The increase in the current market demand, as well as the European guidelines on sustainability, and growth of databases, have aided the growth of the sector, and increased the understanding of metagenomic approaches in different sectors of our industry. In order to be able to reach all of them and contribute to this growth and development path, Microomics has reinforced its Sales Department in a wide and sustainable way, structuring it in Area Sales Representatives, under the supervision of a Sales Manager.

Currently, our sales representatives cover various regions of Spain, with the aim of meeting the growing demand in key sectors, as well as providing disruptive solutions, as a service company, but also, as a technology partner in the development of tools and new products.

This strategy allows us to consolidate our position within the biotechnology companies field, expand our areas of operations and services, reinforcing our brand and becoming a national benchmark.

Microomics continues to increase its presence in the main national events, this month in the agri-food and biotech sector.

We participate as Platinum Sponsor and with Stand (Nr. 5) in the Fourth International Legume Society Conference, to be held in Granada from 19 th to 22 nd September at the Palacio de Congresos de Granada.

And then, we will return to Barcelona to participate with stand (nr. 160) in BIOSPAIN, one of the largest international biotechnology congresses in Europe, to be held from 26 th to 28 th September at the Fira de Barcelona in Montjuïc.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in the health of individuals, which is why we must try to keep it in a balanced state, called eubiosis.

Recently, the Research Group on Integrated Pharmacology and Systems Neuroscience of the Hospital del Mar Institute for Medical Research (IMIM-Hospital del Mar) and the CIBER on Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBEROBN), in collaboration with Microomics Systems as microbiome experts, has published the first study that analyzes how maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can reduce the harmful effects of addictive alcohol consumption.

The study, which has funded the National Drug Plan of the Ministry of Health and has been published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, is the first to establish a direct relationship between bacteria living in the intestine, brain and addictive behavior. The researchers analyzed in mice the relationship between alcohol intake and the gut microbiota, which is already considered as an organ of the body. In this case, one group of animals received a week-long supplementation with a mixture of prebiotics and probiotics, a symbiotic, to stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in their gut, while another group, the control group, received a conventional feeding. All animals were then subjected to intermittent exposure to alcohol for 20 days, alternating alcohol consumption with that of symbiotic or water, in the case of the control group. At the end of this period, the supply of alcohol was interrupted for seven days, to be offered again and to analyze if there was a relapse in consumption.

The results of the tests show that those animals that had received prebiotic and probiotic feeding showed a lower escalation in alcohol consumption. In addition, the relapse after the interruption of alcohol intake was lower. This shows, according to Dr. Patricia Robledo, researcher at IMIM-Hospital del Mar and lead author of the paper, that “the implementation of a diet rich in symbiotics can prevent addictive behavior related to chronic alcohol consumption, since its intake produces changes in the gut microbiota and in certain neurotransmitters of the brain”. That is, the study “explores whether modulation of the gut-brain axis (the two-way communication system between the gut microbiota and the brain) could prevent alcohol-related disorders,” she says.

The animals were also subjected to behavioral studies to measure how dietary intervention with a symbiotic modulated behavioral alterations associated with alcohol addiction withdrawal disorder. The study shows that the females suffered depression, anxiety and memory alterations, but to a lesser extent in those that had seen their gut microbiota strengthened. Finally, concentrations of tryptophan metabolites and neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline, dopamine and serotonin in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus (areas related to addictive behaviors, depression, anxiety and memory) were examined, their levels are affected differently depending on the sex and state of the gut microbiota.

Therefore, it was shown that “modulating the intestinal microbiota, can affect addictive behavior”, says Dr. Neus Pizarro, signatory of the paper and also researcher of the IMIM-Hospital del Mar, which states that “what we have achieved with the symbiotic is to reduce the adverse effects of alcohol on the composition of the intestinal microbiota and thus avoid its repercussion to the brain”.

In the words of Dr. Rafael de la Torre, coordinator of the Research Group on Integrated Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences of the IMIM-Hospital del Mar and researcher of the CIBEROBN, maintain a diet rich in prebiotics and probiotics, “is not a magic pill against the possibility of suffering addictive behavior”. In fact, alcohol consumption causes an imbalance in the microorganisms that inhabit the intestine. Therefore, “if we modulate the intestinal microbiota, the changes can be reflected at the cerebral level in the medium and long term. But in no case can the symbiotic be considered a kind of morning-after pill for addictive behaviors”, he adds.

This approach brings us closer to a better understanding of the impact of the health status of the gut microbiota on the modulation of behavioural alterations associated with alcohol addiction disorders, adding the layer of value of the effect of dietary supplementation of prebiotics and probiotics.

Reference article:

Nieves Pizarro, Elk Kossatz, Pedro González, Alba Gamero, Emma Veza, Cristina Fernández, Toni Gabaldón, Rafael de la Torre and Patricia Robledo. Sex-specific effects of synbiotic exposure in mice on addictive-like behavioural alterations induced by chronic alcohol intake are associated with changes in specific gut bacterial taxa and brain tryptophan metabolism. Front. Nutr. 2021

4th Anniversary of Microomics

There is a highlighted date on the Microomics calendar: October 2017. That month, Microomics was incorporated as a spin-off of the CRG and ICREA that aimed to offer innovative and advanced solutions for the analysis of microbial communities through next generation sequencing technologies.

The excitement has remained throughout these 4 years and, after the pandemic, our mission to bring knowledge to the service of society has been further reinforced.

These 4 years of trajectory would not have been possible without all the groups and companies that have trusted us and from here we show them our sincere gratitude.

Each new project translates into new learning for us too, which allows us to continue working, in line with our values, on our goal to become one of the leading providers of economic analysis and microbial communities.

This is the beginning of a long journey that we hope to continue to enjoy alongside our customers and collaborators, remaining on the side of the scientific community and companies in the sector for many more years.

Microomics continues to progress towards their vision of becoming a leading national and European provider of metagenomic analysis. 

From now on, Microomics Systems S.L. will be available among the services offered by the company Paralab Bio thanks to the commercial agreement between the two entities. In so doing, Paralab Bio will offer for the first time the service of this type of analysis to their customers. 

Paralab Bio (www.paralab-bio.es) is a division of Paralab, created in 2017 with the aim of segmenting its areas of activity. This division distributes scientific equipment for all areas of biosciences (especially with the object of study focused on proteins, genetic material, or cells), both at academic and laboratory or industrial level. Paralab was founded in 1992 to act as a distributor of scientific equipment for industrial and laboratory applications. It has thus become a reference company in the sector. 

With this collaboration, Microomics aims to reach more companies and research groups interested in the study of the microbiome. Our 360° comprehensive service includes advice at all stages of a project, from evaluating which metagenomic tool is the most suitable for the type of sample, through the stages of molecular biology (nucleic acid extraction and library preparation) and bioinformatics and statistical analysis, which is all summarized in a final delivery report. 

This agreement represents the continuous growth that the company is experiencing, which allows us to gradually approach our business vision and excellence in our services. 

X Edition of BioSpain International Trade Show & Partnering

Today begins the tenth edition of BioSpain International Trade Show & Partnering, which will last until October 1. This year the event will have a dual format, being able to attend both in person in Pamplona-Iruña, Navarre, and online.

BioSpain welcomes leading national and international biotechnology professionals and companies to share knowledge and encourage potential synergies between them.

For the first time, Microomics will attend this event. Pedro Iñaki González, its Co-Founder and CEO will participate in the Microbioma roundtable on Wednesday, September 29 at 17:15h (CEST). In this, each of the experts of the panel will contribute their particular vision and will address the current state of the microbiome and its future perspectives, from different approaches: the most purely academic, the biotechnology and, finally, in the context of the emergence of new business models and financing.

BioSpain promotes interaction among its attendees through its Partnering platform, available throughout the event. If you have registered to BioSpain2021 we encourage you to request a one-to-one meeting, with Pedro, by clicking here or on the button:

Microomics increases the visibility of its services at national level

In September Microomics Systems S.L. reaches a new milestone, as our Metagenomics services will be part of the catalog offered by the company Condalab. This agreement will offer Condalab customers our expertise in research and analysis of microbial communities (microbiomes).

Condalab was born in 1960 as the first Spanish manufacturer of dehydrated culture media for microbiology and molecular biology, being internationally recognized for making key components such as agar, peptone or agarose, among others. In addition, they are exclusive distributors in Spain of companies in the field of molecular and cellular biology of international prestige.

With this collaboration, Microomics hopes to reach more companies and research groups that are interested in studying the microbiome. With our comprehensive 360º service, we advise people interested in all stages of a project, from evaluating which metagenomic tool is the most suitable for your type of sample, through the stages of molecular biology (extraction of nucleic acids and preparation of libraries) and bioinformatics and statistical analysis.

The joint mission to contribute to knowledge and progress in the field of life sciences are key points in the philosophy of both parties, which has motivated this collaboration.

As a result of this agreement, Pedro González, CEO of Microomics, will participate in the webinar on September 29, at 10h, promoted by Condalab, where he will talk about metagenomics, its application in clinical and preclinical studies and the future perspective of this technology for microbiome analysis. To register simply click here or on the button and fill in the registration form. We encourage you to sign up and get to know us!

Microomics welcomes Paula Carreras and Sergio Manresa, who will occupy the position of Manager of the Marketing and Sales Department and NGS Analyst of Microomics Systems S.L., respectively.

Paula is a biotechnologist and specialized in pharmaceutical and biotechnological marketing. She has a multidisciplinary profile obtained during her time in research and in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically in the departments of Patient Advocacy and Marketing. Paula has been part of national and international projects, leading in the health innovation sector.

Sergio, in turn, is a biotechnologist and specialist in NGS sequencing, combining his studies in biomedicine where he developed his knowledge in the human microbiome along with his interdisciplinary dedication between the areas of laboratory and bioinformatics that he obtained in both the public and private sectors.

Both additions to Microomics represent the growth of the company. On the one hand, they represent a step forward in our digital channels and in how to optimize customer/collaborator support to achieve an exclusive and personalized treatment. On the other hand, in the bioinformatics and laboratory area, it represents a key reinforcement in the laboratory area of the company, identifying the needs of our collaborators and customers and bringing them the most relevant technological developments.

Through their new positions we want to promote the company’s R+D+i areas and improve our services, always striving to be at the forefront of new NGS sequencing technologies at the service of our society.

Since the company was born in September 2017, the growth of Microomics has been sustained and we hope that these reinforcements will help us not lose momentum in achieving our goal: to be a reference in the study of the microbiome at a national level.

Welcome to the Microomics team, Paula and Sergio!

Nueva incorporación en el Departamento de Bioinformática y creación del Departamento de Marketing y Ventas

Este Enero 2021, se incorporaron al equipo de Microomics dos nuevos miembros: José Castellón, como Analista de datos y Especialista en Estadística; y Rubén Melgarejo, como Manager del Departamento de Marketing y Ventas.

Desde que nació la empresa en Septiembre 2017, el crecimiento de Microomics ha sido sostenido y esperamos que estos refuerzos nos ayuden a no perder impulso en lograr nuestro objetivo: ser una referencia en análisis metagenómicos a nivel nacional.

Atentamente,

El Equipo de Microomics Systems S.L.