Rodent Microbiome Profiling via 16S Sequencing
Characterize microbial communities and understand how microbiome composition influences research outcomes.
The microbiome plays a critical role in host physiology, immune function, metabolism, and disease susceptibility. Taconic’s 16S Sequencing service enables high-resolution profiling of microbial communities from rodent fecal samples and other biological materials.
Using full-length 16S sequencing on the Oxford Nanopore PromethION platform, Taconic provides comprehensive microbial identification and diversity analysis to support studies in immunology, metabolism, oncology, neuroscience, and beyond.
This service can be integrated with Taconic research projects or performed as a standalone analysis using customer-provided samples.
Why Analyze the Rodent Microbiome?
Variation in microbial communities can significantly influence experimental outcomes. Profiling microbial composition can help researchers:
- Identify associations between microbiome composition and phenotype
- Detect microbial drivers of disease models
- Monitor microbiome consistency across colonies, facilities, or study cohorts
- Assess microbiome changes in response to interventions
- Strengthen experimental reproducibility and interpretation
- Microbiome profiling provides valuable context for interpreting phenotypes in preclinical rodent studies.
High-Confidence Microbial Identification
Taconic’s workflow combines full-length 16S sequencing with robust bioinformatic analysis to provide confident species-level identification.
Key technical features include:
- Full-length 16S amplification enabling improved taxonomic resolution
- Oxford Nanopore PromethION sequencing for long-read microbial profiling
- BLAST-based identification against the NCBI 16S database
- Comprehensive run quality metrics and analytical reporting
Full-length sequencing provides greater confidence in microbial classification compared with short-read approaches that target only partial regions of the 16S gene.
Supported Sample Types
While most commonly used for rodent fecal samples, Taconic’s 16S Sequencing service can be applied to a range of biological sample types from mice and rats. Contact us for other sample types or species.
Common sample types include:
- Mouse fecal samples
- Rat fecal samples
- Cedal contents
- Intestinal samples
Samples are collected in a stabilizing preservative and shipped to Taconic’s Health Diagnostic laboratory for processing.
Microbiome Analysis Workflow
Taconic's integrated workflow ensures consistent sample handling and robust microbial identification.
1. Sample collection and shipment
Samples are collected in a microbial preservative and shipped to Taconic (or alternative samples are collected by Taconic).
2. DNA Extraction
Microbial DNA is extracted from preserved samples in Taconic's Health Diagnostic laboratory.
3. Full-length 16S amplification
The full 16S rRNA gene is amplified from extracted DNA.
4. Long-read sequencing
Amplified DNA is sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore PromethION platform.
5. Taxonomic identification and analysis
Sequencing reads are compared against the NCBI 16S database for microbial identification and diversity analysis.
Data Outputs and Reporting
Taconic provides comprehensive analysis outputs designed to support the interpretation of microbiome composition and diversity.
Deliverables include:
- Sequencing run quality metrics
- Microbial abundance tables
- Alpha and beta diversity statistics
- Microbial community composition plots
- Population similarity and clustering analyses
Visualizations and statistical summaries help researchers evaluate relationships between microbial communities across samples and study groups. Customers can expect a 2 to 3 week turnaround time from samples being received to deliverables being sent.
Applications in Rodent Research
Microbiome profiling can support a wide range of preclinical research applications.
Common use cases include:
- Characterizing microbiome differences between experimental cohorts
- Assessing microbiome contributions to disease phenotypes
- Monitoring microbiome composition across time, facilities, or colonies
- Evaluating microbiome shifts following drug treatment or dietary intervention
- Supporting studies of host–microbial interactions
Because microbial communities can significantly influence biological outcomes, microbiome analysis provides valuable context for interpreting preclinical results.
Integrated with Taconic Research Solutions
Taconic’s 16S Sequencing service can be incorporated into a broad range of rodent research workflows.
Researchers can use microbiome profiling as:
- A standalone analytical service
- An add-on to Taconic model studies
- A tool to support phenotype interpretation in complex disease models
Integration with Taconic’s research capabilities allows investigators to connect host genetics, experimental interventions, and microbiome composition within a single research framework.
Ready to Profile the Microbiome in your Rodent Study?
Taconic’s Rodent Microbiome Profiling via 16S Sequencing provides high-confidence microbial identification and diversity analysis to help researchers understand how microbiome composition may influence experimental outcomes. Whether integrated into a Taconic project or performed as a standalone analysis using customer-provided samples, our Health Diagnostic laboratory delivers reliable sequencing data and comprehensive analytical reporting.
Learn How to Submit Samples and Place an Order
Featured Models
Have Questions About 16S Sequencing?
Learn how 16S Sequencing can advance your work. Reach out to our team of scientific experts to discuss your specific research needs.