The Joint Microbiome Facility (JMF) provides advanced ‘omics sequencing workflows and analytical pipelines to investigate and characterise complex microbial communities. In recent years, scientists have begun to appreciate the critical role of microbiomes to both human and environmental health. Microbiome research is now rapidly developing, with new programs and institutions being established worldwide. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and world-class expertise, the JMF supports both local and international research groups to conduct the highest standard of sequencing-based microbiome research.

Our facility offers individualised consulting services, supporting all stages of research, from experimental design to sample processing, sequencing, bioinformatic analysis, and data interpretation. We offer a range of cost-effective, high-throughput services to enable researchers to comprehensively assess microbial composition and activity in their systems. These services include DNA/RNA extraction from diverse sample types, gene amplicon sequencing, full length primer-free rRNA profiling, and metagenomic and meta-transcriptomic shotgun sequencing. Specifically, we offer Illumina MiSeq-based highly multiplexed gene amplicon sequencing (e.g., 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, ITS), Illumina NovaSeq-based metagenome and metatranscriptome sequencing, as well as long read (Oxford Nanopore Technologies based) microbial isolate genome and metagenome sequencing.

Established in 2018, the JMF is a collaborative venture between the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna. We have extensive expertise in characterising microbial communities from various habitats, ranging from human, animal, and plant microbiomes to soils, sediments, aquatic environments, and hot springs. Beyond this, the JMF is actively advancing the field of microbiome research by benchmarking existing approaches and developing new technological and analytical strategies.