Our Testing Journey: Dr Alena Pribyl on analysis of the human gut microbiome at Microba Life Sciences

Have you ever wondered what microbiome testing looks like? In this episode, co-hosts Dr Siobhan McCormack and Dr Sheena Fraser chat to guest Dr Alena Pribyl from Microba Life Sciences, after sending off their poo samples to be analysed.

*Please note* - We apologise for the audio quality in this episode. We are changing hosting platforms and aim to smooth out the quality in future releases.

What We Cover:

• The process start-to-finish of both co-hosts testing journey: the sample taking, mailing, storage and breaking down the process that is used to analyse their samples
• Metagenomic analysis at Microba Life Sciences and the positives and pitfalls in the industry
• The expansion of this field, how it's developed and grown over the years and things to look out for if you are interested in testing
• Dr Alena Pribyl's expertise and input at every stage of process
• The publications and science behind the process and beyond

Dr Alena Pribyl is Lead Scientist at Microba Life Sciences, a microbial genomics company based in Brisbane, Australia, specialising in high-resolution analysis of the human gut microbiome. Alena has worked in the human gut microbiome field for more than 10 years, with a focus on translating complex microbiome science into meaningful insights.

She completed her PhD in physiology and molecular biomarkers of stress before moving into microbial ecology and human gut microbiome research at the Australian Centre for Ecogenomics at the University of Queensland. In 2018, she became part of the founding team at Microba Life Sciences, where she now leads the science team.

Her work focuses on the scientific development and evidence base behind microbiome testing, including how metagenomic analysis can help us better understand the gut microbial community, its functional potential, and its links with health.

Relevant Microba publications:

• Benchmarking of our community profiler (bioinformatic analysis):https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.643682/full
• Validation of our sample collection method: https://academic.oup.com/ismecommun/article/1/1/14/7462904
• Validation of pathogen detection using metagenomics: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1759322/full

Some recent key papers demonstrating that metagenomics can provide meaningful analyses:

• IBD prediction: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03280-4
• Functional/taxonomic changes in active vs inactive IBD: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1237-9
• CRC prediction: https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(26)00223-4
• Immunotherapy response: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-02823-z, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-025-01930-y
• Type 2 diabetes prediction: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/45/4/811/141052/Gut-Microbiome-Composition-Is-Predictive-of
• Drug-microbiome interactions: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-019-1291-3
• Pathogen identification: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(23)00244-6/fulltext,
• Diet-microbiome associations: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04312-x
• Microbiome-based stratification for lifestyle interventions: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-023-01604-z
• Healthy ageing prediction: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-024-00678-0,

Also some publications on the inaccuracy of using the F:B phyla ratios:

• F:B ratio debunking: