Our Science
For humans, by science.
Our process starts with microbial strain validation through biofermentation, stabilization, scale-up, and clinical research.
Probiotic Strain Validation
Our strain bank consists of probiotic strains with extensive mechanistic and clinical data generated at academic institutions and research partners around the world—including Italy, Spain, Belgium, the US, and Japan. Our strains are deposited in the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC).
Research-Derived Dosage: we preserve the biologically active dose of each strain and ensure full label-claim delivery through the entire shelf life.
Biofermentation
A metabolic process used by bacteria to generate energy for cell growth and multiplication—this is how we culture our probiotic strains. Bacteria are sensitive; we optimize conditions for pH, strain purity, temperature, and 28 other factors.
Flow Cytometry + Whole-Genome Sequencing
Flow cytometry is used to calculate AFU (Active Fluorescent Units)—a more precise measurement of all viable, injured, and dead probiotic cells than traditional plated CFU counts.
Our probiotics are among the first to undergo end-to-end whole-genome testing, applying nanopore and shotgun sequencing to genetically validate each strain and species.
Clinical research: we validate formulations through double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials with leading academic institutions.
SHIME®
Bacteria are fragile—sensitive to heat, oxygen, light, water, stomach acids and bile. We test our products in SHIME®, the closest system developed to model human digestion and the gut. It recreates physiological conditions including food uptake, peristalsis, digestive enzymes, bile acids, and time spent in each step.
Testing
All products are tested for all 14 classes of allergens according to EFSA, and Seed adheres to the requirements of CA Prop 65.
Quality control: QA/QC checkpoints monitor purity under both US and European protocols (including cGMP + HACCP) throughout the production cycle with no skip-lot testing.
Global quality adherence: we go beyond FDA requirements and also adhere to Japan’s FOSHU and the European Food Safety Authority standards.
Our Scientific and Clinical Advisory Boards consist of scientists and clinicians across microbiology, computational biology, host-microbe interactions, immunology, gastroenterology and women’s health. They have produced 2800+ publications and over 140,000 citations.
Scientific Advisors: Gregor Reid, PhD, MBA · Jacques Ravel, PhD · George Church, PhD · Belinda Tan, MD, PhD · Sarkis Mazmanian, PhD · Christopher Mason, PhD · Peter Turnbaugh, PhD · Eran Segal, PhD
Clinical Advisors: James Versalovic, MD, PhD · Alessio Fasano, MD · Jessica Alligretti, MD, MPH · Jane van Dis, MD · Uma Naidoo, MD · Emeran Mayer, MD · Susan Kellogg-Spadt, PhD, CRNP, IF, CDC · Mark Hyman, MD · Diane Harper, MD, MPH, MS · Nick Van Hise, PharmD