Methods for identifying metabolites, and for developing and evaluating therapeutic agents based on the same

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method of identifying a metabolite related to a phenotype of an animal. The method includes obtaining biological samples from a first animal model having a first phenotype and a second animal model having a second phenotype, performing an analysis on the biological samples to identify metabolites with differential abundance between the models, selecting a metabolite with an increased abundance in the first model compared to the second model, administering the selected metabolite to a validation model having the second phenotype, and determining whether administration of the selected metabolite modulates the phenotype of the validation model to transition from the second phenotype toward the first phenotype. The method enables identification of potential therapeutic metabolites for treating diseases associated with metabolic imbalances.

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