Disease areas where
gut biology matters
Stool-derived host transcriptomics is especially useful in diseases where mucosal biology changes over time, but repeated tissue sampling is impractical. Foli-seq™ provides non-invasive readouts wherever mucosal inflammation, epithelial barrier function, immune activation, or tissue injury is central to disease pathophysiology or therapeutic mechanism of action.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are characterized by chronic, relapsing inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, epithelial barrier disruption, and dysregulated mucosal immune signaling. Current monitoring often relies on endoscopy, fecal calprotectin, and serum CRP, each with recognized limitations in sensitivity, specificity, or patient burden. Stool-derived host RNA enables longitudinal profiling of mucosal inflammatory state, barrier integrity, and immune activation without repeated tissue sampling.
Evidence: CDC estimates 2.4–3.1 million U.S. adults have IBD; anti-TNF primary non-response is commonly reported in the 30–40% range, and mucosal healing is a major treat-to-target outcome. Sources: CDC; anti-TNF response review; STRIDE / treat-to-target.
Colorectal Cancer & Precancerous Polyps
Colorectal cancer often develops through precancerous polyps, including advanced adenomas and serrated lesions, where early molecular changes may precede invasive cancer. Existing non-invasive tests perform strongly for colorectal cancer but remain less sensitive for advanced precancerous lesions. Stool-derived host RNA can add a complementary host-biology layer for studying abnormal epithelial proliferation, tissue injury, immune surveillance, and other molecular changes associated with high-risk polyps and early colorectal neoplasia..
Evidence: In 2026, an estimated 158,850 new CRC cases are expected in the U.S.; next-generation stool DNA testing showed 43.4% sensitivity for advanced precancerous lesions; and CDC analysis estimated 28 million U.S. adults aged 45–75 had never been screened.. Sources: SEER/NCI 2026; Imperiale et al., NEJM 2024; CDC / Preventing Chronic Disease.
Infectious GI & Post-Infection Recovery
Acute gastrointestinal infection can trigger mucosal immune activation, epithelial injury, barrier disruption, and tissue repair. In a subset of patients, host responses and symptoms can persist beyond pathogen clearance, including post-infectious IBS. Longitudinal stool-derived host RNA profiling can help map mucosal recovery from acute inflammation through epithelial repair and immune resolution.
develop post-infectious IBS after enteritis
Evidence: Systematic review data indicate that more than 10% of patients develop IBS after infectious enteritis, supporting a need to study persistent host responses after acute GI infection. Sources: Klem et al., Gastroenterology 2017.
Microbiome Therapeutics Host Response
Microbiome-modulating interventions are intended to alter host gut biology, but many studies still rely primarily on microbial composition as the main readout. Foli-seq™ adds a host-side readout of how the gut mucosa responds to live biotherapeutics, FMT, diet, prebiotics, or other microbiome interventions over time.
Microbiome shift
Companion Animal Gastrointestinal Health
Canine and feline gastrointestinal disorders create a growing need for non-invasive host gut biology readouts. Many companion animal GI conditions involve mucosal inflammation, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and immune dysregulation, but repeated tissue sampling is difficult in veterinary research settings. Foli-seq™ companion animal panels support stool-derived host transcriptomics for pet health, nutrition, and veterinary diagnostic and therapeutic research.
Shared biology across different disease areas
Clinically distinct disease areas often converge on shared mucosal programs, including inflammation, epithelial barrier function, tissue injury, and longitudinal response dynamics.
Studying diseases linked to gut biology?
Partner with us to apply non-invasive host gut transcriptomics to translational studies, biomarker discovery, pharmacodynamic monitoring, and longitudinal response profiling.