Pre-Clinical Research

Choose Knowledgeable Scientific Expertise.

Conducted in-house or externally with our scientific partners, our pre-clinical in vitro and in vivo research programs help improve the understanding of probiotic strain modes of action and promote probiotic strain and identification. As a science-focused company, we investigate new ways to discover the next generation of probiotics. This involves developing new bacterial strains that have never been cultivated and used for human health.

Our in vitro research program is conducted at our Montreal research laboratories. The Rosell® Institute was the first laboratory dedicated to the characterization of bacteria strains, including complete genome sequencing, and the development and validation of new analytical methods in probiotics. Our research scientists also study how host-microbes interact and the modulation of the microbiota. Our core areas of expertise include:

Strain characterization:
– genetic-based characterization
– metabolic based profiling
– physiology and biochemistry
– safety based characterization

Development of novel analytical methods
– flow cytometry (bacterial quantification)
– qPCR automated processes
– large scale and high-throughput methods
– viability assessment
– pathogens and contaminant detection

Host-microbe interactions and molecular mechanisms of action
– Human epithelial cells (intestinal, vaginal, lung) screening models
– Gene expression and protein markers quantification using custom-designed microarrays and RNA sequencing technology
– Bioinformatics
– Metabolomics
– Genomics

Novel microbes and strain improvement
– Evolutive adaptation and new anaerobic microbes
– Adaptive adaptation
– Probiotic potential identification
– Optimization of fermentation conditions
– Genetic engineering of lactobacilli

Microbiome Research
– Impact of external factors and probiotics on the microbiota

In Vivo Research Program
Conducted either in–house or in close relationship with external scientific partners, our in vivo research program is focused on increasing the knowledge on our probiotic strains including safety, modes of action, strain selection for human health studies as well as explaining clinical trial results.

Example of a model used:
Caenorhabditis elegans: fat accumulation, neurodegenerative disease assays

Strain Safety
– Toxicological rodent studies: 90 days, OECD guidelines