Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Modern Molecular Taxonomy01:29

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
Microbial Biosensors01:17

Microbial Biosensors

Microbial biosensors are analytical devices that utilize living microbes to detect specific substances through measurable signals. These devices consist of two main components: biosensing organisms and signal-transducing elements. Biosensing organisms, such as Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are typically housed in multiwell plates connected to transducers, enabling rapid, real-time detection of target analytes.Signal Generation MechanismWhen a target analyte—such as...
Introduction to the Human Microbiota01:22

Introduction to the Human Microbiota

Microorganisms colonize various regions of the human body, including the mouth, nasal passages, throat, stomach, intestines, urogenital tract, and skin. The total number of microbial cells is estimated to range from 10¹³ to 10¹⁴—comparable to, or exceeding, the number of human somatic cells. This host–microbiome relationship has led to the conceptualization of humans as supraorganisms, wherein microbial communities perform vital roles in development, immunity, and disease...
Automated Microbial Diagnostics01:24

Automated Microbial Diagnostics

Automated diagnostic analyzers have transformed clinical microbiology by providing rapid and reliable methods for pathogen identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing. Among these systems, the Vitek 2 is widely used because it automates the traditionally labor-intensive processes of microbial identification (ID) and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST), delivering standardized and timely results that are essential for effective patient care.Microbial Identification with ID CardsThe...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Lipid metabolism is a key central, systemic and gut microbial feature of the decline in rat hippocampal function during middle age.

Neurobiology of aging·2026
Same author

Chronic low-grade hippocampal inflammation blunts exercise-induced neurogenesis and alters the exercise-induced microglia transcriptome in the rat hippocampus.

Brain, behavior, and immunity·2026
Same author

Differential effects of wheel running and treadmill exercise on spatial memory, adult hippocampal neurogenesis and the cerebrospinal fluid proteome in rats.

Neuropharmacology·2026
Same author

Extrinsic lipids are absorbed and accumulate in colorectal cancer.

Gut·2026
Same author

Bifidobacterium longum and prebiotic interventions restore early-life high-fat/high-sugar diet-induced alterations in feeding behavior in adult mice.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Expanding the Proteomics and Metabolomics Toolkit with Methods for Differential Expression Analysis from Transcriptomics.

Journal of proteome research·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Guided Protocol for Fecal Microbial Characterization by 16S rRNA-Amplicon Sequencing
08:05

Guided Protocol for Fecal Microbial Characterization by 16S rRNA-Amplicon Sequencing

Published on: March 19, 2018

19.6K

Microbiome testing in Europe: navigating analytical, ethical and regulatory challenges.

Julie Rodriguez1, Magali Cordaillat-Simmons2, Nelly Badalato3

  • 1Pharmabiotic Research Institute, 11100, Narbonne, France. julie@pharmabiotic.org.

Microbiome
|December 19, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Consumer microbiome testing kits often over-promise and lack scientific rigor. Experts recommend clear labeling for curiosity-driven tests versus clinical diagnostic kits to improve quality and meet user expectations.

Keywords:
Direct-to-consumer testsIn vitro diagnosticMicrobiome testingRegulatory status

More Related Videos

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
11:22

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

27.8K
Operating and Biocontainment Procedures of a Facility for Laboratory Mice with a Natural Microbiome: Immunophenotyping Procedure
05:34

Operating and Biocontainment Procedures of a Facility for Laboratory Mice with a Natural Microbiome: Immunophenotyping Procedure

Published on: December 13, 2024

535

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Guided Protocol for Fecal Microbial Characterization by 16S rRNA-Amplicon Sequencing
08:05

Guided Protocol for Fecal Microbial Characterization by 16S rRNA-Amplicon Sequencing

Published on: March 19, 2018

19.6K
Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing
11:22

Microbiota Analysis Using Two-step PCR and Next-generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing

Published on: October 15, 2019

27.8K
Operating and Biocontainment Procedures of a Facility for Laboratory Mice with a Natural Microbiome: Immunophenotyping Procedure
05:34

Operating and Biocontainment Procedures of a Facility for Laboratory Mice with a Natural Microbiome: Immunophenotyping Procedure

Published on: December 13, 2024

535

Area of Science:

  • Human microbiome research
  • Direct-to-consumer (DTC) health testing

Background:

  • The human microbiome significantly influences health, driving consumer and healthcare interest.
  • Companies offer microbiome testing services directly to consumers and via medical labs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the consumer experience and quality of direct-to-consumer microbiome testing services.
  • To identify limitations and challenges in current microbiome testing kits.

Main Methods:

  • A single fecal sample was sent to six international microbiome testing companies.
  • Results were analyzed and discussed by a panel of 21 international experts.
  • Expert opinions on kit methodology, results, and regulatory status were gathered.

Main Results:

  • Identified issues include over-promising claims, lack of methodological transparency, and unreliable results.
  • Expert consensus: interpretations and recommendations are premature due to limited scientific evidence and clinical utility.
  • Regulatory ambiguity exists, necessitating a distinction between consumer curiosity kits and in vitro diagnostic (IVD) kits.

Conclusions:

  • Recommendations are proposed to enhance the quality and robustness of microbiome testing kits.
  • Key areas for improvement include standardization, scientific evidence, biomarker validation, and clear regulatory frameworks in Europe.
  • Addressing these issues is crucial for aligning laboratory practices with societal needs and clinical application.