Single-cell genomics Data for breakthroughs
in synthetic biology and biotech industry
Our new analytical platform, bit-MAP®, which sequences individual bacterial cells to explosively uncover novel genomes and genes through the high-throughput manner. Using bit-MAP®, bitBiome has established largest and highest-resolution gene data in our proprietary database, bit-GEM. bit-GEM has vast unique genes which cannot be found in public database or obtained by shotgun metagenomes.
bit-MAP® :
bitBiome Microbiome Analysis Platform
Hundreds of microbial whole genomes at a time
bit-MAP® eliminates conventional hurdles for microbiome research such as isolation, culture and complex data processing. This technology enables massively parallel whole-genome sequencing of diverse individual microbes to provide new insights into unknown strains.
Please refer to the sample dataset of gut microbiome.
High-quality genomic information from a single cell
In bit-MAP®, microbes are individually encapsulated, with multi-step biochemical reactions including cell lysis and DNA amplification occurring inside the capsules. Individual bacterial genomes are accurately sequenced by analyzing the DNA within each capsule.
Publications : Chijiiwa R et al. Microbiome. 2020. , Yoda T et al. Genome Resource Announcement. 2020. , Nishikawa Y et al. bioRxiv. 2020.
Bioinformatic analysis at single-cell resolution
Our unique bioinformatics platform accurately reconstructs microbial genomes at
the sub-strain level. It elucidates not only genetic and functional information of
individual bacteria, but also genetic differences between target and related strains.
Publications : Kogawa M et al. Scientific Reports. 2018.
Advantages of bit-MAP®
Towards a comprehensive understanding of target microbiomes
bit-MAP® achieves functional analyses of individual bacteria that would be difficult with existing technologies.
| Method | Isolation, Cultivation, and Sequencing |
16S rRNA Sequencing |
Shotgun metagenomics |
bit-MAP®: Single-cell genomics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target | Isolated bacteria | Any microbial samples (incl. unculturable ones) | ||
| Pre-study | Required (over months) | Not required | ||
| Objective | Deep understanding of one type of bacteria |
Community-level analysis | Deep understanding of individual bacterial functions |
|
| Principle | Sequence the entire genome of a single microbe |
Sequence 16S rRNA | Sequence a mixture of microbial genomes genomes |
Individually sequence whole |
| Resolution | Strain | Genus | Species | Strain |
| Expected results | Whole genome sequences, I plasmid sequences, and gene lists of a single microbe |
Ratios of microbes present | Ratios of microbes and genes present |
Whole genome sequences, plasmid sequences, and gene lists of individual microbes |
| Potential bias | Small | Large | Small | Small |
| Contamination risk | Small | Large | Large | Small |
| Analytical load | Small | Small | Large | Controllable |
Case Study: Analyzing soil microbiome
Higher-quality microbial genomes even from complex microbiome samples
When compared to the shotgun metagenomic sequencing, our single-cell sequencing method discovered more than 10-fold unique genes from the same amount of sequencing data (~80Gbp). Notably, while the metagenomic method suffers from obtaining longer genes (>300 amino acid residues), bit-MAP® can robustly recover genes at any sizes, even longer than 600 residues.
bit-GEM: Gene Encyclopedia from Microbes
Unearth ‘microbial dark matter’ to build proprietary database
bitBiome is accelerating the world of synthetic biology with our massive and highest-resolution microbial genome library obtained from a wide range of environments, such as soil, marine water or extreme environment microbiomes.
bit-MAP® can help unearth ‘microbial dark matter’, which would have enormous potential as industrial applications, such as synthetic biology and biocatalysis applications.
Our bit-GEM contains a vast amount of unique gene data that cannot be obtained by shotgun metagenomic analysis and is not yet available in public databases, and bitBiome will support research and development by providing the best genes for our clients’ projects.
bit-QED: bitBiome-Quality Enzyme Discoverer
Enzyme Discovery and Optimization through bit-GEM, in silico DOE, and high-throughput system
bitBiome utilizes bit-QED platform which integrates bioinformatics and chemoinformatics technologies to select optimal candidate sequences from the vast candidate sequences in the bit-GEM at high throughput manner.
