Microbiome Bioinformatics: 16S, Biomarkers & Precision Probiotics
From Raw 16S Data to Microbiome Biomarkers and Precision Probiotic Candidates
Skills you will gain:
About Program:
Microbiome research is rapidly moving beyond basic taxonomic profiling toward functional interpretation, biomarker discovery, and precision microbiome applications.
This 3-day practical workshop takes participants through the complete workflow from NCBI-SRA raw 16S sequencing data to ASV generation, microbial diversity analysis, functional profiling, biomarker identification, and probiotic candidate prioritization.
Aim: To provide participants with a practical understanding of 16S microbiome bioinformatics, from raw sequencing data processing to functional profiling, biomarker discovery, and precision probiotic candidate prioritization.
Program Objectives:
- Process raw 16S sequencing data into ASV and taxonomy tables
- Perform alpha and beta diversity analysis
- Analyze multi-group microbiome datasets and clinical variables
- Apply differential abundance and functional profiling methods
- Use PICRUSt2 for pathway-level interpretation
- Identify and prioritize microbiome biomarkers
- Understand cross-study validation strategies
- Explore precision probiotic candidate discovery
What you will learn?
Day 1 – From Raw 16S Data to Microbiome Profiles
- Introduction to 16S microbiome analysis
- Downloading raw sequencing data from NCBI-SRA
- FASTQ quality checking and preprocessing
- DADA2 workflow for ASV generation
- Taxonomic assignment
- Alpha and beta diversity analysis
- PCoA and microbial abundance visualization
Hands-On: Raw FASTQ → ASV Table → Taxonomy → Diversity Plots
Day 2 – Functional Profiling & Biomarker Discovery
- Differential abundance analysis
- Comparing multiple sample groups
- Working with clinical and experimental variables
- PICRUSt2 functional profiling
- Identifying important microbial features
- Introduction to microbiome biomarker discovery
- Random Forest and ROC/AUC for biomarker evaluation
Hands-On: ASV Table → Functional Profiles → Candidate Biomarkers
Day 3 – Biomarker Validation & Precision Probiotics
- Combining results from multiple microbiome studies
- Cross-study biomarker validation
- Linking microbial taxa with biological functions
- Identifying beneficial and depleted microbes
- Precision probiotic candidate prioritization
- Species-level vs strain-level interpretation
Hands-On: Validated Biomarkers → Functional Association → Probiotic Candidate Ranking
Mentor Profile
Fee Plan
Get an e-Certificate of Participation!
Intended For :
- MSc / MTech / Biotechnology students
- PhD scholars
- Postdoctoral researchers
- Bioinformatics researchers
- Microbiologists
- Biotechnology researchers
- Clinical researchers
- Computational biologists
- Faculty members
- Pharmaceutical and biotech professionals
- Researchers working in microbiome and probiotic science
Career Supporting Skills
Program Outcomes
- Convert raw 16S sequencing data into analysis-ready ASV tables
- Select and interpret appropriate microbiome diversity metrics
- Perform taxonomic and functional microbiome profiling
- Analyze multi-group microbiome datasets
- Identify statistically significant microbial features
- Discover and evaluate microbiome biomarkers
- Use PICRUSt2 for predicted functional pathway analysis
- Apply machine learning for biomarker ranking
- Perform cross-study biomarker validation
- Prioritize potential precision probiotic candidates