ABOUT

Australian Gut Metabolome Initiative

The human gut microbiome influences health and development, with nutrition and environmental changes contributing to global rises in chronic diseases. A healthy microbiome produces beneficial metabolites affecting nutrition, physiology, and immunity. Microbiome shifts can lead to metabolite production linked to various diseases and mood changes.

While progress has been made in defining gut microbiome genetic diversity and associated metabolic functions, the majority of produced metabolites remain unidentified, hindering understanding of microbiome-metabolome interactions for disease treatment strategies.

Established in 2022, the Australian Gut Metabolome (AGM) Initiative is developing methodology for gut microbiome metabolite profiling, creating a comprehensive public database, supporting industry-driven clinical outcomes, and advancing metabolomics technologies nationally and internationally.

OBJECTIVES

Through this program of research, the creation of referential multi-‘omics data resources by the Australian Gut Metabolome (AGM) Initiative aims to:

      • Develop profiling methodology: use advanced mass spectrometry to profile metabolites in the human gut microbiome.
      • Generate a public data resource: create a comprehensive catalogue of microbiome metabolites and their properties.
      • Support clinical applications: facilitate the use of the catalogue for industry-driven clinical outcomes.
      • Advance metabolomics technologies: expand this capability across Metabolomics Australia nodes and internationally.

DATA

For further information and to view and access initiative data, please go to the Bioplatforms Australia Data Portal.

CONTACT US

Science Leads

Prof Malcolm McConville, Bio21, Metabolomics Australia – Co-Chair
malcolmm@unimelb.edu.au

Prof Mark Morrison, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland – Co-Chair
m.morrison1@uq.edu.au

Project Manager

Sophie Mazard – Bioplatforms Australia
smazard@bioplatforms.com

General Manager – Science Programs

Sarah Richmond – Bioplatforms Australia
srichmond@bioplatforms.com