Sequential - The Skin Microbiome Testing Co™

Fasting, a practice rooted in history and religious traditions, has recently surged in popularity as a health trend. Its benefits - such as weight management, improved metabolic function and delayed ageing - are well-documented. However, new research suggests that fasting may also impact the oral microbiome, influencing oral health in unexpected ways. What We Know: ▫️Fasting involves abstaining from food, consuming only water or other approved liquids (e.g., herbal teas or black coffee) for an extended period of time. Different fasting types, such as intermittent fasting (less than 2 days) and long-term fasting (4 days to several weeks), have been studied clinically (Loumé et al., 2024). ▫️A lesser-known side effect of fasting is bad breath, or halitosis. This is often anecdotally linked to the "keto flu" during the body’s transition from burning carbohydrates to fat, but while ketone bodies may contribute to foul breath, this phenomenon differs from the pathological halitosis seen in some fasters (Loumé et al., 2024). ▫️Studies show that 80-90% of fasters with halitosis have oral microbiome dysbiosis. Oral microbes degrade residual proteins in saliva, food debris and shed epithelial cells, producing volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) which are linked to halitosis, dysbiosis and periodontal disease (Loumé et al., 2024). Industry Impact and Potential: ▫️Recent research on long-term fasting’s effects on halitosis and the oral microbiome uncovered several key findings. Initially, fasting reduced microbial alpha diversity (a measure of species variety), but diversity rebounded and even exceeded baseline levels one and three months after fasting (Loumé et al., 2024). ▫️Fasting led to a decrease in genera such as Neisseria, Gemella and Porphyromonas, while promoting an increase in others, including Megasphaera, Dialister, Prevotella, Veillonella, Bifidobacteria, Leptotrichia, Selenomonas, Alloprevotella and Atopobium. Firmicutes (Bacillota) became dominant during follow-up periods, while Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were suppressed (Loumé et al., 2024). ▫️The reduction in potentially harmful species like Porphyromonas suggests a shift towards a less inflammatory microbial environment. Additionally, the correlation between microbial shifts and increased levels of dimethylsulfide - a compound linked to halitosis - indicates that fasting-induced changes in the microbiota may contribute to breath odour (Loumé et al., 2024). Our Solution: At Sequential, we are a trusted leader in microbiome product testing and formulation. Our customisable solutions empower businesses to innovate with confidence, ensuring the development of effective oral hygiene products that preserve the integrity of the oral microbiome. With our expertise, we help companies explore the potential of microbiome studies and product development not only for oral health but also for skin, scalp and vulvar microbiomes.

🌟Exciting Announcement!🌟 We’re thrilled to share that we’ll be attending in-cosmetics Global 2025 in Amsterdam, Netherlands! Join us at booth 12C70 to explore microbiome testing and formulations with our expert team, including our very own CEO, Dr. Oliver Worsley, CSO, Dr. Albert Dashi, and Skincare Director, Petronille Houdart. 🗓️ Dates: 8th–10th April 2025  📍Location: RAI Amsterdam, Netherlands We can't wait to see you there! ✨

🌸 Happy International Women’s Day! 🌸 On this “International Women's Day”, let's celebrate women's health by shedding light on “vaginal microbiome supporting formulations”. The global feminine intimate care market is expanding rapidly. In 2024, it was valued at $7.8 billion and is projected to reach $14 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2025 to 2034 (Allied Market Research, 2025). As demand rises, so does the need for science-backed, microbiome supporting formulations. At Sequential, we are dedicated to advancing women’s health by ensuring that intimate care products support, rather than disrupt, the vaginal microbiome. We study how feminine care products interact with the delicate microbial ecosystem, and our in-vivo testing provides deep insights into formulations, helping brands develop microbiome supporting products that promote balance and overall well-being. By bridging the gap between science and personal care, we empower women to better understand their vaginal microbiome, and ultimately make better decisions. Let’s celebrate this day by making choices that support our health and well-being! ✨

This month, we dive into the fascinating connection between cosmetic preservatives and the skin microbiome. As research uncovers more about how preservatives influence the delicate balance of microbes on our skin, it’s becoming clear that these ingredients play a crucial role in maintaining both the safety and health of our skin. The balance of bacteria on our skin can be disrupted by certain preservatives, potentially impacting skin health and its protective functions. By exploring the latest studies, we aim to better understand how preservatives interact with the skin microbiome and how this knowledge could lead to safer, more effective skincare formulations. Let’s explore the connection together! 🌿✨

Join LaFlore® Live Probiotic Skincare and Sequential on March 6, 2025, at 6 PM (GMT) for an exclusive panel discussion on how microbiome-based testing is revolutionizing skincare and enabling truly personalized treatments. What if you could understand your clients’ skin on a molecular level? LaFlore® has just launched a consumer skin microbiome testing kit powered by Sequential, bringing advanced diagnostics straight to the hands of skincare professionals and consumers. Title: The Future of Skin Health: Exploring Microbiome-Based Diagnostics with Sequential🔬 💡 What to Expect: ▫️ Insights into microbiome analysis & its impact on skin health ▫️How data-driven diagnostics enable personalized skincare ▫️Expert answers to your biggest skincare science questions Be part of the future of skin health. Don’t miss out! 📅 Register now: https://lnkd.in/eNX3NKnT

Numerous deodorants and antiperspirant products have been developed to combat and treat malodour or body odour (BO). New approaches target the axillary (underarm) microbiome, the cause of BO, and meadowfoam extract could offer a natural solution. What We Know: ▫️Sweat is initially odourless and axillary malodor only develops when the cutaneous microbiome enzymatically breaks down sweat molecules produced by apocrine sweat glands. Certain molecules responsible for the odour associated with sweat have been identified, including an apical efflux pump encoded by the ABCC11 (MRP8) gene (Annette Martin et al., 2010). ▫️Bacterium Staphylococcus hominis has been identified as one bacterium that produces malodorous thiol compounds through the enzymatic degradation of sweat. The enzyme C-S lyase breaks down Cys-Gly-3M3SH, a peptide derivative found in sweat, into constituents including 3M3SH, which is a highly malodorous volatile compound from the thiol family. Due to its thiol nature, 3M3SH has a much lower olfactory threshold than other volatile compounds, making it the primary contributor to the intensity of perspiration odours (Laurie Verzeaux et al., 2024). ▫️White meadowfoam, Limnanthes alba, is a species of flowering plant native to California and Oregon that is known for its use in cosmetics and hair care products due to its stability, smooth texture and long-lasting presence on the skin (AgMRC, 2023).   Industry Impact and Potential: ▫️A deodorant containing meadowfoam extract was shown to be effective in reducing S. hominis. This product significantly reduced S. hominis abundance and C-S lyase activity, effectively decreasing odour without disrupting the axillary microbiome balance (Verzeaux et al., 2024). ▫️Traditional odour control methods - preventing sweat, masking odours with fragrance, or using antiseptic agents - face criticism due to physiological concerns, potential skin irritation, disruption of the axillary microbiota and the use of controversial ingredients like aluminium salts and alcohol. These issues highlight the need for risk-free, natural solutions that specifically target the biological mechanisms behind malodour production (Verzeaux et al., 2024).   ▫️Therefore, researchers propose meadowfoam-containing deodorants as a promising natural alternative for managing BO, with participants reporting high satisfaction in controlling both odour and perspiration (Verzeaux et al., 2024). Our Solution: Sequential is a leading expert in comprehensive, end-to-end microbiome product testing and formulation. Our specialised, customisable services enable businesses to develop innovative products that support and maintain microbiome health, ensuring both effectiveness and compatibility. We offer tailored expertise in facial, oral, scalp and vaginal microbiome research and formulation, providing full support for your product development needs, which may be extended to products targeting the axillary microbiome.

⏳ Only 20 days to go until the Microbiome Times Partnering Forum opens its doors to the global #microbiome industry on 18-19 March in Brussels! See the final program below 👇 If you have not already registered, you can still do so here: https://lnkd.in/dtD39eAt 🤝 The Forum's partnering platform, designed to foster commercial and research collaborations to accelerate microbial product development, opens today. European Microbiome Innovation for Health, Microbiome Therapeutics Innovation Group, Vedanta Biosciences, Inc., Seventure Partners, International Probiotics Association, dsm-firmenich, Owlstone Medical, Biose Industrie, BCCM - Belgian Coordinated Collections of Microorganisms, Atlantia Clinical Trials, Quadram Institute, ProDigest, BioCorteX, The Microbiome Mavericks, BioLyo Technologies BV, SACCO SYSTEM, Perseus Biomics, Cerillo, Kentron Microbiology , BioMe Inc., BIOCODEX, Procelys by Lesaffre, Firefinch Software, Zymo Research Corp, Cryptobiotix, Magnitude Biosciences Ltd, Bac3Gel® Lda, Sequential - The Skin Microbiome Testing Co™, Metabolon, Inc., Unseen Bio, cmbio, NimaGen, BaseClear, Lallemand Health Solutions, Biofortis

Vaginal seeding involves using a cotton gauze or swab to collect vaginal fluids and transfer them to a newborn's mouth, nose, or skin. This practice is typically done after cesarean deliveries, where the baby doesn’t naturally come into contact with the mother’s vaginal bacteria. The goal of vaginal seeding is to introduce maternal vaginal bacteria to the infant, with the idea that it may promote proper gut colonization and potentially reduce the risk of conditions like asthma, allergies, and immune disorders, which have been linked to rising cesarean delivery rates. What we know: ▫️A study found that 30 cesarean-born infants who underwent vaginal seeding had fecal and skin microbiota that more closely resembled those of vaginally born infants during their first year (Jeannie C. Kelly, Nolan & Misty Good, MD, 2021). ▫️Infant microbiota showed more variability compared to maternal microbiota, with cesarean-born infants having the highest variability, vaginal-born infants the lowest, and vaginally seeded infants displaying intermediate variability in their fecal, oral, and skin samples (Kelly, Nolan & Good, 2021). ▫️Research on vaginal microbiota transfer (VMT) through exposure to maternal vaginal fluids revealed that this process significantly accelerated the maturation of gut microbiota in newborns (Zhou et al., 2023). ▫️They also demonstrated that VMT regulated levels of certain fecal metabolites and metabolic functions, including carbohydrate, energy, and amino acid metabolism, within 42 days after birth (Zhou et al., 2023). ▫️VMT also can influence infant neurodevelopment by enhancing various metabolites (Zhou et al., 2023).   Industry impact & potential: ▫️While vaginal seeding shows potential, its long-term effects on health outcomes still needs to be investigated. ▫️VMT may influence infant neurodevelopment by enhancing various metabolites; however, the precise mechanisms behind this effect need further investigation for clarification (Zhou et al., 2023). Our solution: At Sequential, we conduct research on the vaginal microbiome to understand its role in women's health. Our efforts center around leveraging cutting-edge sequencing technologies to thoroughly analyze microbial communities. By characterizing these communities, we aim to identify specific biomarkers that can indicate health conditions or risks. This research not only enhances our understanding of the vaginal microbiome's role in overall well-being but also aids in developing targeted solutions for maintaining vaginal health.

Sequential - The Skin Microbiome Testing Co™, an expert in skin #microbiome research, and AMILI, an innovator in gut microbiome 🦠 science, received the UK-Singapore Collaborative R&D Grant. This $1.8 million initiative, backed by Innovate UK and Enterprise Singapore, paves the way for groundbreaking research into the connections between the gut and skin microbiomes. 💡 Read more here: https://brnw.ch/21wQQpB

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a type of cancer that grow primarily in the skin. The most common forms are Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). MF usually appears as red patches, plaques, or tumors on the skin, progressing slowly, while SS is more aggressive, with widespread redness and swollen lymph nodes. CTCL weakens the immune system, leading to frequent infections, chronic inflammation, and reduced ability to fight tumors (Saptaswa Dey et al., 2024). In Europe and the USA, CTCL affects around 0.55 to 1.06 per 100,000 people, with MF being the most common form (Łyko & Jankowska-Konsur, 2022). What we know: ▫️External factors, such as microbial antigens, may worsen the disease by promoting chronic inflammation and cancerous cell transformation (Dey et al., 2024). ▫️Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, plays a key role in CTCL (Jost & Prof. Dr. med. Ulrike Wehkamp, MaHM, 2022). ▫️Staphylococcus aureus contribute to morbidity and mortality by producing enterotoxins that disrupt skin barriers, activate T-cells, and promote cancer progression. In contrast, Staphylococcus epidermidis supports skin barrier function and modulates immune responses through the production of lantibiotics (Jost & Wehkamp, 2022). ▫️In CTCL patients, shifts in the abundance of bacteria such as Corynebacterium and Cutibacterium (Jost & Wehkamp, 2022). ▫️Enterococcus has been found in necrotic tumors of MF patients and successfully treated with antibiotics, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa, often fatal in septic CTCL cases, contributes to over half of the deaths (Jost & Wehkamp, 2022). ▫️Staphylococcus aureus strains were prevalent and showed significant resistance to common antibiotics, complicating treatment with standard therapies (Philipp Licht et al., 2024). Industry impact & potential: ▫️3D human skin culture models could improve our understanding of the interactions between Staphylococcus aureus, immune cells, and malignant cells, while also examining how environmental factors affect skin microbiota, potentially identifying biomarkers or therapeutic targets (Jost & Wehkamp, 2022). ▫️Research on the impact of treatment on the skin microbiome in CTCL is still needed, and further studies on non-antibiotic treatments that restore microbiome balance could improve CTCL management (Łyko & Jankowska-Konsur, 2022). Our solution: Sequential specializes in skin microbiome analysis and in vivo formulation testing, providing scientifically-backed solutions to improve skin health through microbiome modulation. We ensure your product meets industry standards and delivers optimal skincare quality.