Precision Microbiome Map

Product Overview

The Precision Microbiome Map is an advanced gut microbiome profiling service available through EMIS+ in Singapore, employing whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing (WMS) to characterise the full genomic content of the gut microbiome — bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses — at species and strain resolution. Unlike 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, which targets a single conserved gene region and cannot reliably distinguish closely related species or quantify functional gene content, WMS sequences all DNA present in the sample, enabling both taxonomic identification at the strain level and comprehensive functional pathway analysis. The test identifies over 1,000 microbial species and maps metabolic pathways including short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, bile acid metabolism, tryptophan and serotonin biosynthesis, lipopolysaccharide production capacity, and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) prevalence — data that is directly relevant to gastrointestinal, immunological, metabolic, and neuropsychiatric health.

Results are interpreted against a proprietary multi-ethnic Asian gut microbiome reference database, which is critically important for Singaporean patients. Large-scale microbiome databases used by most commercial tests are predominantly derived from Western (European and North American) populations, which differ significantly from Asian populations in diet, enterotype distribution, and microbial diversity benchmarks. Benchmarking against an Asian-representative reference population increases the specificity and clinical relevance of dysbiosis detection, reduces false-positive flagging of Asian-common bacteria as pathological, and enables more accurate personalisation of dietary and probiotic recommendations for individuals in Singapore's multi-ethnic population. The service includes a detailed clinical report, personalised dietary and supplement recommendations based on identified microbiome deficits, and a repeat test protocol designed for post-intervention monitoring.

Specifications

Clinical Indications and Applications

• Chronic gastrointestinal disorders: Establishing a microbiome baseline for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), functional dyspepsia, or unexplained bloating and altered bowel habits, enabling targeted probiotic and dietary intervention based on specific dysbiosis patterns identified at species resolution.
• Metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: Profiling metabolic syndrome-associated microbial signatures including reduced Akkermansia muciniphila, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and butyrate-producing Lachnospiraceae, alongside elevated Prevotella and LPS-producing Proteobacteria — patterns correlated with insulin resistance and glycaemic dysregulation in multiple Asian-population studies.
• Immune dysregulation and autoimmune conditions: Identifying microbiome patterns associated with intestinal permeability, low microbial diversity, and reduced regulatory T-cell–promoting bacteria (Clostridia clusters IV and XIV), relevant for practitioners managing IBD, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and atopic dermatitis in Singapore.
• Mental health and gut-brain axis assessment: Quantifying neurotransmitter precursor-producing microbes including serotonin producers (Enterochromaffin cells, Clostridiales), GABA producers (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp.), and tryptophan metabolisers, relevant for patients with depression, anxiety, or sleep disorders with suspected gut-brain axis involvement.
• Pre- and post-intervention microbiome monitoring: Providing baseline and follow-up data to quantify microbiome shifts in response to antibiotic therapy (and subsequent recovery), probiotic or prebiotic supplementation, dietary modification (e.g. Mediterranean diet adoption), or faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) protocols.
• Preventive health and longevity programmes: Integrating microbiome data into corporate health screening, longevity programme baselines, or annual preventive health panels for individuals seeking a multi-system biological assessment beyond conventional blood biomarkers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the clinical advantage of whole-metagenome shotgun sequencing over 16S rRNA testing?
A: The 16S rRNA gene is a single conserved genomic region used to classify bacteria at the genus level in most consumer gut tests. It cannot reliably distinguish species within a genus (e.g. cannot differentiate Lactobacillus rhamnosus from L. acidophilus), cannot detect fungi or viruses, and cannot assess metabolic gene content. WMS sequences all DNA in the sample, enabling strain-level bacterial identification, full eukaryotic and viral profiling, and comprehensive functional pathway analysis — including SCFA production capacity, ARG burden, and specific enzyme-level metabolic functions. For clinical decision-making involving targeted probiotic selection or antibiotic stewardship, WMS provides materially superior data.

Q: Why is an Asian-specific microbiome reference database important for Singaporean patients?
A: The gut microbiome composition differs substantially between populations due to differences in diet, genetics, and early-life microbial exposure. Most commercial tests (e.g. Thryve, Viome, Atlas) benchmark against predominantly Caucasian reference cohorts. Using these references to assess Singaporean patients can falsely flag Asian-common bacteria as dysbiotic, underestimate healthy diversity ranges for Asian enterotypes, and generate dietary recommendations calibrated to Western food patterns. The Precision Microbiome Map uses an Asian-representative reference database, significantly improving the specificity and clinical relevance of results for Chinese, Malay, and Indian Singaporean populations.

Q: Can this test diagnose specific diseases such as colorectal cancer or IBD?
A: The Precision Microbiome Map is a wellness and research-grade microbiome profiling service, not a diagnostic medical device as defined under the HSA Health Products (Medical Devices) Regulations 2010. It does not produce a clinical diagnosis. While certain microbial signatures are statistically associated with conditions including colorectal cancer (e.g. elevated Fusobacterium nucleatum), IBD (e.g. Faecalibacterium prausnitzii depletion), and type 2 diabetes, these associations are correlational. Patients with symptoms suggestive of gastrointestinal disease should seek evaluation from a Singapore-registered gastroenterologist. The microbiome data can usefully complement, but does not replace, clinical investigation and endoscopic or laboratory diagnostic workup.

Q: How is the stool sample collected and transported in Singapore's climate?
A: The collection kit includes a stool collection device and a nucleic acid stabilisation buffer that preserves microbial DNA at ambient temperature for up to 72 hours — important for Singapore's tropical climate where unpreserved samples degrade rapidly. Samples are collected at home, transferred to the stabilisation tube, and shipped to the processing laboratory within the designated window. Detailed instructions are provided with the kit, and EMIS+ support is available for collection queries.

Q: What follow-up support is provided after receiving microbiome results?
A: The Precision Microbiome Map report includes personalised dietary modification recommendations, targeted probiotic strain suggestions based on identified deficits, and lifestyle guidance relevant to the specific dysbiosis patterns identified. For individuals requiring clinical interpretation in the context of a medical condition, EMIS+ can facilitate referral to partner practitioners in Singapore with microbiome medicine expertise. Repeat testing at 3–6 month intervals following a structured intervention is recommended to objectively assess microbiome response.