Pangenome-based design of strain-specific primers enables precise monitoring of bacteria in human microbiome intervention trials
Pangenome-based pipeline identifies unique genomic targets to design strain-specific qPCR primers for lactic acid bacteria. Assays were validated for Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WCFS1 in three placebo-controlled human intervention studies, enabling sensitive, site-specific tracking across skin and upper respiratory samples and offering a transferable method for other strains.
Why it mattersThis policy signal can change approval standards, evidence requirements, and sequencing decisions for teams building longevity interventions.