6

May 26

Gut Health

Beyond Zonulin: Metagenomic Assessment of Gut Barrier Dysfunction

Wed 6th May 2026, 01:00pm
ONLINE

Register Here

Beyond Zonulin: Metagenomic Assessment of Gut Barrier Dysfunction 

Date: 6 May 2026 Time: 1:00–2:00pm (UK) / 5PM UAE / 8am EST

Intestinal permeability is implicated in a wide range of complex, chronic health conditions — from autoimmunity and metabolic dysfunction to mood disorders and systemic inflammation. 

Yet in clinical practice, assessment of gut barrier integrity has traditionally relied heavily on a single stool marker: zonulin. 

But zonulin is only part of the picture. 

With the advent of advanced shotgun metagenomic sequencing, healthcare professionals now have access to deeper, functional insights into the microbiome’s role in regulating gut barrier integrity. Tests such as Microba’s Microbiome Explorer allow clinicians to evaluate not just microbial composition, but functional capacity — including the production and metabolism of key barrier-supportive and barrier-disruptive compounds. 

In this focused webinar, Hannah Braye, Clinical Director at Microba UK, will guide attendees beyond zonulin. You will explore how metagenomic analysis can identify microbial drivers of intestinal permeability and inform more precise, evidence-based intervention strategies. 

This session is designed for healthcare professionals ready to move from surface-level markers to functional microbiome insight. 

Key Learning Objectives 

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: 

  • Describe the principles of shotgun metagenomic sequencing and how it differs from traditional stool testing 
  • Explain the root causes and mechanisms underpinning intestinal permeability 
  • Interpret functional microbial markers relevant to gut barrier and mucosal health, including: 
  • Hexa-lipopolysaccharides (LPS) 
  • Short-chain fatty acids (butyrate and acetate) 
  • Hydrogen sulphide 
  • Indolepropionic acid 
  • Mucin degradation markers 
  • Apply metagenomic findings to develop targeted, clinically relevant intervention strategies 

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