Sugarlogix researchers go from fuel to food

In California, two cofounders of Sugarlogix went from engineering yeast for cellulose based fuel production and refining biofuel fermentation processes to cultivating prebiotic sugars that could be good for your gut. Their goal is to develop prebiotic sugars that feed the good probiotics in your gut, especially for people who have taken antibiotics or infants who are the ones that most need the good gut bacteria.

Breast milk is their inspiration as human milk oligosaccharides, or HMOs have already been proven beneficial to infants and already exist, but they now are using genetically modified yeast and fermentation to develop the same HMOs, instead of relying on a human breast to create them. Their final product is in powder form that looks similar to sugar you put in your coffee and that could be added to infant formula or given to adults as a supplement or beverage to help increase healthy bacteria in guts.