BioVisible is specialised in analyses of complex microbial populations, such as intestinal microflora of humans and animals by using Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and Temperature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (TGGE). FISH is a taxonomic staining method in which fluorescent DNA probes hybridise to ribosomal RNA in whole cells.

The technique allows the immediate identification and enumeration of individual cells using an epifluorescence microscope or flowcytometer. FISH is culture independent and the test can be completed within 24 hours. TGGE is a gel-electrophoretic separation procedure for double stranded deoxyribonucleic acids (dsDNA) produced by primer directed DNA amplification.

Based on sequence variation, bands of equal size can be discriminated. The method is sensitive enough to separate DNA on basis of single point polymorphism’s. When applied to the 16S rRNA genes extracted from a mixed population of bacteria, a banding pattern is generated representing the gene fragments from all individual species of bacteria in that population.

TGGE is a very useful method in order to monitor the effect of probiotics and antibiotics as well as other drugs on the intestinal microflora of human and animals. See Technology highlight for more details. Also real time PCR can be used to monitor and quantify the presence of specific bacteria or even genes in the gut flora.

In order to make these advanced technologies available to its customers; BioVisible operates a dedicated and modern molecular laboratory. Applications can be found in the field of functional foods and feeds as well as in the field of the pharmaceutical industry to study the effect of newly developed drugs on intestinal flora.

If you would like to know more about the possibilities of our analyse services or you have an order you would like to place, please contact our gut flora analyse service: m.rest@biovisible.com