Abstract: The present disclosure provides retrievable artificial food particles comprising one or more compound of interest, and methods of using the artificial food particles. The methods disclosed herein can be used to characterize the composition and/or functional state of a subjects gut microbiota. Other aspects of the compositions and methods are described in further detail.

Abstract: A nutraceutical composition comprising prebiotics, probiotics, and/or synbiotics, spirulina, cereals and micronutrients for improving a person's health, and methods for boosting the immune system and improving vaccine effectiveness in vulnerable populations with the nutraceutical composition, including undernourished children, lactating and pregnant mothers in LDCs, the elderly, and persons with cancer or at risk of developing cancer.

Abstract: The present technology encompasses systems for predicting a characteristic of an individual subject, as well as methods for predicting a characteristic of a particular subject based on the systems of the technology disclosed herein. The disclosure herein also provides methods to improve a characteristics in a subject, based on the prediction produced by the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to define normal maturation of the gut microbiota using a limited number of bacterial taxa found in the gut microbiota. Regressing the relative abundance of age-discriminatory taxa in their gut microbiota against the chronological age of each healthy subject at the time a sample of the gut microbiota was collected produces a regression model that may be used to characterize the maturity of another subject's gut microbiota to provide a measure of gastrointestinal health without having to query the whole microbiota. The present invention also provides composition and methods for preventing and/or treating a disease in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present technology encompasses systems for predicting a characteristic of an individual subject, as well as methods for predicting a characteristic of a particular subject based on the systems of the technology disclosed herein. The disclosure herein also provides methods to improve a characteristics in a subject, based on the prediction produced by the system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to define normal maturation of the gut microbiota using a limited number of bacterial taxa found in the gut microbiota. Regressing the relative abundance of age-discriminatory taxa in their gut microbiota against the chronological age of each healthy subject at the time a sample of the gut microbiota was collected produces a regression model that may be used to characterize the maturity of another subject's gut microbiota to provide a measure of gastrointestinal health without having to query the whole microbiota. The present invention also provides composition and methods for preventing and/or treating a disease in a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides combinations and methods for changing the representation of at least one sulfate-reducing bacterial species in a subject's gut, thereby changing microbial fermentative activity in the gut in the subject.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses methods of isolating, identifying, and characterizing microorganisms present in a microbial community occupying a body habitat/surface of a healthy or unhealthy human or animal. More particularly, the invention relates to methods of isolating and identifying viable microorganisms that interact with a host's immune system.

Abstract: This invention is related to nucleic acid sequencing. In particular, the invention relates to manipulative and analytic steps for analyzing and verifying the products of low frequency events.

Abstract: The invention encompasses methods of modulating body fat or weight loss. In addition, the invention encompasses arrays that comprise biomolecules associated with an obese host microbiome or a lean host microbiome.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the gut microbiome as a biomarker and therapeutic target for energy harvesting, weight loss or gain, and/or obesity in a subject. In particular, the invention provides methods of altering and monitoring the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Firmicutes in the gut microbiome of a subject.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses cultured collections of a gut microbial community, models comprising such cultures, and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: Methods of modulating body fat or weight loss are presented Nucleic acid and protein microarrays that comprise biomolecules associated with an obese host microbiome or a lean host microbiome are utilized for analysis.

Abstract: The present invention encompasses arrays and methods related to the genome of Methanobrevibacter-smithii.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the gut microbiome as a biomarker and therapeutic target for energy harvesting, weight loss or gain, and/or obesity in a subject. In particular, the invention provides methods of altering and monitoring the relative abundance of Bacteroides and Firmicutes in the gut microbiome of a subject.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the use of archaea to modulate nutrient harvesting in a subject. In particular, the invention provides methods that use archaea to modulate the nutrient harvesting functions of the microbiota in the subject's gastrointestinal tract.

Abstract: Seryl-lysyl-based peptide and peptidomimetic compounds are described as inhibitors of the enzyme N-myristoyl transferase to provide selective control of the fungal organism Candida albicans. Peptidomimetic compounds of particular interest are those of the formula: wherein R1 is selected form aminoalkyl, p-aminoalkylphenylalkyl, imidazolylalkylphenylalkyl, 2-alkylimidazolylalkylphenylalkyl, benzimidazolylalkylphenylalkyl and 2-alkylbenzimidazolylalkylphenylalkyl; wherein R2 is selected from hydrido, alkyl, cycloalkyl, akenyl, alkynyl, haloalkyl, benzyl, alkylphenylalkyl, alkoxyphenylalkyl, halophenylalkyl, phenethyl, cycloalkylalkyl, halocycloalkylalkyl, alkylcycloalkylalkyl, alkoxycycloalkylalkyl and naphthylalkyl; wherein Y is selected from carboxylic acid, hydroxamic acid, phosphonic acid and tetrazolyl; or a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt, amide or ester thereof. Compounds of the formula are species-specific inhibitors of C.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting parasitic activity is disclosed in which the biosynthesis, structure and/or function of the glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor of said parasite may be affected by incorporating into said GPI anchor selected analogs of myristic acid containing various heteroatoms, substituents and unsaturated bonds, including ester-containing analogs, ketocarbonyl-containing analogs, sulfur-containing analogs, double bond- and triple bond-containing analogs, aromatic moiety-containing analogs, nitrated analogs and halogenated analogs.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting parasitic activity is disclosed in which the biosynthesis, structure and/or function of the glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor of said parasite may be affected by incorporating into said GPI anchor selected analogs of myristic acid containing various heteroatoms, substituents and unsaturated bonds, including ester-containing analogs, ketocarbonyl-containing analogs, sulfur-containing analogs, double bond- and triple bond-containing analogs, aromatic moiety-containing analogs, nitrated analogs and halogenated analogs.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting parasitic activity is disclosed in which the biosynthesis, structure and/or function of the glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor of said parasite may be affected by incorporating into said GPI anchor selected analogs of myristic acid containing various heteroatoms, substituents and unsaturated bonds, including ester-containing analogs, ketocarbonyl-containing analogs, sulfur-containing analogs, double bond- and triple bond-containing analogs, aromatic moiety-containing analogs, nitrated analogs and halogenated analogs.