The science of probiotics demands precision. In collaboration with leading scientists and research partners from around the world, we develop research-backed probiotics for outcomes across gastrointestinal, dermatological, oral, pediatric, and nutritional health.
For humans, by science.
Our process starts with microbial strain validation through biofermentation, stabilization, scale-up, and clinical research.
Strains
Biofermentation
Biofermentation
This—a metabolic process used by bacteria to generate energy for cell growth and multiplication—is how we culture our probiotic strains. Bacteria are sensitive. They must be cultured with care to ensure viability. We optimize biofermentation conditions for pH, strain purity, temperature, and 28 other factors.
Validation
Flow Cytometry
During this process, cells are selectively tagged with fluorescent "markers" and counted by a laser as they pass through a tube. In testing for AFU (Active Fluorescent Units), flow cytometry is used to calculate a more precise measurement of all viable, injured, and dead probiotic cells, including ones that are efficacious but not necessarily culturable (and therefore, would not be counted in a traditional plated colony forming units (CFU) measurement—what you’re probably used to seeing on probiotics labels).
Whole-Genome Sequencing
Our probiotics are among the first to undergo end-to-end, whole-genome testing—the application of nanopore and shotgun sequencing of microbial DNA to genetically validate each strain and species.
Clinical Research
We partner with leading academic research institutions and notable Primary Investigators to validate our rationally-designed probiotic formulations through double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Our human clinical work, in combination with strain-specific clinical research and our in vitro data generation, allows us to identify novel endpoints and benefits for human health, while contributing advancements to the fields of microbiome and probiotic science.
SHIME®
Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®)
Bacteria are fragile; they’re sensitive to heat, oxygen, light, water, and they don’t do well without protection from stomach acids or bile. With this in mind,we test our products in SHIME®,the closest system developed to model human digestion and the gut.
Fig. 3— To evaluate the survival of our probiotics, we use a Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME®)—the closest system developed to model digestion and the gut. It recreates the physiological conditions and biological processes (food uptake, peristalsis, digestive enzymes, bile acids, and time spent in each step) representative of the human gastrointestinal tract.
Testing
Our Products
Our products are tested for all 14 classes of allergens according to EFSA, and Seed abides by and adheres to the stringent requirements established by CA Prop 65, or “The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986”.
With our quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) checkpoints, we monitor purity under both US and European protocols (including cGMP + HACCP) throughout the production cycle with no skip-lot testing. Our fermentation culture media do not contain any animal tissue or biological material.
We go beyond what’s required for regulations enforced by the US Food and Drug Administration; we also adhere to global quality standards outlined by Japan’s Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Our Scientific and Clinical Advisory Boards
Our Scientific and Clinical Advisory Boards consist of scientists and clinicians across key fields, including microbiology, computational biology, host-microbe interactions, immunology, gastroenterology and women’s health. They lead labs, teach at world-renowned academic institutions, maintain regular patient-facing practices, and include members who serve as investigators from the NIH’s Human Microbiome Project. These scientists and clinicians have produced 2800+ publications and over 140,000 citations in peer-reviewed scientific journals and textbooks.
Gregor Reid, PhD, MBAScientific Advisor
Jacques Ravel, PhDScientific Advisor
George Church, PhDScientific Advisor
Belinda Tan, MD, PhDScientific Advisor
James Versalovic, MD, PhDClinical Advisor
Alessio Fasano, MDClinical Advisor
Sarkis Mazmanian, PhDScientific Advisor
Christopher Mason PhDScientific Advisor
Azza Gadir, PhDScientific Advisor
Eran Segal, PhDScientific Advisor
Jessica Alligretti, MD, MPHClinical Advisor
Jane van Dis, MDClinical Advisor
Uma Naidoo, MDClinical Advisor
Emeran Mayer, MDClinical Advisor
Susan Kellogg-Spadt, PhD, CRNP, IF, CDCClinical Advisor
Mark Hyman, MDClinical Advisor
Diane Harper, MD, MPH, MSClinical Advisor
Nick Van Hise, PharmDClinical Advisor
Peter Turnbaugh, PhDScientific Advisor
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
Microbes for the future, and for our Earth.
As the earliest inhabitants of this planet, microbes hold immense potential for our future. Beyond their impact as consumer probiotics, their applications range from living medicines that transform how we prevent and treat disease to environmental interventions that will address some of the most pressing challenges facing our collective home.
