Technology Overview
Scientists at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have developed a fluorescent "turn-on" probe to assay bile salt hydrolase (BSH)—microbial enzymes that regulate the magnitude of bile acid metabolism in the gut. The probe has reduced assay time, increased signal to noise, provides high-throughput applications in imaging, and is designed to support flow cytometry.
BSH activity is an important indicator for health.
- Cholesterol production has a biological feedback mechanism with BSH.
- BSH is the gatekeeper for microbial metabolism.
- BSH reaction primes bile acid molecules for microbial digestion.
- Modified bile salts are correlated with disease.
Advantages
Technology Uses:
- Diagnostic tool for patients
- Probiotics assessment – engineered microbe assessment
- Pharma modulators of BSH – very few quality pharma modulators; this is a tool to screen for them
- Livestock rearing – BSH inhibitors for livestock
Availability
Available for licensing in all fields
Market Sectors
Biological Sciences and Omics
Analytical Instruments