in culturing almost all members of the human microbiome from a wide variety of sample types. We also have expertise in nucleic acid extraction from all types of biospecimens and clinical samples.
Contact us:
Dr. Michael Surette, Director – Email: surette@mcmaster.ca