Neurobiome testing for clinical practice.
A precision-microbiome read of the gut–brain axis — built for the exam room, not the supplement aisle. Functional insight your patients can act on, under your license.
Neurobiome testing is the clinical use of gut-microbiome sequencing to characterize the microbial pathways of the gut–brain axis — the microbes and functional genes tied to neuroactive metabolite production (short-chain fatty acids, GABA, serotonin precursors) — and to build a personalized synbiotic matched to that profile. Flore uses neurobiome as an emerging, forward term for this applied category; the established scientific lineage is the psychobiotics and microbiota–gut–brain-axis literature. It is a wellness and functional-insight tool for supervised practice, not a diagnostic for any neurological or psychiatric condition.
The gut–brain axis, for practitioners
Bidirectional signalling between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system runs along four well-characterized routes. Neurobiome testing reads the microbial capacity behind them.
Vagal signalling
Specific commensal strains alter central neurotransmitter-receptor expression and stress-related behaviour through the vagus nerve in controlled preclinical models.
Preclinical Bravo 2011[5]Serotonin precursors
Indigenous spore-forming gut bacteria regulate host enterochromaffin-cell serotonin biosynthesis — the gut is the body's largest reservoir of serotonin.
Mechanistic Yano 2015[6]GABA metabolism
Defined members of the human gut microbiota produce and consume GABA, the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter; abundance correlates with brain-signalling measures.
Mechanistic Strandwitz 2019[7]Short-chain fatty acids
Microbially-produced SCFAs (butyrate, propionate, acetate) are a central communication channel to the brain, influencing barrier and neuroimmune function.
Human review Dalile 2019[8]These pathways are synthesized in the landmark microbiota–gut–brain-axis review of Cryan et al. (2019)[3] and the stress-axis review of Foster et al. (2017)[4]. Much of the causal work remains preclinical; human evidence is growing but not yet definitive — a reason neurobiome testing is positioned as functional insight, not diagnosis.
From psychobiotics to neurobiotics
Flore is defining neurobiome testing as an applied clinical category. Here is the honest scientific lineage it builds on.
Dinan, Stanton & Cryan define a psychobiotic as a live organism that, in adequate amounts, confers a mental-health benefit — the established, peer-reviewed term for gut-brain probiotics.[1]
Cryan et al. publish the comprehensive Physiological Reviews synthesis of the microbiota–gut–brain axis, consolidating the vagal, endocrine, immune and metabolite routes.[3]
Herrera-Rincon et al. introduce neurobiotics in Neural Regeneration Research as a new, emerging concept for microbiota-targeted strategies acting on the nervous system.[2]
Flore Clinical turns this lineage into a practice-ready workflow: sequence the gut microbiome, read the gut-brain functional capacity, and build a matched personalized synbiotic — tracked longitudinally. An emerging category Flore is pioneering, not an established standard of care.
How Flore neurobiome testing works in your practice
A closed test-to-formulate loop — Flore Test to Treat — run entirely under provider authorization.
1 · Order & sequence
You order a microbiome test for your patient. Shotgun-metagenomic DNA sequencing is performed by CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratories — strain-level identification plus functional-gene detection. Flore does not run the lab itself.
2 · Mechanistic stratification
Functional classification against cohort-referenced baselines — a Gate / Amplifier / Modifier framework that surfaces the neuroactive-metabolite capacity of the microbiome, not just a taxa list.
3 · Matched synbiotic
Where indicated, a personalized synbiotic is compounded to the identified microbial deficit. Strains are disclosed to you as genus, species and a Flore identifier (e.g. Lactobacillus rhamnosus FLORE-XXXX); the selection logic is proprietary.
4 · Longitudinal resampling
Repeat sequencing at 3–6 months quantifies the intended mechanistic shift — supporting your outcome tracking and documentation over time.
Where neurobiome testing fits clinically
Neurobiome testing is a functional-insight adjunct for clinicians already working at the gut–brain intersection — integrative, functional, gastroenterology, and behavioural-health practices exploring the microbiome as a modifiable input to whole-person wellness. It informs a structure/function conversation about diet, fibre and targeted synbiotic support. It does not diagnose, and is not a substitute for standard-of-care evaluation of any neurological or psychiatric condition.
Flore's own real-world evidence sits at the GI–neuro interface. In a 2024 mSystems open-label pilot study (not a randomized controlled trial) of 296 children and adults with autism spectrum disorder versus 123 neurotypical controls — conducted with Arizona State University's Biodesign Center — a 3-month precision synbiotic was associated with increased gut-microbiome alpha diversity and a significant reduction in gastrointestinal discomfort; the authors note the open-label design may include placebo effects.[9] Earlier work characterized altered microbiome composition and function in IBS with measurable engraftment following daily supplementation (2021 mSystems).[10] Flore also has company-run controlled trials underway in GI and mood/neuro domains.
| Capability | Flore neurobiome testing | Generic 16S microbiome test | Symptom-only prescribing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | Shotgun-metagenomic, strain-level + functional genes | Genus-level, no functional genes | None — no microbial data |
| Gut-brain pathway read | Neuroactive-metabolite capacity mapped | Not modelled | Not modelled |
| Output | Personalized synbiotic compounded to the deficit | Generic report / off-the-shelf products | Empirical single-strain choice |
| Longitudinal tracking | Retest quantifies the shift | Rare / manual | Symptom recall only |
| Runs under provider license | Yes — provider-ordered & supervised | Often direct-to-consumer | Yes |
Provider questions
Is neurobiome testing a diagnostic test?
No. Neurobiome testing provides structure/function insight into the gut–brain axis for wellness and personalization. It is not cleared or intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD or any other condition, and does not replace standard-of-care evaluation.
Is “neurobiome” an established clinical field?
It is emerging. The established, peer-reviewed term for gut-brain probiotics is psychobiotics (Dinan, Stanton & Cryan, 2013); neurobiotics was introduced as a new concept in 2022. Flore uses neurobiome testing as a forward term for the applied clinical category it is pioneering — not a settled standard of care.
Who runs the sequencing, and to what standard?
Flore does not run the lab. Sequencing is performed by CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratories running validated lab-developed tests. Flore designs the analysis engine and compounds the formula (capsule or powder).
How are strains disclosed to me?
By genus, species and a Flore identifier — for example Bifidobacterium longum FLORE-XXXX. The specific selection and formulation logic is proprietary; the taxonomic identity and quality data you need for clinical review are disclosed.
What evidence supports it?
The gut–brain mechanisms draw on peer-reviewed literature (see References). Flore's own applied evidence is real-world and observational, plus a 2024 open-label pilot in ASD (not an RCT); company-run controlled trials are underway. We are transparent that this is an emerging, actively-studied area.
How do I bring this into my practice?
Provider access is reviewed case-by-case. Book a 15-minute onboarding call and we will walk you through the portal, the sequencing partner workflow, and how onboarding fits your practice.
Partner with Flore Clinical
Bring precision neurobiome insight into your practice. Book a 15-minute onboarding call and we will map it to your patients and workflow.
Schedule an onboarding call →Or email support@flore.com · 415-326-4743
References
- Dinan TG, Stanton C, Cryan JF. Psychobiotics: a novel class of psychotropic. Biol Psychiatry. 2013;74(10):720–726. PubMed 23759244
- Herrera-Rincon C, Murciano-Brea J, Geuna S. Can we promote neural regeneration through microbiota-targeted strategies? Introducing the new concept of neurobiotics. Neural Regen Res. 2022;17(9):1965–1966. PubMed 35142677
- Cryan JF, O'Riordan KJ, Cowan CSM, et al. The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Physiol Rev. 2019;99(4):1877–2013. PubMed 31460832
- Foster JA, Rinaman L, Cryan JF. Stress & the gut-brain axis: Regulation by the microbiome. Neurobiol Stress. 2017;7:124–136. PubMed 29276734
- Bravo JA, Forsythe P, Chew MV, et al. Ingestion of Lactobacillus strain regulates emotional behavior and central GABA receptor expression in a mouse via the vagus nerve. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011;108(38):16050–16055. PubMed 21876150
- Yano JM, Yu K, Donaldson GP, et al. Indigenous bacteria from the gut microbiota regulate host serotonin biosynthesis. Cell. 2015;161(2):264–276. PubMed 25860609
- Strandwitz P, Kim KH, Terekhova D, et al. GABA-modulating bacteria of the human gut microbiota. Nat Microbiol. 2019;4(3):396–403. PubMed 30531975
- Dalile B, Van Oudenhove L, Vervliet B, Verbeke K. The role of short-chain fatty acids in microbiota-gut-brain communication. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019;16(8):461–478. PubMed 31123355
- Phan J, Calvo DC, Nair D, et al. Precision synbiotics increase gut microbiome diversity and improve gastrointestinal symptoms in a pilot open-label study for autism spectrum disorder. mSystems. 2024;9(5):e00503-24. PubMed 38661344 (open-label pilot — not an RCT)
- Phan J, Nair D, Jain S, et al. Alterations in gut microbiome composition and function in irritable bowel syndrome and increased probiotic abundance with daily supplementation. mSystems. 2021;6(6):e01215-21. PubMed 34726487