Frank Schuren

Research area

After studying biology, specializing in molecular biology, I have spent my entire career researching micro-organisms. I have been working at TNO since 1996 on ways to influence the role of micro-organisms in our lives (both positively and negatively). Research into the role of the microbiome in human health and disease has become increasingly important, and I study the microbiome in the gut as well as on the skin and in the vagina.

Two topics are central to my research: how can we influence microbiota composition and activity and how does the human microbiome influence people's health. We prefer to prevent people from becoming ill, so early recognition of changes is important. Because early recognition is often difficult, intervention in the early stages of the disease is playing an increasingly important role.

Healthy diet and lifestyle play a major role and the role of dietary fiber and other natural components such as polyphenols are central to this research. The large individual differences in microbiome composition also play an important role in my research. The long-term vision of my research focuses mainly on identifying novel ways to restore disturbed microbiomes in order to improve people's health.

Recent results

Dietary fibers cannot be digested by the human body, but they can be digested by bacteria in the large intestine. These fibers mainly stimulate healthy bacteria, but each specific fiber only stimulates certain types of bacteria. Due to the enormous individual variation in microbiome composition in people, it is almost impossible to achieve a major effect with 1 fiber.

We have recently shown that combinations of fibers are much more effective than individual fibers. We have also shown that a short exposure of an intestinal microbiome sample in the laboratory (in the TNO i-screen model) is predictive of the longer-term effect in humans.

In this way it becomes possible to determine much more effectively and quickly which fibers can be effective for which individuals. These developments are being investigated in currently running and new research projects. I am always open to discussing this topic further with interested parties and to discuss options for novel research questions.

Important publications

Eveleens Maarse BC, Eggink HM, Warnke I, Bijlsma S, van den Broek TJ, Oosterman JE, Caspers MPM, Sybesma W, Gal P, van Kraaij SJW, Schuren FHJ, Moerland M, Hoevenaars FPM. Impact of fibre supplementation on microbiome and resilience in healthy participants: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2024, 34(6):1416-1426

Valeria Agamennone, Tim J van den Broek, Alie de Kat Angelino-Bart, Femke P M Hoevenaars, Jan Willem van der Kamp, Frank H J Schuren. Individual and Group-Based Effects of In Vitro Fiber Interventions on the Fecal Microbiota. Microorganisms 2023, 3;11(8):2001

Wiese M, Schuren FHJ, Smits WK, Kuijper EJ, Ouwens A, Heerikhuisen M, Vigsnaes L, van den Broek TJ, de Boer P, Montijn RC, van der Vossen JMBM. 2'-Fucosyllactose inhibits proliferation of Clostridioides difficile ATCC 43599 in the CDi-screen, an in vitro model simulating Clostridioides difficile infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022, 28(12):991150.

Fehlbaum S, Prudence K, Kieboom J, Heerikhuisen M, van den Broek T, Schuren FHJ, Steinert RE, Raederstorff D. In Vitro Fermentation of Selected Prebiotics and Their Effects on the Composition and Activity of the Adult Gut Microbiota. Int J Mol Sci 2018, 10;19(10):3097