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How to Write a Biography (Examples & Templates)

A biography is a written account of a person’s life that details their life in chronological order. Another person usually writes this detailed account, and it contains reports of their childhood, career, major life events, relationships, and social impact. It also details their relationships with their family, children, and life accomplishments.

The best way to find out more about a popular figure is through reading their biographies, so you need to make sure you get the correct information. Before writing a biography, you need to do a lot of research and interviews to represent a person’s life accurately.

Types of Biography

A biography is the story of someone’s life as written by another writer. Most biographies of popular figures are written years, or even decades, after their deaths. Authors write biographies of popular figures due to either a lack of information on the subject or personal interest.

A biography aims to share a person’s story or highlight a part of their life.

There are different types of biographies, depending on the story. Some biographies are written true to the story, while some are written as fictional works. Biographies can give you true understanding of a person on an internal as well as external level along with a lot of life lessons.

Autobiography

An autobiography is different from a biography because it is written by the subject of the story, themselves. The author writes in the first-person narrative, and it flows step-by-step like a story of their life. Autobiographies contain personal accounts of the subject’s life, along with their perspectives and opinions on events in their life.

How To Write a Biography

Pick a subject.

Picking a subject is the first step in writing a biography. You can pick an already famous person or a relatively unknown person with a great life story. If you already have a few in mind, you can start by asking yourself some questions such as;

• What has the subject accomplished that makes them a good subject?
• Have they had an impact on society?
• Is the subject a celebrity or a well-known personality?
• Will the biography appeal to a wide audience?

Get Permission

When you pick a subject, the next thing to do is to get permission from them or their family or rights owners. Although, with some historical figures, there may not be any need for permission. Getting permission from your subject makes it easier for you to get stories to put into your book. You can get the chance to obtain additional personal stories and anecdotes that will make your book more interesting by doing so as well.

Do The Research

Research is the most important part of a biography’s process as the entire content of the book is dependent on it. Irrespective of what you know about the subject, you need to carry out as much research as possible to get the story’s facts precisely.

Biography research comes from various sources, depending on the book’s subject. Firsthand reports from family, friends, or personal accounts from the subjects are primary sources. They are usually the most accurate and reliable, and they are crucial for a biography. Secondary sources come from other sources like magazines or documentaries.

Pick a Format

Biographies come in various formats, with each of them having their pros and cons. A typical biography will start at the beginning, usually with the birth and childhood of the subject. Yet, if the biography’s theme involves a different event in their life, the author may want to explore the flashback option or one with concurrent events from different times.

Usually, biographies have a theme or a general life lesson at the center. The author’s role is to tell the subject’s story leading up to the major event.

Which-ever format you choose should place the theme at the center, with the other events detailing the journey.

Create a Timeline Of The Story

Since a biography takes place in chronological order, there needs to be a timeline of the events in the right order. The timeline should contain the key events in the subject’s life, in the order the author plans on revealing them. A great way to declutter the story and keep it interesting is to use flashbacks . This way, the author can introduce past events and explain later events excluding the element of monotony.

Add In Your Thoughts

The good thing about biographies is that you don’t have to stick to the hard facts only. As the author, you can share your opinions and emotions in writing. The author has the freedom to do this by commenting on a significant action by the subject in a manner that describes why they feel the subject may have done what they did.

The author can also include commentary on events depicted in the biography – how it was influenced society or its impact on the lives around them. Recounting these events through a different perspective can make the biography more relatable and interesting to read.

FAQ’s

Why is a biography template important.

A biography template has an outline that makes the writing easier for the author. Biography templates usually contain a sample timeline, format, and questions that provide more information about the subject. With a great biography template, you can cut your writing time in half and spend less time coming up with an outline.

How are biographies better in comparison to autobiographies

Since a different person writes biographies, they tend to be more objective and somewhat accurate than autobiographies. An autobiography tells things from the author’s perspective, so their views and perspective cloud it. Thus, a biography will likely tell a more factual story.

These are the important steps you need to take to help you write a great biography. Now, to make things easier for you, we have a free customizable autobiography and biography template that you can use to start your first book. Get the template and start writing today

What are some of the most important elements to keep in consideration while writing a biography?

Any author looking to write a biography must consider the factors below. They aren’t the only important factors, but a biography isn’t complete without them. • Date and place of their birth • Academic background • Professional expertise • Death, if deceased • Facts and anecdotes about the person • Main accomplishments • Detailed accounts of their child and adult life

Biographies tell the untold stories of some incredibly relevant people in the world. But biographies are not always strictly accurate. So, every biographer needs to follow the necessary steps to provide a biography with all the requirements.

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How to Write a Biography: A 7-Step Guide [+Template]

From time to time, nonfiction authors become so captivated by a particular figure from either the present or the past, that they feel compelled to write an entire book about their life. Whether casting them as heroes or villains, there is an interesting quality in their humanity that compels these authors to revisit their life paths and write their story.

However, portraying someone’s life on paper in a comprehensive and engaging way requires solid preparation. If you’re looking to write a biography yourself, in this post we’ll share a step-by-step blueprint that you can follow. 

How to write a biography: 

1. Seek permission when possible 

2. research your subject thoroughly, 3. do interviews and visit locations, 4. organize your findings, 5. identify a central thesis, 6. write it using narrative elements, 7. get feedback and polish the text.

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Biography Outline Template

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While you technically don’t need permission to write about public figures (or deceased ones), that doesn't guarantee their legal team won't pursue legal action against you. Author Kitty Kelley was sued by Frank Sinatra before she even started to write His Way , a biography that paints Ol Blue Eyes in a controversial light. (Kelley ended up winning the lawsuit, however).  

Whenever feasible, advise the subject’s representatives of your intentions. If all goes according to plan, you’ll get a green light to proceed, or potentially an offer to collaborate. It's a matter of common sense; if someone were to write a book about you, you would likely want to know about it well prior to publication. So, make a sincere effort to reach out to their PR staff to negotiate an agreement or at least a mutual understanding of the scope of your project. 

At the same time, make sure that you still retain editorial control over the project, and not end up writing a puff piece that treats its protagonist like a saint or hero. No biography can ever be entirely objective, but you should always strive for a portrayal that closely aligns with facts and reality.

If you can’t get an answer from your subject, or you’re asked not to proceed forward, you can still accept the potential repercussions and write an unauthorized biography . The “rebellious act” of publishing without consent indeed makes for great marketing, though it’ll likely bring more headaches with it too. 

✋ Please note that, like other nonfiction books, if you intend to release your biography with a publishing house , you can put together a book proposal to send to them before you even write the book. If they like it enough, they might pay you an advance to write it.  

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Once you’ve settled (or not) the permission part, it’s time to dive deep into your character’s story.  

Deep and thorough research skills are the cornerstone of every biographer worth their salt. To paint a vivid and accurate portrait of someone's life, you’ll have to gather qualitative information from a wide range of reliable sources. 

Start with the information already available, from books on your subject to archival documents, then collect new ones firsthand by interviewing people or traveling to locations. 

Browse the web and library archives

Put your researcher hat on and start consuming any piece on your subject you can find, from their Wikipedia page to news articles, interviews, TV and radio appearances, YouTube videos, podcasts, books, magazines, and any other media outlets they may have been featured in. 

Establish a system to orderly collect the information you find 一 even seemingly insignificant details can prove valuable during the writing process, so be sure to save them. 

Depending on their era, you may find most of the information readily available online, or you may need to search through university libraries for older references. 

For his landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, Ron Chernow spent untold hours at Columbia University’s library , reading through the Hamilton family papers, visiting the New York Historical Society, as well as interviewing the archivist of the New York Stock Exchange, and so on. The research process took years, but it certainly paid off. Chernow discovered that Hamilton created the first five securities originally traded on Wall Street. This finding, among others, revealed his significant contributions to shaping the current American financial and political systems, a legacy previously often overshadowed by other founding fathers. Today Alexander Hamilton is one of the best-selling biographies of all time, and it has become a cultural phenomenon with its own dedicated musical. 

Besides reading documents about your subject, research can help you understand the world that your subject lived in. 

Try to understand their time and social environment

Many biographies show how their protagonists have had a profound impact on society through their philosophical, artistic, or scientific contributions. But at the same time, it’s worth it as a biographer to make an effort to understand how their societal and historical context influenced their life’s path and work.

An interesting example is Stephen Greenblatt’s Will in the World . Finding himself limited by a lack of verified detail surrounding William Shakespeare's personal life, Greenblatt, instead, employs literary interpretation and imaginative reenactments to transport readers back to the Elizabethan era. The result is a vivid (though speculative) depiction of the playwright's life, enriching our understanding of his world.

Many readers enjoy biographies that transport them to a time and place, so exploring a historical period through the lens of a character can be entertaining in its own right. The Diary of Samuel Pepys became a classic not because people were enthralled by his life as an administrator, but rather from his meticulous and vivid documentation of everyday existence during the Restoration period.

Once you’ve gotten your hands on as many secondary sources as you can find, you’ll want to go hunting for stories first-hand from people who are (or were) close to your subject.

With all the material you’ve been through, by now you should already have a pretty good picture of your protagonist. But you’ll surely have some curiosities and missing dots in their character arc to figure out, which you can only get by interviewing primary sources.

Interview friends and associates

This part is more relevant if your subject is contemporary, and you can actually meet up or call with relatives, friends, colleagues, business partners, neighbors, or any other person related to them. 

In writing the popular biography of Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson interviewed more than one hundred people, including Jobs’s family, colleagues, former college mates, business rivals, and the man himself.

🔍 Read other biographies to get a sense of what makes a great one. Check out our list of the 30 best biographies of all time , or take our 30-second quiz below for tips on which one you should read next. 

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When you conduct your interviews, make sure to record them with high quality audio you can revisit later. Then use tools like Otter.ai or Descript to transcribe them 一 it’ll save you countless hours. 

You can approach the interview with a specific set of questions, or follow your curiosity blindly, trying to uncover revealing stories and anecdotes about your subject. Whatever your method, author and biography editor Tom Bromley suggests that every interviewer arrives prepared, "Show that you’ve done your work. This will help to put the interviewee at ease, and get their best answers.” 

Bromley also places emphasis on the order in which you conduct interviews. “You may want to interview different members of the family or friends first, to get their perspective on something, and then go directly to the main interviewee. You'll be able to use that knowledge to ask sharper, more specific questions.” 

Finally, consider how much time you have with each interviewee. If you only have a 30-minute phone call with an important person, make it count by asking directly the most pressing questions you have. And, if you find a reliable source who is also particularly willing to help, conduct several interviews and ask them, if appropriate, to write a foreword as part of the book’s front matter .

Sometimes an important part of the process is packing your bags, getting on a plane, and personally visiting significant places in your character’s journey.

Visit significant places in their life

A place, whether that’s a city, a rural house, or a bodhi tree, can carry a particular energy that you can only truly experience by being there. In putting the pieces together about someone’s life, it may be useful to go visit where they grew up, or where other significant events of their lives happened. It will be easier to imagine what they experienced, and better tell their story. 

In researching The Lost City of Z , author David Grann embarked on a trek through the Amazon, retracing the steps of British explorer Percy Fawcett. This led Grann to develop new theories about the circumstances surrounding the explorer's disappearance.

Hopefully, you won’t have to deal with jaguars and anacondas to better understand your subject’s environment, but try to walk into their shoes as much as possible. 

Once you’ve researched your character enough, it’s time to put together all the puzzle pieces you collected so far. 

Take the bulk of notes, media, and other documents you’ve collected, and start to give them some order and structure. A simple way to do this is by creating a timeline. 

Create a chronological timeline

It helps to organize your notes chronologically 一 from childhood to the senior years, line up the most significant events of your subject’s life, including dates, places, names and other relevant bits. 

You should be able to divide their life into distinct periods, each with their unique events and significance. Based on that, you can start drafting an outline of the narrative you want to create.  

Draft a story outline 

Since a biography entails writing about a person’s entire life, it will have a beginning, a middle, and an end. You can pick where you want to end the story, depending on how consequential the last years of your subject were. But the nature of the work will give you a starting character arc to work with. 

To outline the story then, you could turn to the popular Three-Act Structure , which divides the narrative in three main parts. In a nutshell, you’ll want to make sure to have the following:

• Act 1. Setup : Introduce the protagonist's background and the turning points that set them on a path to achieve a goal. 
• Act 2. Confrontation : Describe the challenges they encounter, both internal and external, and how they rise to them. Then..
• Act 3. Resolution : Reach a climactic point in their story in which they succeed (or fail), showing how they (and the world around them) have changed as a result. 

Only one question remains before you begin writing: what will be the main focus of your biography?

Think about why you’re so drawn to your subject to dedicate years of your life to recounting their own. What aspect of their life do you want to highlight? Is it their evil nature, artistic genius, or visionary mindset? And what evidence have you got to back that up? Find a central thesis or focus to weave as the main thread throughout your narrative. 

Or find a unique angle

If you don’t have a particular theme to explore, finding a distinct angle on your subject’s story can also help you distinguish your work from other biographies or existing works on the same subject.

Plenty of biographies have been published about The Beatles 一 many of which have different focuses and approaches: 

• Philip Norman's Shout is sometimes regarded as leaning more towards a pro-Lennon and anti-McCartney stance, offering insights into the band's inner dynamics. 
• Ian McDonald's Revolution in the Head closely examines their music track by track, shifting the focus back to McCartney as a primary creative force. 
• Craig Brown's One Two Three Four aims to capture their story through anecdotes, fan letters, diary entries, and interviews. 
• Mark Lewisohn's monumental three-volume biography, Tune In , stands as a testament to over a decade of meticulous research, chronicling every intricate detail of the Beatles' journey.

Finally, consider that biographies are often more than recounting the life of a person. Similar to how Dickens’ Great Expectations is not solely about a boy named Pip (but an examination and critique of Britain’s fickle, unforgiving class system), a biography should strive to illuminate a broader truth — be it social, political, or human — beyond the immediate subject of the book. 

Once you’ve identified your main focus or angle, it’s time to write a great story. 

While biographies are often highly informative, they do not have to be dry and purely expository in nature . You can play with storytelling elements to make it an engaging read. 

You could do that by thoroughly detailing the setting of the story , depicting the people involved in the story as fully-fledged characters , or using rising action and building to a climax when describing a particularly significant milestone of the subject’s life. 

One common way to make a biography interesting to read is starting on a strong foot…

Hook the reader from the start

Just because you're honoring your character's whole life doesn't mean you have to begin when they said their first word. Starting from the middle or end of their life can be more captivating as it introduces conflicts and stakes that shaped their journey.

When he wrote about Christopher McCandless in Into the Wild , author Jon Krakauer didn’t open his subject’s childhood and abusive family environment. Instead, the book begins with McCandless hitchhiking his way into the wilderness, and subsequently being discovered dead in an abandoned bus. By starting in medias res , Krakauer hooks the reader’s interest, before tracing back the causes and motivations that led McCandless to die alone in that bus in the first place.

You can bend the timeline to improve the reader’s reading experience throughout the rest of the story too…

Play with flashback 

While biographies tend to follow a chronological narrative, you can use flashbacks to tell brief stories or anecdotes when appropriate. For example, if you were telling the story of footballer Lionel Messi, before the climax of winning the World Cup with Argentina, you could recall when he was just 13 years old, giving an interview to a local newspaper, expressing his lifelong dream of playing for the national team. 

Used sparsely and intentionally, flashbacks can add more context to the story and keep the narrative interesting. Just like including dialogue does…

Reimagine conversations

Recreating conversations that your subject had with people around them is another effective way to color the story. Dialogue helps the reader imagine the story like a movie, providing a deeper sensory experience. 

One thing is trying to articulate the root of Steve Jobs’ obsession with product design, another would be to quote his father , teaching him how to build a fence when he was young: “You've got to make the back of the fence just as good looking as the front of the fence. Even though nobody will see it, you will know. And that will show that you're dedicated to making something perfect.”

Unlike memoirs and autobiographies, in which the author tells the story from their personal viewpoint and enjoys greater freedom to recall conversations, biographies require a commitment to facts. So, when recreating dialogue, try to quote directly from reliable sources like personal diaries, emails, and text messages. You could also use your interview scripts as an alternative to dialogue. As Tom Bromley suggests, “If you talk with a good amount of people, you can try to tell the story from their perspective, interweaving different segments and quoting the interviewees directly.”

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These are just some of the story elements you can use to make your biography more compelling. Once you’ve finished your manuscript, it’s a good idea to ask for feedback. 

If you’re going to self-publish your biography, you’ll have to polish it to professional standards. After leaving your work to rest for a while, look at it with fresh eyes and self-edit your manuscript eliminating passive voice, filler words, and redundant adverbs. 

Then, have a professional editor give you a general assessment. They’ll look at the structure and shape of your manuscript and tell you which parts need to be expanded on or cut. As someone who edited and commissioned several biographies, Tom Bromley points out that a professional “will look at the sources used and assess whether they back up the points made, or if more are needed. They would also look for context, and whether or not more background information is needed for the reader to understand the story fully. And they might check your facts, too.”  

In addition to structural editing, you may want to have someone copy-edit and proofread your work.

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Importantly, make sure to include a bibliography with a list of all the interviews, documents, and sources used in the writing process. You’ll have to compile it according to a manual of style, but you can easily create one by using tools like EasyBib . Once the text is nicely polished and typeset in your writing software , you can prepare for the publication process.  

In conclusion, by mixing storytelling elements with diligent research, you’ll be able to breathe life into a powerful biography that immerses readers in another individual’s life experience. Whether that’ll spark inspiration or controversy, remember you could have an important role in shaping their legacy 一 and that’s something not to take lightly. 

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How to Write a Biography

Biographies are big business. Whether in book form or Hollywood biopics, the lives of the famous and sometimes not-so-famous fascinate us.

While it’s true that most biographies are about people who are in the public eye, sometimes the subject is less well-known. Primarily, though, famous or not, the person who is written about has led an incredible life.

In this article, we will explain biography writing in detail for teachers and students so they can create their own.

While your students will most likely have a basic understanding of a biography, it’s worth taking a little time before they put pen to paper to tease out a crystal-clear definition of one.

What Is a Biography?

A biography is an account of someone’s life written by someone else . While there is a genre known as a fictional biography, for the most part, biographies are, by definition, nonfiction.

Generally speaking, biographies provide an account of the subject’s life from the earliest days of childhood to the present day or, if the subject is deceased, their death.

The job of a biography is more than just to outline the bare facts of a person’s life.

Rather than just listing the basic details of their upbringing, hobbies, education, work, relationships, and death, a well-written biography should also paint a picture of the subject’s personality and experience of life.

Full Biographies

Teaching unit.

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Features of a Biography

Before students begin writing a biography, they’ll need to have a firm grasp of the main features of a Biography. An excellent way to determine how well they understand these essential elements is to ask them to compile a checklist like the one-blow

Their checklists should contain the items below at a minimum. Be sure to help them fill in any gaps before moving on to the writing process.

The purpose of a biography is to provide an account of someone’s life.

Biography structure.

ORIENTATION (BEGINNING) Open your biography with a strong hook to grab the reader’s attention

SEQUENCING: In most cases, biographies are written in chronological order unless you are a very competent writer consciously trying to break from this trend.

COVER: childhood, upbringing, education, influences, accomplishments, relationships, etc. – everything that helps the reader to understand the person.

CONCLUSION: Wrap your biography up with some details about what the subject is doing now if they are still alive. If they have passed away, make mention of what impact they have made and what their legacy is or will be.

BIOGRAPHY FEATURES

LANGUAGE Use descriptive and figurative language that will paint images inside your audience’s minds as they read. Use time connectives to link events.

PERSPECTIVE Biographies are written from the third person’s perspective.

DETAILS: Give specific details about people, places, events, times, dates, etc. Reflect on how events shaped the subject. You might want to include some relevant photographs with captions. A timeline may also be of use depending upon your subject and what you are trying to convey to your audience.

TENSE Written in the past tense (though ending may shift to the present/future tense)

THE PROCESS OF WRITING A BIOGRAPHY

Like any form of writing, you will find it simple if you have a plan and follow it through. These steps will ensure you cover the essential bases of writing a biography essay.

Firstly, select a subject that inspires you. Someone whose life story resonates with you and whose contribution to society intrigues you. The next step is to conduct thorough research. Engage in extensive reading, explore various sources, watch documentaries, and glean all available information to provide a comprehensive account of the person’s life.

Creating an outline is essential to organize your thoughts and information. The outline should include the person’s early life, education, career, achievements, and any other significant events or contributions. It serves as a map for the writing process, ensuring that all vital information is included.

Your biography should have an engaging introduction that captivates the reader’s attention and provides background information on the person you’re writing about. It should include a thesis statement summarising the biography’s main points.

Writing a biography in chronological order is crucial . You should begin with the person’s early life and move through their career and achievements. This approach clarifies how the person’s life unfolded and how they accomplished their goals.

A biography should be written in a narrative style , capturing the essence of the person’s life through vivid descriptions, anecdotes, and quotes. Avoid dry, factual writing and focus on creating a compelling narrative that engages the reader.

Adding personal insights and opinions can enhance the biography’s overall impact, providing a unique perspective on the person’s achievements, legacy, and impact on society.

Editing and proofreading are vital elements of the writing process. Thoroughly reviewing your biography ensures that the writing is clear, concise, and error-free. You can even request feedback from someone else to ensure that it is engaging and well-written.

Finally, including a bibliography at the end of your biography is essential. It gives credit to the sources that were used during research, such as books, articles, interviews, and websites.

Tips for Writing a Brilliant Biography

Biography writing tip #1: choose your subject wisely.

There are several points for students to reflect on when deciding on a subject for their biography. Let’s take a look at the most essential points to consider when deciding on the subject for a biography:

Interest: To produce a biography will require sustained writing from the student. That’s why students must choose their subject well. After all, a biography is an account of someone’s entire life to date. Students must ensure they choose a subject that will sustain their interest throughout the research, writing, and editing processes.

Merit: Closely related to the previous point, students must consider whether the subject merits the reader’s interest. Aside from pure labors of love, writing should be undertaken with the reader in mind. While producing a biography demands sustained writing from the author, it also demands sustained reading from the reader.

Therefore, students should ask themselves if their chosen subject has had a life worthy of the reader’s interest and the time they’d need to invest in reading their biography.

Information: Is there enough information available on the subject to fuel the writing of an entire biography? While it might be a tempting idea to write about a great-great-grandfather’s experience in the war. There would be enough interest there to sustain the author’s and the reader’s interest, but do you have enough access to information about their early childhood to do the subject justice in the form of a biography?

Biography Writing Tip #2: R esearch ! Research! Research!

While the chances are good that the student already knows quite a bit about the subject they’ve chosen. Chances are 100% that they’ll still need to undertake considerable research to write their biography.

As with many types of writing , research is an essential part of the planning process that shouldn’t be overlooked. If students wish to give as complete an account of their subject’s life as possible, they’ll need to put in the time at the research stage.

An effective way to approach the research process is to:

1. Compile a chronological timeline of the central facts, dates, and events of the subject’s life

2. Compile detailed descriptions of the following personal traits:

•      Physical looks
•      Character traits
•      Values and beliefs

3. Compile some research questions based on different topics to provide a focus for the research:

• Childhood : Where and when were they born? Who were their parents? Who were the other family members? What education did they receive?
• Obstacles: What challenges did they have to overcome? How did these challenges shape them as individuals?
• Legacy: What impact did this person have on the world and/or the people around them?
• Dialogue & Quotes: Dialogue and quotations by and about the subject are a great way to bring color and life to a biography. Students should keep an eagle eye out for the gems that hide amid their sources.

As the student gets deeper into their research, new questions will arise that can further fuel the research process and help to shape the direction the biography will ultimately go in.

Likewise, during the research, themes will often begin to suggest themselves. Exploring these themes is essential to bring depth to biography, but we’ll discuss this later in this article.

Research Skills:

Researching for biography writing is an excellent way for students to hone their research skills in general. Developing good research skills is essential for future academic success. Students will have opportunities to learn how to:

• Gather relevant information
• Evaluate different information sources
• Select suitable information
• Organize information into a text.

Students will have access to print and online information sources, and, in some cases, they may also have access to people who knew or know the subject (e.g. biography of a family member).

These days, much of the research will likely take place online. It’s crucial, therefore, to provide your students with guidance on how to use the internet safely and evaluate online sources for reliability. This is the era of ‘ fake news ’ and misinformation after all!

COMPLETE TEACHING UNIT ON INTERNET RESEARCH SKILLS USING GOOGLE SEARCH

Teach your students ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF THE INFORMATION ERA to become expert DIGITAL RESEARCHERS.

⭐How to correctly ask questions to search engines on all devices.

⭐ How to filter and refine your results to find exactly what you want every time.

⭐ Essential Research and critical thinking skills for students.

⭐ Plagiarism, Citing and acknowledging other people’s work.

⭐ How to query, synthesize and record your findings logically.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip #3: Find Your Themes In Biography Writing

Though predominantly a nonfiction genre, the story still plays a significant role in good biography writing. The skills of characterization and plot structuring are transferable here. And, just like in fiction, exploring themes in a biographical work helps connect the personal to the universal. Of course, these shouldn’t be forced; this will make the work seem contrived, and the reader may lose faith in the truthfulness of the account. A biographer needs to gain and maintain the trust of the reader.

Fortunately, themes shouldn’t need to be forced. A life well-lived is full of meaning, and the themes the student writer is looking for will emerge effortlessly from the actions and events of the subject’s life. It’s just a case of learning how to spot them.

One way to identify the themes in a life is to look for recurring events or situations in a person’s life. These should be apparent from the research completed previously. The students should seek to identify these patterns that emerge in the subject’s life. For example, perhaps they’ve had to overcome various obstacles throughout different periods of their life. In that case, the theme of overcoming adversity is present and has been identified.

Usually, a biography has several themes running throughout, so be sure your students work to identify more than one theme in their subject’s life.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING Tip: #4 Put Something of Yourself into the Writing

While the defining feature of a biography is that it gives an account of a person’s life, students must understand that this is not all a biography does. Relating the facts and details of a subject’s life is not enough. The student biographer should not be afraid to share their thoughts and feelings with the reader throughout their account of their subject’s life.

The student can weave some of their personality into the fabric of the text by providing commentary and opinion as they relate the events of the person’s life and the wider social context at the time. Unlike the detached and objective approach we’d expect to find in a history textbook, in a biography, student-writers should communicate their enthusiasm for their subject in their writing.

This makes for a more intimate experience for the reader, as they get a sense of getting to know the author and the subject they are writing about.

Biography Examples For Students

• Year 5 Example
• Year 7 Example
• Year 9 Example

“The Rock ‘n’ Roll King: Elvis Presley”

Elvis Aaron Presley, born on January 8, 1935, was an amazing singer and actor known as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Even though he’s been dead for nearly 50 years, I can’t help but be fascinated by his incredible life!

Elvis grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi, in a tiny house with his parents and twin brother. His family didn’t have much money, but they shared a love for music. Little did they know Elvis would become a music legend!

When he was only 11 years old, Elvis got his first guitar. He taught himself to play and loved singing gospel songs. As he got older, he started combining different music styles like country, blues, and gospel to create a whole new sound – that’s Rock ‘n’ Roll!

In 1954, at the age of 19, Elvis recorded his first song, “That’s All Right.” People couldn’t believe how unique and exciting his music was. His famous hip-swinging dance moves also made him a sensation!

Elvis didn’t just rock the music scene; he also starred in movies like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.” But fame came with challenges. Despite facing ups and downs, Elvis kept spreading happiness through his music.

Tragically, Elvis passed away in 1977, but his music and charisma live on. Even today, people worldwide still enjoy his songs like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” Elvis Presley’s legacy as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll will live forever.

Long Live the King: I wish I’d seen him.

Elvis Presley, the Rock ‘n’ Roll legend born on January 8, 1935, is a captivating figure that even a modern-day teen like me can’t help but admire. As I delve into his life, I wish I could have experienced the magic of his live performances.

Growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis faced challenges but found solace in music. At 11, he got his first guitar, a symbol of his journey into the world of sound. His fusion of gospel, country, and blues into Rock ‘n’ Roll became a cultural phenomenon.

The thought of being in the audience during his early performances, especially when he recorded “That’s All Right” at 19, sends shivers down my spine. Imagining the crowd’s uproar and feeling the revolutionary energy of that moment is a dream I wish I could have lived.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical prodigy; he was a dynamic performer. His dance moves, the embodiment of rebellion, and his roles in films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock” made him a true icon.

After watching him on YouTube, I can’t help but feel a little sad that I’ll never witness the King’s live performances. The idea of swaying to “Hound Dog” or being enchanted by “Can’t Help Falling in Love” in person is a missed opportunity. Elvis may have left us in 1977, but he was the king of rock n’ roll. Long live the King!

Elvis Presley: A Teen’s Take on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Icon”

Elvis Presley, born January 8, 1935, was a revolutionary force in the music world, earning his title as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Exploring his life, even as a 16-year-old today, I’m captivated by the impact he made.

Hailing from Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis grew up in humble beginnings, surrounded by the love of his parents and twin brother. It’s inspiring to think that, despite financial challenges, this young man would redefine the music scene.

At 11, Elvis got his first guitar, sparking a self-taught journey into music. His early gospel influences evolved into a unique fusion of country, blues, and gospel, creating the electrifying genre of Rock ‘n’ Roll. In 1954, at only 19, he recorded “That’s All Right,” marking the birth of a musical legend.

Elvis wasn’t just a musical innovator; he was a cultural phenomenon. His rebellious dance moves and magnetic stage presence challenged the norms. He transitioned seamlessly into acting, starring in iconic films like “Love Me Tender” and “Jailhouse Rock.”

However, fame came at a cost, and Elvis faced personal struggles. Despite the challenges, his music continued to resonate. Even now, classics like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” transcend generations.

Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is undeniable. He was known for his unique voice, charismatic persona, and electrifying performances. He sold over one billion records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling solo artists in history. He received numerous awards throughout his career, including three Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Elvis’s influence can still be seen in today’s music. Many contemporary artists, such as Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, and Justin Timberlake, have cited Elvis as an inspiration. His music continues to be featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials.

Elvis left us in 1977, but his legacy lives on. I appreciate his breaking barriers and fearlessly embracing his artistic vision. Elvis Presley’s impact on music and culture is timeless, a testament to the enduring power of his artistry. His music has inspired generations and will continue to do so for many years to come.

Teaching Resources

Use our resources and tools to improve your student’s writing skills through proven teaching strategies.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING TEACHING IDEAS AND LESSONS

We have compiled a sequence of biography-related lessons or teaching ideas that you can follow as you please. They are straightforward enough for most students to follow without further instruction.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 1:

This session aims to give students a broader understanding of what makes a good biography.

Once your students have compiled a comprehensive checklist of the main features of a biography, allow them to use it to assess some biographies from your school library or on the internet using the feature checklist.

When students have assessed a selection of biographies, take some time as a class to discuss them. You can base the discussion around the following prompts:

• Which biographies covered all the criteria from their checklist?
• Which biographies didn’t?
• Which biography was the most readable in terms of structure?
• Which biography do you think was the least well-structured? How would you improve this?

Looking at how other writers have interpreted the form will help students internalize the necessary criteria before attempting to produce a biography. Once students have a clear understanding of the main features of the biography, they’re ready to begin work on writing a biography.

When the time does come to put pen to paper, be sure they’re armed with the following top tips to help ensure they’re as well prepared as possible.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 2:

This session aims to guide students through the process of selecting the perfect biography subject.

Instruct students to draw up a shortlist of three potential subjects for the biography they’ll write.

Using the three criteria mentioned in the writing guide (Interest, Merit, and Information), students award each potential subject a mark out of 5 for each of the criteria. In this manner, students can select the most suitable subject for their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 3:

This session aims to get students into the researching phase, then prioritise and organise events chronologically.

Students begin by making a timeline of their subject’s life, starting with their birth and ending with their death or the present day. If the student has yet to make a final decision on the subject of their biography, a family member will often serve well for this exercise as a practice exercise.

Students should research and gather the key events of the person’s life, covering each period of their life from when they were a baby, through childhood and adolescence, right up to adulthood and old age. They should then organize these onto a timeline. Students can include photographs with captions if they have them.

They can present these to the class when they have finished their timelines.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 4:

Instruct students to look over their timeline, notes, and other research. Challenge them to identify three patterns that repeat throughout the subject’s life and sort all the related events and incidents into specific categories.

Students should then label each category with a single word. This is the thematic concept or the broad general underlying idea. After that, students should write a sentence or two expressing what the subject’s life ‘says’ about that concept.

This is known as the thematic statement . With the thematic concepts and thematic statements identified, the student now has some substantial ideas to explore that will help bring more profound meaning and wider resonance to their biography.

BIOGRAPHY LESSON IDEA # 5:

Instruct students to write a short objective account of an event in their own life. They can write about anyone from their past. It needn’t be more than a couple of paragraphs, but the writing should be strictly factual, focusing only on the objective details of what happened.

Once they have completed this, it’s time to rewrite the paragraph, but they should include some opinion and personal commentary this time.

The student here aims to inject some color and personality into their writing, to transform a detached, factual account into a warm, engaging story.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING BIOGRAPHIES

Teach your students to write AMAZING BIOGRAPHIES & AUTOBIOGRAPHIES using proven RESEARCH SKILLS and WRITING STRATEGIES .

• Understand the purpose of both forms of biography.
• Explore the language and perspective of both.
• Prompts and Challenges to engage students in writing a biography.
• Dedicated lessons for both forms of biography.
• Biographical Projects can expand students’ understanding of reading and writing a biography.
• A COMPLETE 82-PAGE UNIT – NO PREPARATION REQUIRED.

FREE Biography Writing Graphic Organizer

Use this valuable tool in the research and writing phases to keep your students on track and engaged.

WRITING CHECKLIST & RUBRIC BUNDLE

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (92 Reviews)

To Conclude

By this stage, your students should have an excellent technical overview of a biography’s essential elements.

They should be able to choose their subject in light of how interesting and worthy they are, as well as give consideration to the availability of information out there. They should be able to research effectively and identify emerging themes in their research notes. And finally, they should be able to bring some of their personality and uniqueness into their retelling of the life of another.

Remember that writing a biography is not only a great way to develop a student’s writing skills; it can be used in almost all curriculum areas. For example, to find out more about a historical figure in History, to investigate scientific contributions to Science, or to celebrate a hero from everyday life.

Biography is an excellent genre for students to develop their writing skills and to find inspiration in the lives of others in the world around them.

HOW TO WRITE A BIOGRAPHY TUTORIAL VIDEO

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO BIOGRAPHY WRITING

How to write an Autobiography

How to Write a Historical Recount Text

15 Awesome Recount & Personal Narrative Topics

Personal Narrative Writing Guide

How to Write a Short Professional Bio (With Examples and Templates)

3 key takeaways

• What a short professional bio is and why you need one
• What to include in a short bio to make it stand out and relevant to your audience
• Examples, templates, and a faster way to write your bio with Teal's Professional Bio Generator

In a world where just about everyone is represented online, your short professional bio often serves as a first introduction.

Often, it's what employers or other professionals will use to form their initial impression. And how you present yourself can help influence whether someone invites you to connect, interview you, or simply move on.

Below, you'll learn what you need to write your bio and how to actually write one. You'll also find templates and some short professional bio examples to use as a guide.

Looking for a quicker way to a polished bio? Sign up for Teal for free and try the Professional Bio Generator.

What is a short professional bio? 

A short professional bio is exactly what it sounds like—a short professional biography that introduces yourself and gives a brief overview of your career and accomplishments. It gives future employees, colleagues, and anyone else you're networking with a more well-rounded picture of who you are.  

While "short" can be subjective, length often depends on the platform and the audience you're sharing your bio with. There's no one-size-fits-all, and you'll tailor the length based on where it's being shared—whether that’s on your personal website, LinkedIn profile, Twitter bio, or your resume.

What’s the difference between a professional bio and short professional bio?

A professional bio and a short professional bio both summarize your career, qualifications, and achievements, but each caters to different contexts and needs. 

A professional bio is a detailed account—that can span several paragraphs—and covers your:

• Career background
• Most noteworthy achievements and impact or results
• Skills you've developed or are developing
• Some personal insights

This version is appropriate for professional websites, long-form pitch documents, or networking platforms (like in your LinkedIn About Me section) where a more thorough introduction is valuable.

On the other hand, a short professional bio is a concise version that filters the most important information from your professional bio into key takeaways. A short bio:

• Communicates your core qualifications
• Briefly touches on your professional persona
• Is ideal for your resume, author bio, or speaking engagements
• Can be used across social media profiles like Twitter and Instagram

What to include in a short bio 

Your short bio should summarize the key takeaways from a longer, more rounded-out professional bio. Think of it as kind of an elevator pitch that highlights what you'd want your target audience (who doesn't know much—if anything—about you) to understand about your career so far.

Here are some things you'll want to address.

• Level of education, if relevant to the audience
• Years of experience in your field, if relevant to the audience
• Your current or former career title
• Major professional accomplishments with impact or goals
• Professional experience, skills, and area(s) of expertise

Now, if you're a student or making a pivot, like transitioning into a new field where you might not have relevant work experience, you'll focus more on your educational achievements (think relevant awards, projects, or volunteer experience) and the skills and knowledge you're developing.

What to include in a short bio if you’re a student

Even if you're still in school, there's plenty of information you can include in your bio, like: 

• Where you're from
• What university, trade school, or boot camp you're attending
• Your area of study or intended major
• Any clubs, teams, volunteering, or other extracurriculars you're a part of 
• Any internships you've completed
• Your career goals 
• Your availability

Generate your professional bio with AI

Want to save time? You can also use the Teal to generate multiple versions of your short professional bio.

How to write a short bio

There's no right or wrong way to write your own bio. Think of this next section as a guide, and remember: short professional bios are unique to each person.

Here are the things you might want to consider if you're ready to write your professional bio:

1. Choose your voice

You have the option to write your short bio from either a first or third-person POV.

In the first person, you'll use  "I, me, and my." In the third person, you'll refer to yourself using your name and preferred pronouns.

As a general rule, using the third person is typically considered more formal, while using the first person is more casual and personal.

 First-person example : "I'm a bestselling author. My work has been published in The New York Times."

Third-person example: "Zane Smith is a bestselling author. His work has been published in The New York Times."

If you want to write and store multiple versions of your short professional bio in different tones or even with different information, use Teal to write and save as many versions as you need for free.

2. Choose your tone

Language can convey different moods. Depending on the context and your personal brand , your bio can sound more buttoned-up or more relaxed and conversational.

These two sentences describe the same person but showcase very different tones and writing styles: 

Example 1: “A recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Sally is currently a consultant at XYZ Consulting based out of their New York office.” 

Example 2: “A recent UPenn grad, Sally swore off econ after years of hard classes only to end up as a consultant at a major firm — but don't worry, she loves it.” 

3. Start with your name and a current or recent role

This isn't a hard and fast rule, but to get your bio started, it's usually easiest to start with your name and current professional title or role. 

Example: “Zane Smith is currently the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company.”

If you're pivoting careers , you can list your most recent role and use your first sentence to say what you're looking to do next.

Example 1: “Previously the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company, Zane Smith is actively pursuing new opportunities in marketing management.” 

Example 2 : “Previously the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company, Zane Smith is now an aspiring 2nd grade teacher.” 

4. Share your accomplishments and achievements

Once you've introduced yourself and your current title, you can flow into your professional background, former job titles, and what you've done or aspire to do. Together, the first two sentences of your bio could read something like this: 

Example:  “Zane Smith is currently the Demand Generation Manager at ABC Tech Company. Previously, he was a Marketing Specialist at FGH Tech Company, where he grew paid traffic to their website by 500% year over year.” 

Pro Tip: Not sure where to start? Try the generative AI in the Teal Resume Builder . With Teal's AI, you can write individual achievements using a job description, keywords, or a custom prompt to articulate your accomplishments effectively and confidently.

5. Share your philosophy or “why” 

Self-promotion can feel incredibly uncomfortable, but it's important to make sure you don't undermine your value. Your “why,” the reason you do what you do every day, can be powerful and meaningful. Adding what gives you the spark to start each workday can set your own professional bio apart from others. 

Example: “Claire was inspired to pursue a career in elder law after volunteering in a nursing home throughout high school and college.” 

6. Add your personal touch

Even though your bio will be used in a professional capacity, it's okay to list a few personal details. We're more than just our jobs, and adding a few personal facts can help illustrate who you are outside of the office. 

Example: “When he's not working, Martin can be found tending to his spice garden and going on nature walks with his golden retriever.” 

Short professional bio examples

Examples of professional bios are invaluable because they provide a clear framework and inspiration for writing your own. They can also help you see how to condense years of experience into a few compelling sentences so you communicate the right details clearly, briefly, and full of impact. 

Short bio example for a personal website

"AUDREE KATE LOPEZ IS A FASHION STYLIST, EDITOR, INDUSTRY EXPERT AND INFLUENCER BASED IN NEW YORK. Audree began her professional career in the fashion departments at Glamour, O, the Oprah Magazine, Editorialist and Redbook magazines. She launched Audree Kate Studios in 2017 and worked on freelance projects at Marc Jacobs, Alice + Olivia, J.Crew and Club Monaco, joined the styling team at Alice + Olivia and became a contributing fashion editor for StyleCaster.com. Over the past few years Audree has styled for various publications, celebrities and retail brands. In 2016, Audree founded a digital course and community for fashion students called Fashion Fundamentals and has hosted workshops and classes around the country, and wrote an ebook titled Fashion Fundamentals."

Why it works: Audrey's bio immediately establishes her as a multifaceted professional within the fashion industry. It outlines her career trajectory and showcases broad experience and evolution, demonstrating growth and adaptability. The mention of initiatives and workshops adds a layer of approachability and commitment to education in her field, improving her appeal as an influencer and mentor.

Professional short bio example on LinkedIn

"Latina creator. Speaker. Tech Mentor. Christen is the Founder of the newly launched app Clara, a community that empowers creators through transparency, brand reviews, and discoverability. An industry vet, Christen has almost a decade of experience working with top content creators at social networking companies such as Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. She is a motivational speaker and mentor in the tech space who is passionate about helping people break into the industry through career advice and actionable content."

Why it works: This professional bio online is punchy and concise. It opens by noting Christen's titles and includes years of experience, giving her credibility while underscoring her heritage (which can resonate strongly with a diverse audience on LinkedIn). By focusing on her app, she not only showcases initiative but also aligns herself with trends in tech innovation. Rounding out her short bio are details of working with top content creators, establishing her as a seasoned industry pro.

Short bio example on social media

"Founder of Makelane, a private community for female DTC founders. 70K followers on TikTok where I analyze consumer brands"

Why it works: With only 160 characters to work with, Dulma’s Twitter bio is an example of brevity. It clearly outlines her two main pursuits: managing an online community and producing content for TikTok, making it easy for readers to gauge her interests and activities at a glance.

Company website short bio examples

"Meet our wonderful team We're a tight-knit group of curious creatures, always learning, and constantly seeking out new perspectives and ideas. Get to know our team—they're what makes Teachable, well, Teachable."

Why it works: "Meet our wonderful team" feels like a personal invitation to get to know the group, which can make visitors more inclined to engage. Describing them as "tight-knit" and "curious creatures" adds character and illustrates a vibrant and collaborative work environment. Highlighting that the team is "always learning" and "constantly seeking out new perspectives" positions Teachable as a dynamic and innovative company—committed to growth and evolution.

Tips for writing a short bio

Even though there aren't official rules for writing a bio, there are still some things you should strive for as well as steer clear of if you want to make the best possible impression. 

1. Tailor your professional bio to your audience

Whether it's potential employers, LinkedIn connections, Twitter followers, or visitors to your website, each platform and audience has its own expectations. Keep your information relevant and concise, focusing on what matters most to that intended audience.

2. Be authentic

Your bio is not the place to fudge the truth about who you are. Be honest about what you've done and where you're heading. Not telling the truth could bar you from achieving your goals and land you in hot water. 

3. Prioritize relevant information

We really hate to be the one to tell you this, but unfortunately, most people do not have the time or patience to read a five-paragraph essay about your life story. Sorry to break it to you! 

4. Be relatable

No matter how lofty your accomplishments are, staying grounded may help you establish stronger connections with others. This is where adding personal details and highlighting your personal brand can serve you well. Whether that's with a hobby, interest , or other role outside of work, being relatable can let others understand and get to know you better and determine if you would be a good fit for a company.  

5. Be professional

It's appropriate and expected for you to talk about your professional skills and accomplishments in your short bio. That said, there's a fine line between talking about your achievements and sounding arrogant. These two examples talk about the same accomplishment but come across differently: 

Example 1: “An accomplished pianist, Ryan was selected out of nearly 7,000 applicants to perform at the annual New York State School Music Association festival last spring.” 

Example 2: “An accomplished pianist, Ryan was the obvious choice to perform at the annual New York State School Music Association festival last spring (because he's the best).” 

Also, if you're revising your bio after a lay-off or termination, avoid sounding spiteful. As tempting as it might be, don't make negative statements or accusations in your short bio. Positivity and a good attitude will get you much further.

Short professional bio templates

If you prefer to plug and play or need a short bio in a pinch, don't worry; here are three short bio templates to get you started:

Short professional bio template for working professionals

[First name last name] is [currently/formerly] a [insert most recent job title] at [most recent company name] . A proud graduate of [school or university] , they were inspired to pursue a career in [field] after [explain what led to your decision to work in your industry] . Prior to working at [most recent job title], they were the [previous title] at [previous company], where they were responsible for [insert professional accomplishments here] . In their free time, they can be found [insert your favorite hobbies] . 

Short professional bio template for students

[First name last name] is a current [year] at [institution] majoring in [area(s) of study] . On campus, [First name] is actively involved in [activity name] , for which they [insert details about what you do for the activity you're involved in] . They most recently [interned/worked] at [organization name] , where they had the opportunity to [insert details about what you did on the job] . They intend to work in the [insert field name or industry] after graduation to follow their passion of [insert what you are passionate about] . In their spare time, they can be found [insert your favorite hobbies] . 

Short professional bio template for a gap in employment

[First name last name] is a [position/job title] with [number] years of experience in [specific skills or industry] . Following [briefly mention the reason for the employment gap] , [he/she/they] took some time off to focus on [briefly mention what they did during the gap, e.g., personal development, family obligations, health reasons] . During this time, [he/she/they] also [briefly mention any relevant skills or achievements acquired during the gap] . [Name] is now eager to return to the workforce and is excited to bring [specific skills/accomplishments] to [his/her/their] next role. With a proven track record of [list specific achievements or skills] , [Name] is confident in [his/her/their] ability to contribute to [specific industry/profession] and make an impact in [his/her/their] next position.

If you decide to use any of these templates, tweak it ever-so-slightly. Once you've finished entering your details, try adding a bit of personal flair.

Swap adjectives, remove anything that doesn't quite fit with your vibe or experiences, or append some more personal details as you see fit. Feel free to work off of any one of the bios from these resume examples to get a feel for how different styles can be used across roles.

Create your short professional bio with Teal

In a digital world where your online presence often speaks before you do, writing a good, short professional bio is more important than ever. It's the first glimpse potential employers, clients, or colleagues get of your professional life and persona, and the right presentation can open doors to new opportunities and connections. 

Teal's Professional Bio Generator saves time by speeding up the writing process with AI. Whether you're trying to impress potential employers, clients, or peers, Teal's generator adapts to your needs and experience, allowing you to create a unique short bio for any audience with one click.

Ready to write a professional bio with maximum impact in less time?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of a short professional bio.

An example of a short professional bio is: "Katie is a seasoned marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in digital advertising strategies. She has helped numerous brands achieve their online marketing goals, leading to increased visibility and 3x revenue YoY."

How do you write an impressive short bio?

To write an impressive short bio, focus on your most significant achievements, relevant skills, and experiences that set you apart. Keep it concise and tailored to your audience to engage and leave a memorable impression. You can also use the Teal  AI Resume Builder  Generative AI to craft a bio that highlights your unique professional journey and skills in an engaging way.

What is a short biography about yourself?

A short biography about yourself should concisely summarize your professional background, major accomplishments, and skills. For example, "I'm an innovative software developer with 5 years of experience in creating scalable applications, known for my ability to troubleshoot complex issues and my commitment to delivering high-quality software solutions."

Emily Polner

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The Best Short Professional Bios (Examples + Templates)

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Summary. To write a short bio you should first make an initial introduction introducing yourself in the first or first person. Your short bio should include your brand, your accomplishments, and your values and goals. Your short bio should be one to three short paragraphs or four to eight sentences long.

Knowing how to write a concise, informative, and interesting biography about yourself can help throughout various parts of the professional process. You can use your bio to capture the attention of potential employers or clients and convince them to choose to employ or work with you.

In this article, you’ll learn more about what goes into a short bio and how to write one, and you’ll also get to see some short bio templates and examples to help you get an idea of what yours should look like.

Key Takeaways

A short bio serves to introduce you, your achievements, and what you offer professionally to potential employers or clients.

It’s important to keep your bio brief so that readers stay engaged and will remember your main points.

You may need to adjust your bio for different audiences, as your clients may want to know different information than a recruiter would.

Talk about your skills and accomplishments in your bio, but don’t exaggerate them.

What Is a Short Bio?

How to write a short bio, what to include in a short professional bio, short bio examples, short bio templates, tips for writing a short bio, writing a short bio faq.

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A short bio serves as your introduction to the professional world. In terms of finding or expanding on your job, a bio will cover your:

Work history

Achievements

Any other relevant professional information

Think of it as a professional memoir that a hiring manager or consumer can read and understand quickly. It’s usually about one to three paragraphs depending on experience.

There’s an emphasis on being succinct when it comes to writing a professional bio. This is because a bio is supposed to be a preface to attract recruiter attention and incline them to reach out for more information. Many readers will get lost or bored with a lengthy bio.

Using a short bio can be helpful across very different industries, from marketing to accounting, from psychiatry to sales.

You’re probably familiar with providing short bios on social media websites and applications. While the information and skills you include in a professional bio may differ, the general formatting is similar.

There’s a lot of considerations to take into account when writing a short bio, and it can quickly become intimidating. Deciding what information is relevant and how to keep it near 140 characters is no small task.

If you’re having difficulty writing a short bio, follow the outline below to craft an introduction that engages your reader.

Make an initial introduction. You can’t jump right into everything you’ve done and what you want to do in the future before introducing yourself.

Your bio’s first sentence should begin with your full name in the third person or introduce yourself in the first person and continue to briefly outline your most notable skills and accomplishments. It’s a good place to state your current job and employer.

Go deeper with what motivates you. Once you’ve catchily illustrated who you are in your short bio, you can use the second sentence to describe your motivations for your work.

Stating what drives you to do the work you do is essential to employers and customers alike. Whether you work as a physician or fitness consultant , there’s a reason why this is your profession, and you should explain that in your short professional bio.

Describe your accomplishments. Your short bio is for detailing why you’re the ideal candidate to be trusted with handling an employer or consumer’s business. By describing your prior accomplishments, you let them know what you could offer as an employee and how you’ve succeeded in the past.

While you should avoid sounding braggy, the reader is looking for information about what your qualifications are , and your accomplishments generally measure these qualities.

Even though you could probably go on for ages about the details of your accomplishments, save that for an interview . In a short bio, only include the most impressive of your achievements to outline.

Accomplishments relevant to a short bio could include:

Impressive results on a project

Former promotions

Awards received in your field

Certifications received

Include contact information. The purpose of a short bio as either a business or a job seeker is to inspire the reader to reach out. Without contact information, this pursuit becomes futile. Make sure your short bio has some way to contact you at the end.

Relevant contact information may include:

Phone number

Professional networking profile

A short professional bio includes:

Your full name. You can choose to write your bio in the first person (I, me, my) or third person (he, she, they), but either way, you need to include your full name at some point. Branding doesn’t work so well without a brand name (i.e., you!)

Your brand. Of course, if you have an actual brand that you’re trying to market, you should include the brand name as well.

What you do. Summarize what you want the reader to know about what you do in one sentence — tricky, we know.

Your accomplishments. For a short bio, you can stick with just one major accomplishment from your professional life. Or, if you have a string of impressive achievements, try condensing all of them down to one sentence.

Your goals and values. Let the reader know what makes you tick — why do you do what you do and what do you hope to achieve with your work? People are compelled by a story more than anything else, so it’s important to get this part right.

Something personal (optional). If you have a quirky tidbit about yourself you’d like to include, go for it. Just make sure it doesn’t throw off te the tone of the rest of your bio.

Contact info (optional). If your bio is serving as a call-to-action to drum up business or get leads on job opportunities, it makes sense to include your contact information at the end of your bio. It’s not necessary if that information is available elsewhere on the page , though.

Entry-Level Job-Seeker Bio Example

Mitchell Morrison is an upcoming video producer and editor who believes in the art of visual organization. He is a recent graduate from the University of Washington and focused on post-production during his time studying there. He was introduced to the magical world of visual art production by watching his father work on editing commercials growing up and has been working towards his dream of becoming a video editor ever since. During his last year of college, Mitchell participated in a competitive internship with Digital Space Films. He was chosen out of 2,000 applicants based on his academic portfolio and personal statement essay. This internship was an incredible learning experience and resulted in three professional accreditations for music video editing. Mitchell currently lives in Seattle, Washington pursuing freelance opportunities and spending time with his Dog, Pikachu. To get into contact with Mitchell: MitchellMorrisonVideo.com/contact

Working Professional Website Bio Example

Lisa Kennedy is an experienced real estate professional. She knows how important a home is for long-term happiness and has invested her career in putting people in the house they’ve always dreamed of. Lisa was driven to pursue real estate from her passion for helping people during life-altering times, and a keen interest in high-end, luxury homes. She’s been working in the real estate industry for ten years and in that time has assisted over 3,500 people in finding homes. She was educated at the University of Los Angeles with a bachelor’s in business management. She’s worked for some of the most respectable Real Estate companies in Los Angeles and individually under her agency “Kennedy Homes.” Lisa has also been published in Real Estate Quarterly Magazine as the 2017 winner of the “Top Luxury Home Seller” award. Lisa loves the culture of Los Angeles and has been living there with her family of five since she graduated from college. She enjoys spending her free time exploring towns along the West Coast and swimming. If you’d like to get in touch with Lisa: Email: [email protected]

Professional Networking Profile Bio Example

Bianca Jones Marketing Manager Miami, FL The first step towards customer satisfaction is being reached by stellar product marketing, and that’s what I aim to provide. My professional experience as a product marketing manager has allowed me to assist many organizations in improving their sales margins and audience response to emerging products. I’ve brought dedication and positive results to the companies I’ve worked for because I am passionate about product perception, marketing, and business statistics. What drives a product to success interests and inspires me. I specialize in long-term growth strategies and audience outreach. In addition to eight years of experience in professional product marketing, I have also published two books on creating a career as a marketer called “What to Do After Your Bachelor’s” and “A Marketer’s How-To.” If you’re interested in learning more about how to market your business better, or just discuss more, feel free to contact me by email at [email protected].

Your first choice is whether you want your bio to be written in the third person or first person. These short bio templates show both options, and also include different ideas for what to include, and how. Feel free to pick and choose your favorite parts of each of the two.

[Full Name] is a [job title] who [believes/knows] in the power of [what you do]. [He/She/They] began their journey in [field] by [how you got started in the field], and now dreams of [what you hope to accomplish]. [His/Her/Their] biggest accomplishment to date has been [your biggest accomplishment]. [Full Name] lives in [where you live] and participates in [a hobby/interest]. To get in touch with [Full Name], call/email/message me on [how you’d like to be contacted].

I am a [job title] who helps [who you help] [what you help them do]. It’s my belief that [your unique perspective on the field]. In the past [# of years] years, I’ve [major accomplishment #1] through [how you accomplished it]. I have a passion for [your professional passion], but on the side, I also enjoy [personal passion]. Get in touch with me today at [contact info] — I look forward to talking with you about [what you want to talk to your readers about].

You have a firm grasp of the structure of a short bio and what to include. Now, you may need some tips for how to polish your short professional bio and make it stand out from the competition.

Be mindful of length. While you’re probably getting sick of hearing that your bio should be short, it’s good to keep in mind throughout the writing process. It’s easy to go off on a tangent while trying to include everything relevant or rationalize, making your bio too long.

Avoid this impulse. The point of a bio is that it’s limited. You want to intrigue the reader enough to inspire them to seek more information about you or your services.

Tailor your bio to your intended audience. Whether you’re using a short bio to attract a particular customer base or potential employer, tailoring it to fit their wants and needs is crucial. Consider your intended audience base and what they’re looking for in a candidate or service.

Be genuine. Your short bio should be an authentic representation of your traits, experience, and personality. People are repelled by what they interpret as stretching the truth. If you’re being received as disingenuous by the reader, they’ll probably move on.

Proofread. The only way to steer clear of errors in your short bio is by proofreading it. Imagine a hiring manager being completely interested in your bio.

They love what you have to say about yourself and find your prior experience enticing. That is, until they come across a mistake that clearly shows you didn’t do proofread or edit.

Include links to your portfolio, website, or networking profile. One way to circumvent the confining factor of keeping your bio short is by including links to more detailed sources.

This can be in the form of linking your portfolio or website to allow the reader to go deeper into your discussed skills if they please, without taking up more space in your bio.

Implement these links seamlessly into your bio by attaching them to anchor words that describe what clicking will lead them to.

Add some personality. You aren’t the only person who has an impressive list of accomplishments to put on a bio, so you’re going to need to find some additional ways to make an impression.

What should a short bio include?

A short bio should include your name, what you do, and your achievements. You should also include your company or product’s brand, if you have one, and your goals and motivations for doing what you do. This humanizes you and helps you stand out from the rest of the pack.

How long is a short bio?

A short bio is typically one to three paragraphs long. These should be short paragraphs though, as other experts say that between four and eight sentences is the ideal length for a short bio.

What makes a good bio?

A good bio is succinct and memorable. Readers don’t want to spend long reading about your professional and personal life, so go back and cut it down to the important parts multiple times after you draft it. You might be surprised at how little you actually need to include.

What should you avoid putting in a short bio?

You should avoid including anything negative or arrogate. It’s never a good idea to write anything negative about previous jobs or employers. Only include positive things in your professional short bio.

It’s important to include your achievements in a short bio, but there is a fine line between mentioning your achievements and bragging about them. Stick to the facts when talking about your accomplishments.

Fremont University – Building Your Professional Bio

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.

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How to Write Engaging Personal & Professional Bios (with Examples)

Last Updated: August 24, 2023 Fact Checked

Writing Personal and Professional Bios

Writing student bios, making your bio stand out, sample bios.

This article was co-authored by Melody Godfred, JD and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau . Melody Godfred is a Career Coach, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Write In Color, a full-service resume and career development company that specializes in developing compelling personal narratives and brands. With over ten years of experience, Melody has worked with clients at entertainment and media companies including Apple, Disney, Fox, Netflix, Riot Games, Viacom, and Warner Bros, among others. The Muse invited Melody and Write In Color to serve as one of its 30 trusted career counselors (out of 3,000) to provide one-on-one coaching and resume services to the platform's more than four million active users. Melody earned a JD from Loyola Marymount University and BS from the University of Southern California. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,728,487 times.

Personal bios are a great way to show people who you are and what you do. Whether writing a bio about yourself for a personal or professional website, a college application, or a social media account, bios are an important part of connecting with your audience or customer base. It’s important to take your time and be thoughtful as you write to ensure you get the right message across! Read on for a complete guide to writing a personal (or professional) bio about yourself, along with writing tips to make it as engaging as possible.

Things You Should Know

• Start with your first and last name in a quick introductory sentence. Then, explain your job, greatest achievements, and professional mission statement.
• Expand on personal details, including where you’re from, your educational background, and a quick summary of passions that aren’t related to your job.
• Mention any projects you’re working on and end the bio with your contact information. Write in the third-person perspective unless it’s for social media.

• The difference between personal and professional bios is all in the tone you use. Both cover your job and skills, but the bio you write for a personal website might sound less formal than the one you write for a job application.
• As you write your bio, adjust your tone to make your bio appropriately formal, funny, professional, or personal.
• If you can’t figure out what to write, check out bios from other people in your field and get a sense of their writing strategy. You can use their bios as models and write yours based on their overall structure.

• For example, begin a third-person bio with a sentence like, "Joann Smith is a graphic designer in Boston," and a first-person bio with "I am a graphic designer in Boston."

• For example, a simple yet solid introduction sentence could be, “Dan Keller is a columnist for the Boulder Times.”
• Avoid writing a nickname in your bio. Even if your bio isn’t strictly for professional use, it’s best to treat it like a formal introduction to other people.
• Be sure to mention your company or brand within your introduction. You might work for a company or own your own business with a personal brand.

• For example, “Dan Keller is a columnist for the Boulder Times. He specializes in writing public interest stories on the latest technology.
• Both personal and professional bios typically include job information; personal bios simply present that information a little more informally.
• If you’re writing about your job informally, you might write something like, “Joann Smith is a passionate knitter who also happens to own and run her paper supply company.”

• “Dan Keller is a columnist for the Boulder Times. His 2011 series "All that and More" earned him Boulder’s prestigious “Up-and-Comer” award for innovation.”
• Don’t make up accomplishments if you don’t have anything notable to add and only include achievements that relate to the career information or skills discussed in the bio.
• Avoid buzzwords like "innovative," "experienced," "creative," and so on, which are often so overused that they don’t mean anything to people. Show readers what you can do through specific details, not catchy phrases.

• For example, “Dan is committed to helping people understand and embrace the true power of technology.”

• For example: “When he isn’t glued to a computer screen, Dan spends time working in the garden, learning French, and trying very hard not to be the worst pool player in the Rockies.”
• The details you share can vary by bio. For a strictly personal bio, include details like hobbies, personal beliefs, and mottos.
• For a bio that falls between "professional" and "personal," try sharing details that give a sense of who you are but won’t alienate others.
• Avoid self-deprecating comments and details that are too intimate or potentially embarrassing for you or your audience.

• For example: “Dan is currently working on a memoir.”
• Keep this part of your bio short and sweet! A sentence is two is all you need.

• If you publish this bio online, format your email address carefully to avoid spam. Many people write email addresses online like: “Greg (at) fizzlemail (dot) com.”
• This clearly tells readers how to spell out your email without making it easy for spammers and bots to copy and use your information.

• Ask your friends and family (especially anyone who is a strong writer) to proofread your bio and give you feedback. A fresh pair of eyes can catch mistakes that you may miss!
• Online editing software like Grammarly can grade your piece in terms of readability and suggest minor improvements.
• Every once in a while, go back and update your bio. By putting in a little work frequently to keep it up to date, you'll save yourself a lot of work when you need to use it again.

• Chronological. Start at the story's beginning and end at the end. It’s simple and works well if you’ve had an interesting life that has taken you from points A to B to C in unusual or impressive ways.
• Circular. Start at an important moment (D), then backtrack to the beginning (A), and explain all the events leading up to that moment (B, C), eventually bringing the reader full circle. This is good for building suspense!
• Zoomed In. Focus on one critical event (C) to symbolically tell a larger story. Use a few small surrounding details (A, B, D) to orient the reader, but give that one moment enough emphasis to stand on its own.

• Avoid statements like, "UCSF has one of the top-ranked research-based med schools in the world, which would provide me with the foundation necessary to achieve my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor."
• Instead, write something like, “Watching a trauma surgeon save my brother’s life is a moment I’ll never forget. Since then, I’ve known undoubtedly that I would dedicate my life to medicine. My brother was lucky that his surgeon studied at one of the best programs in the country. By doing the same, I hope to one day mean to another family what Dr. Heller does to mine."

• Avoid statements like, "Having had a rather minimalistic upbringing, I find that I continue to assiduously value hard work and frugality above all else."
• Instead, try something like, "Growing up very poor taught me that hard work and thrift are sometimes the only things a person can afford."
• Well-written ideas make you seem far more intelligent than big words do. Focus on expressing yourself clearly, and don’t worry about the syllable count!

• Avoid statements like, "I learned a lot from my experience as a camp counselor."
• Instead, try something like, "I came out of my time as a camp counselor with a better understanding of empathy than before. Now, when my younger sister acts up, I know how to help her without sounding bossy or controlling."

• Different types of bio have different word count expectations. For instance, the average brief personal bio is around 250 words. For a resume or job search, it’s okay to have a personal bio of around 300 to 500 words.
• For longer personal bios (ones you might post on an “about me” page for a professional website, for example), aim for around 1,000 to 2,000 words. Include all the details you can, but keep them concise.
• Some social media sites, such as Twitter, restrict your bio to a certain number of words or characters. Ensure that you make the most of that space.

• For example, Tom Hank’s personal bio on Twitter reads, “I'm that actor in some of the movies you liked and some you didn't. Sometimes I'm in pretty good shape, other times I'm not. Hey, you gotta live, you know?”

• Passive: "The window was broken by the zombie."
• Active: "The zombie broke the window."
• The difference between these sentences is stark: in the first, you have no idea whether the window just happened to be broken. The second is obvious: the zombie broke the window, and you need to hit the road.

• Avoid statements like, "Reading The Great Gatsby was a pivotal moment in my life that made me totally rethink my preconceptions about what it means to live in modern America. Thanks to that assignment, I want to pursue American Studies."
• Instead, try something like, "My family’s ties to this country aren’t glamorous. We didn’t arrive on the Mayflower or have our surname butchered at Ellis Island. We settled in four states across the Midwest, where we’ve lived happily for over 100 years. The magic of that simple act isn’t lost on me, which is why I’ve chosen to major in American Studies."

• For example, if you’re writing an Instagram bio, include a link to your personal website too—especially if there’s a longer and more detailed bio for readers to check out there.
• Include a brief call-to-action, too! For example, if you have contact info, you might write “Contact me using the following” before you add the links.

• On your website, longer bios (between 1,500 and 2,000 words) will have the best online optimization. If your bio needs to be shorter, be sure to at least use third-person POV, since your name is another keyword.
• For example, your website’s “About” page could easily support a 1,500+ word bio. However, from there, you’d need to edit that bio down to a few sentences (a short paragraph) for your LinkedIn profile.

Community Q&A

• Throughout the process, think back to the purpose and audience you identified in Step 1. This will help guide your writing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you're writing online, include hyperlinks to things you mention, such as projects you worked on or a personal blog you keep. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/8-steps-writing-bio-pro-chris-brogan-fact/
• ↑ http://michaelbmaine.com/home/2012/12/13/how-to-write-a-personal-bio
• ↑ https://www.pullmanfoundation.org/professional-bio-writing-101/
• ↑ https://www.collegerecruiter.com/blog/2011/01/28/how-to-write-a-personal-bio
• ↑ https://thewritepractice.com/how-to-write-a-bio/
• ↑ https://weareindy.com/blog/freelance-bio-examples-how-to-write-an-eye-catching-bio
• ↑ https://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-seo

About This Article

When you write a personal bio, write in the third person so it sounds more objective and professional. Start with a sentence that includes your name and what you do for a living. Then, mention your most important accomplishments that are relevant to your field of work. Briefly mention a couple of your hobbies or interests to make your bio more relatable. End with a sentence on any big projects you’re currently working on. Try to keep your bio around 250-500 words. For help writing a personal bio for college applications or social media, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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30 Professional Bio Examples and Templates to Showcase Your Expertise

30 professional bio examples and templates to help you craft a compelling and impactful bio that showcases your expertise and personal brand

Table of Contents

Your professional bio is more than just a few lines of text on a website or social media profile. It's your chance to make a strong first impression and tell your unique story to the world. Whether you're a job seeker, an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or a professional in any field, a well-crafted bio can make a significant impact on your personal brand.

But how to write a professional bio that stands out and accurately represents who you are and what you've accomplished? That's exactly what we'll explore in this blog post. We'll provide you with valuable tips and practical examples of professional bio to help you in writing a professional bio that captures attention, highlights your expertise, and leaves a lasting impression.

Let's get started.

How to write a professional bio

Writing a professional bio can be a valuable tool for various purposes, such as a website, social media profiles, speaking engagements, or professional networking. It provides a concise and compelling summary of your background, expertise, achievements, and aspirations.

Here are tips for writing a professional bio

1. Identify your purpose

Determine the specific purpose and target audience for your bio. Are you writing for a professional website, LinkedIn profile, or conference brochure? Understanding your audience and their expectations will shape the tone and content of your bio.

2. Start with a strong opening

Begin your bio with a captivating and attention-grabbing statement. This can be a notable achievement, an intriguing personal detail, or a unique selling point that sets you apart. It should quickly engage the reader and make them want to learn more.

3. Provide relevant background information

Offer a concise overview of your professional background and expertise. Highlight your educational qualifications, relevant work experience, and any specialized training or certifications you possess. Focus on the aspects most relevant to your target audience.

4. Highlight key achievements

Showcase your significant accomplishments and milestones. These could include notable projects, awards, publications, successful campaigns, or any other achievements that demonstrate your skills and expertise. Use quantifiable data whenever possible to provide tangible evidence of your success.

5. Showcase your skills and expertise

Discuss your areas of specialization, core skills, and unique abilities that make you stand out in your field. Emphasize how these skills align with the needs and interests of your target audience. Use specific examples or testimonials to illustrate your capabilities.

6. Demonstrate your value proposition

Clearly articulate the value you bring to your audience. Explain how your expertise, experience, or products/services can solve their problems, meet their needs, or provide valuable solutions. Focus on the benefits you offer rather than just listing features.

7. Incorporate personal elements

While your bio should primarily focus on your professional accomplishments, including some personal details can help humanize your profile. Mentioning relevant hobbies, interests, or volunteer work can create a connection with your audience and showcase your well-rounded personality.

8. Keep it concise and focused

Aim for a bio length of around 150-300 words, depending on the platform and purpose. Use clear and concise language, avoiding jargon or technical terms that might be unfamiliar to your audience. Make every sentence count and ensure that each piece of information is relevant and impactful.

9. Edit and proofread

After writing your bio, review it carefully for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Ensure that it flows smoothly and is easy to read. Consider seeking feedback from trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends to get a fresh perspective and make improvements if needed.

10. Update regularly

Your professional bio should be a living document that evolves as you progress in your career. Keep it up to date by revisiting and revising it periodically to reflect your latest achievements, skills, and goals.

19 Professional bio examples

Here are five professional bio examples for different fields and purposes

1. Business professional bio example

John Smith is an experienced business strategist and consultant with over 10 years of experience in helping companies drive growth and maximize profitability. As the founder and CEO of XYZ Consulting, John has advised numerous Fortune 500 companies on strategic planning, market expansion, and organizational development. His expertise lies in leveraging data-driven insights to identify opportunities, streamline operations, and deliver sustainable results.

John holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is a sought-after speaker at industry conferences. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, playing the piano, and volunteering with local business mentoring programs.

2. Creative professional bio example of graphic designer

Sarah Thompson is a passionate graphic designer and visual storyteller known for her innovative and captivating designs. With a keen eye for aesthetics and a deep understanding of branding, Sarah has worked with leading global brands, creating impactful visual identities and marketing campaigns. Her work has been featured in several design publications and has earned her multiple awards, including the prestigious AIGA Design Excellence Award.

Sarah holds a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design from the Rhode Island School of Design. When she's not immersed in design projects, she can be found exploring art galleries, experimenting with new art techniques, or traveling to gain inspiration from different cultures.

3. Medical professional bio example

Dr. Emily Davis is a board-certified cardiologist with a specialization in interventional cardiology. With over 15 years of clinical experience, Dr. Davis is dedicated to providing compassionate and personalized care to her patients. She is recognized for her expertise in complex coronary interventions and has performed hundreds of successful procedures, saving countless lives.

Dr. Davis completed her medical degree at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and pursued her fellowship training at the renowned Cleveland Clinic. She actively participates in medical research and has authored numerous publications in esteemed cardiology journals. Outside of her practice, Dr. Davis enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, and advocating for heart health awareness.

4. Tech professional bio example

Alex Johnson is a seasoned software engineer and technology leader with a passion for innovation and problem-solving. With over 12 years of experience in the tech industry, Alex has led cross-functional teams in developing cutting-edge software solutions for global enterprises. His expertise spans full-stack development, cloud architecture, and machine learning.

Alex holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from Stanford University and has been granted several patents for his groundbreaking work. He frequently shares his knowledge as a guest lecturer at tech conferences and mentors aspiring developers through coding bootcamps. In his free time, Alex enjoys hiking, playing guitar, and experimenting with new coding languages.

5. Academic professional bio example

Dr. Jessica Rodriguez is a renowned professor of sociology and social justice advocate. With a Ph.D. in Sociology from Yale University, Dr. Rodriguez has dedicated her career to advancing research on inequality, race relations, and social change. Her scholarly work has been published in leading academic journals and has been influential in shaping public policy.

Dr. Rodriguez is a sought-after speaker at conferences and has delivered TEDx talks on issues of social justice and equity. She is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scholars and serves as a faculty advisor for various student organizations. Outside of academia, Dr. Rodriguez enjoys exploring new cuisines, volunteering at local community centers, and practicing mindfulness meditation.

6. Legal professional bio example

Elizabeth Davis is a highly accomplished attorney specializing in intellectual property law. With a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School, Elizabeth has successfully represented clients in high-profile copyright and trademark infringement cases. Her expertise also extends to licensing agreements and intellectual property portfolio management.

Elizabeth is a partner at ABC Law Firm, where she heads the Intellectual Property Practice Group. She is a frequent speaker at legal conferences and serves as a mentor to young lawyers. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and volunteering with organizations that promote access to justice.

7. Marketing professional bio example

Jennifer Lee is a results-driven marketing strategist with a track record of driving revenue growth through innovative digital campaigns. With a deep understanding of consumer behavior and market trends, Jennifer has helped numerous companies expand their online presence and optimize their marketing efforts. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from New York University and is certified in Google Analytics and Facebook Ads.

Jennifer is a regular contributor to marketing publications and is often invited as a guest speaker at industry events. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, practicing yoga, and exploring new cuisines.

8. Education professional bio example

Dr. Michael Thompson is a dedicated educator and thought leader in the field of educational psychology. With a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Dr. Thompson has served as a professor at prestigious universities, where he specializes in child development, motivation, and educational policy. He is the author of several influential books on parenting and education, which have been featured on The New York Times Bestseller list.

Dr. Thompson is a sought-after keynote speaker at education conferences and has appeared as a guest expert on national television programs. In his spare time, he enjoys playing the guitar, hiking with his family, and volunteering with local literacy programs.

9. Finance professional bio example

Sarah Johnson is a seasoned financial advisor with over 15 years of experience in wealth management. As the founder and CEO of XYZ Financial Services, Sarah has helped countless individuals and families navigate complex financial landscapes and achieve their long-term financial goals. She holds an MBA in Finance from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).

Sarah is a regular contributor to financial publications and has been featured in Forbes and The Wall Street Journal. Outside of work, she enjoys playing golf, practicing yoga, and serving as a board member for local nonprofits.

10. Journalism professional bio example

Emily Wilson is an award-winning investigative journalist with a passion for uncovering the truth and holding those in power accountable. With a Master's degree in Journalism from Columbia University, Emily has worked for leading news organizations, where she has covered a wide range of topics, including politics, social justice, and environmental issues.

Her in-depth reporting has led to significant policy changes and has earned her recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists. Emily is a regular contributor to national newspapers and frequently appears as a guest commentator on news programs. In her downtime, she enjoys hiking, reading non-fiction, and mentoring aspiring journalists.

11. Human Resources professional bio example

Michael Anderson is a seasoned human resources executive with a proven track record in talent acquisition and organizational development. With over 20 years of experience in the field, Michael has led HR teams at global companies, developing effective recruitment strategies and fostering a positive work culture.

He holds a Master's degree in Human Resources Management and is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Michael is a frequent speaker at HR conferences and is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Outside of work, he enjoys playing golf, cooking, and volunteering with local career development organizations.

12. Healthcare professional bio example

Dr. Sarah Mitchell is a dedicated pediatrician committed to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to children of all ages. With a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Mitchell has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating a wide range of pediatric conditions. She is known for her warm bedside manner and ability to establish strong relationships with her young patients and their families.

Dr. Mitchell is actively involved in medical research and has published articles in renowned pediatric journals. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing the violin, and volunteering at children's hospitals.

13. Sales professional bio example

David Turner is a dynamic sales executive with a proven record of exceeding targets and driving revenue growth. With a background in business development and relationship management, David has successfully built strategic partnerships and closed multi-million dollar deals for global corporations. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Sales and Marketing and is certified in advanced sales techniques.

David is a sought-after speaker at sales conferences and has developed training programs to help sales teams improve their performance. Outside of work, he enjoys playing basketball, attending live music events, and mentoring young professionals interested in pursuing a career in sales.

14. Nonprofit professional bio example

Rebecca Nguyen is a passionate advocate for social change and the executive director of a prominent nonprofit organization focused on community development. With a Master's degree in Nonprofit Management, Rebecca has dedicated her career to addressing issues of poverty, education, and affordable housing. She has successfully led initiatives that have transformed the lives of vulnerable populations and empowered communities.

Rebecca is a sought-after speaker at nonprofit conferences and serves on the boards of several community-based organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing mindfulness meditation, exploring nature trails, and supporting local artists.

15. Entrepreneur professional bio example

Mark Thompson is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of a successful tech startup that specializes in artificial intelligence solutions. With a strong background in computer science and a passion for innovation, Mark has developed groundbreaking AI algorithms that have revolutionized industries such as healthcare and finance. His entrepreneurial journey has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Mark is an active mentor for aspiring entrepreneurs and frequently speaks at technology conferences. In his free time, he enjoys playing chess, attending hackathons, and supporting STEM education initiatives.

16. Real Estate professional bio example

Laura Johnson is a trusted real estate agent with extensive knowledge of the local market and a reputation for delivering exceptional service. With over a decade of experience in residential and commercial real estate, Laura has helped numerous clients navigate complex transactions and achieve their property goals. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Real Estate Management and is a certified Realtor®.

Laura's commitment to excellence has earned her recognition as a top producer in her agency. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, painting, and volunteering with organizations that promote affordable housing.

17. Fitness professional bio example

Daniel Ramirez is a dedicated fitness coach and personal trainer, committed to helping clients achieve their health and wellness goals. With a background in exercise science and multiple certifications in fitness training, Daniel has guided individuals of all fitness levels to success. He specializes in weight management, strength training, and functional fitness.

Daniel's personalized and motivating approach has garnered him a loyal following and positive testimonials. He regularly conducts fitness workshops and contributes articles to health and wellness publications. In his spare time, Daniel enjoys practicing yoga, hiking with his dog, and experimenting with new healthy recipes.

18. Public Relations professional bio example

Rachel Anderson is a seasoned public relations strategist with a passion for building strong brands and fostering positive media relationships. With a Master's degree in Strategic Communication, Rachel has led successful PR campaigns for global corporations and high-profile individuals. Her expertise lies in crafting compelling narratives, crisis management, and influencer partnerships.

Rachel's strategic approach and attention to detail have earned her recognition in the industry. She frequently shares her insights as a guest lecturer at communications conferences and mentors aspiring PR professionals. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys attending cultural events, exploring art museums, and volunteering with nonprofit organizations.

19. Culinary professional bio example

Chef Alex Torres is a highly acclaimed chef with a talent for creating culinary experiences that blend innovation and tradition. With formal training at prestigious culinary institutes and experience working in Michelin-starred restaurants, Chef Torres has elevated the dining scene with his exquisite dishes. He has been featured in prominent food publications and has received numerous accolades for his culinary prowess.

Chef Torres is dedicated to using locally sourced ingredients and promoting sustainable cooking practices. In addition to his culinary pursuits, he enjoys traveling, foraging for unique ingredients, and mentoring aspiring chefs.

Ensure to customize these examples to align with your own professional background, accomplishments, and aspirations. A professional bio should reflect your individuality and showcase your expertise and impact in your chosen field.

6 Short Professional Bio templates for experienced professionals

Here are 6 short professional bio example templates for experience professionals.

Professional bio template 1

With over 10 years of experience in the field, I am a seasoned marketing professional specializing in digital strategy and brand management. I have successfully executed numerous integrated marketing campaigns for both local and international clients, driving significant growth and revenue. I am highly skilled in market research, data analysis, and customer segmentation, enabling me to develop tailored marketing strategies that resonate with target audiences. Known for my creative thinking, strong leadership abilities, and excellent communication skills, I thrive in fast-paced environments and deliver results that exceed expectations.

Professional bio template 2

As a dedicated software engineer, I have a solid background in developing innovative solutions for complex business challenges. With expertise in multiple programming languages and frameworks, I have successfully delivered robust software applications for diverse industries, including finance, healthcare, and e-commerce. I am passionate about writing clean, efficient code and staying updated with the latest industry trends. With strong problem-solving skills and a keen eye for detail, I consistently deliver high-quality projects on time and within budget, earning the trust and satisfaction of clients and stakeholders.

Professional bio template 3

With a background in finance and accounting, I am a highly skilled professional with a proven track record in financial analysis and risk management. Over the years, I have successfully guided organizations through complex financial landscapes, analyzing market trends, and identifying opportunities for growth. My expertise lies in financial modeling, budgeting, and forecasting, as well as in implementing robust internal controls. With a strong attention to detail and exceptional analytical abilities, I provide strategic insights that drive sound decision-making and contribute to long-term business success.

Professional bio template 4

With a background in human resources and talent management, I am a results-oriented professional specializing in recruitment and employee development. I have successfully sourced and placed top-tier candidates across various industries, utilizing innovative sourcing strategies and conducting comprehensive interviews. Additionally, I have designed and implemented training programs that enhance employee performance and engagement. Known for my strong interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport, I excel at fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Professional bio template 5

As a skilled project manager, I have a proven track record of delivering complex projects on time and within budget. I possess a strong understanding of project management methodologies and tools, allowing me to effectively plan, execute, and monitor projects from initiation to closure. With excellent communication and leadership abilities, I thrive in cross-functional teams, coordinating resources and ensuring seamless collaboration. Known for my problem-solving skills and ability to mitigate risks, I consistently drive successful project outcomes.

Professional bio template 6

With a background in sales and business development, I am a dynamic professional experienced in driving revenue growth and building strategic partnerships. I possess a deep understanding of market dynamics and customer needs, enabling me to identify new business opportunities and develop tailored sales strategies. I excel at building and maintaining long-term relationships with clients, utilizing strong negotiation and closing skills. With a passion for achieving sales targets and a proactive approach, I consistently exceed expectations and contribute to overall business success.

5 Short professional bio examples for freshers

Here are 5 short professional bio examples for freshers.

A results-oriented and enthusiastic entry-level professional seeking a challenging position in [industry/field]. With a strong educational background in [relevant degree/program], I possess a solid foundation in [key skills/competencies]. Eager to contribute my knowledge and learn from experienced professionals, I am a quick learner with excellent problem-solving abilities. I am committed to delivering high-quality work and thrive in collaborative environments that foster growth and innovation.

A proactive and detail-oriented recent graduate with a degree in [relevant field]. I am passionate about starting my career in [industry/field] and utilizing my strong analytical and communication skills to contribute to organizational success. With a keen eye for detail and a dedication to continuous improvement, I am eager to learn from experienced professionals and adapt to new technologies. Seeking an entry-level position that provides opportunities for growth and development.

A highly motivated and adaptable professional with a degree in [relevant field] seeking an entry-level position in [industry/field]. Equipped with strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, I am eager to apply my knowledge and contribute to a dynamic organization. With a passion for innovation and a willingness to learn, I am committed to delivering results and exceeding expectations. I thrive in fast-paced environments and possess excellent teamwork and communication abilities.

A dedicated and proactive recent graduate with a degree in [relevant field]. I am eager to kickstart my career in [industry/field] and make a positive impact. With strong problem-solving abilities and a keen eye for detail, I am committed to delivering exceptional work. Seeking an entry-level position where I can contribute my skills in [specific area] and learn from experienced professionals in order to grow and excel in my field.

A detail-oriented and ambitious graduate with a strong academic background in [relevant field]. Equipped with a solid foundation in [key skills/competencies], I am ready to embark on a successful career in [industry/field]. With a proactive and result-driven approach, I am eager to contribute my abilities in [specific area] to an organization that values innovation and growth. Seeking an entry-level position where I can apply my knowledge, learn from experienced professionals, and make a meaningful contribution.

A professional bio is a powerful tool for showcasing your skills, experience, and unique personality. By following the tips and examples we've provided in this blog post, you can create a compelling bio that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

Remember to keep your bio concise and focused, highlighting your most relevant achievements and qualifications. Use a professional tone and tailor your bio to suit your target audience. Don't be afraid to inject a bit of personality and showcase your passions and interests.

Lastly, don't forget to update your bio regularly as your career progresses and new accomplishments come your way. A well-maintained and thoughtfully written professional bio can open doors, create opportunities, and help you stand out in a competitive professional landscape.

So, take the time to craft a bio that truly represents who you are and what you bring to the table. Invest in your personal brand and watch as your professional bio becomes a powerful tool in your journey to success.

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Plant molecular farming

On this page, what is plant molecular farming, status of plant molecular farming in canada, how the cfia is addressing potential impacts of molecular farming, questions and answers, completed consultations and discussion documents.

Plant molecular farming is the growing of plants in agriculture to produce pharmaceutical or industrial compounds instead of food, feed, or fibre. The possibilities range from the manufacture of medical products, such as pharmaceuticals (drugs) and vaccines, to the production of products like biodegradable plastics and industrial chemicals.

An example: interleukin in tobacco

Tobacco is a non-food plant that can be used in the ways mentioned above. With its high growth rate, tobacco could be used to produce pharmaceuticals and other products.

Tobacco has been experimentally modified to produce antibiotics, a dental treatment, and anti-cancer drugs. Tobacco lines modified to produce pharmaceutical compounds, such as interleukin (a potential treatment for Crohn's disease), have been tested in confined research field trials in Canada.

Other examples

Some other examples of products being experimentally developed through plant molecular farming include:

• edible vaccines
• bioplastics made from simple, biodegradable molecules produced in plants
• medical treatments for animals
• an enzyme used in the treatment of cystic fibrosis
• antibodies for diagnostic, preventative, and therapeutic applications (such as preventing tooth decay, reducing kidney transplant rejection, and helping in cancer treatment)
• enzymes for use in food processing

At this time in Canada, no plants for molecular farming have been approved for commercial field production. Some organizations have been doing research on plants with novel traits (PNTs) for molecular farming in laboratories and greenhouses, as well as for a limited number of approved confined research field trials .

Potential human health and environmental impacts may be greater for plant molecular farming than for other PNTs (such as herbicide-tolerant or insect-resistant plants). Compounds from plants developed for plant molecular farming purposes may have physiological effects on humans and other organisms. While all assessments of PNTs consider the following factors, their potential impacts are of particular importance when assessing PNTs used in plant molecular farming:

• workers or bystanders accidentally eating or coming into contact with the plants during field production
• livestock and any wildlife accidentally eating the plants during field production
• pollen movement to the same or related plant species
• unintentional introduction of the plant material into food or livestock feed supply chains

Confined research field trials

In Canada, plant molecular farming is limited to confined research field trials. Some additional requirements for confined research field trials for plant molecular farming include:

• larger isolation distances than required for other PNTs
• additional toxicity and allergenicity data review in some cases
• a CFIA inspector to witness the disposal and destruction of all residual plant material

Commercial release

In Canada, there has been no commercial production of PNTs for plant molecular farming. This means that these plants are still in the confined research field trial stage under CFIA oversight and cannot be released into the environment for commercial purposes. The Government of Canada is investigating policy options for commercial plant molecular farming. To this end, the CFIA is developing appropriate rules for commercial release of these plants.

What is the definition of plant molecular farming?

Researchers define plant molecular farming in a number of ways. Consistent with Canadian definitions for plants with novel traits (PNTs), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has adopted a working definition as follows:

"The use of plants in agriculture to produce biomolecules instead of food, feed and fibre. Plants with introduced novel traits that produce scientifically, medically or industrially interesting biomolecules are grown as crops and harvested for the biomolecules".

What other ways might be these products be produced?

Prior to the development of recombinant DNA technology in the 1970s, protein drugs were available in extremely limited supplies; for example, human cadavers were the source for human growth hormone, and insulin to treat diabetes was collected from slaughtered pigs.

Many pharmaceutical proteins and industrial enzymes have been produced by genetically engineered bacteria since the 1970s.

Will all vaccines and therapeutic proteins eventually be produced by plant molecular farming?

No. While many therapeutics may be "manufactured" in plant molecular farming systems that ensure cost-effective production of safe and functional products, others do not lend themselves well to such a production system. In some cases, the molecules cannot be synthesized properly in plant tissues. In other cases, while costs of production by plant molecular farming are generally lower than other production systems, the costs of recovery of functional products may be too high. In still other cases, the risks to human, animal and environmental health may be considered unacceptable.

Is there plant molecular farming going on now in Canada?

There is no commercial plant molecular farming in Canada to date, and none is anticipated in the near future. However, a number of organizations have been conducting research on PNTs for molecular farming in laboratories and greenhouses as well as in a limited number of approved confined field research trials. The CFIA anticipates that developers will seek approval for commercial production of PNTs for molecular farming in three to five years.

Are plants used for molecular farming safe for the environment?

PNTs for molecular farming raise additional concerns compared to PNTs for food, feed or fibre because their products may affect the physiology of humans, animals, or any wildlife that may accidentally ingest them.

CFIA evaluators carefully and thoroughly assess the potential impacts of all plants with novel traits including those used for molecular farming, before these products are approved for either confined research field trials or for unconfined environmental release. This assessment considers potential impacts of the PNT on wildlife and other non-target organisms.

PNTs may be considered unsafe for the environment if the novel trait makes the plant more likely to persist as a weed in non-agricultural habitats. When the novel trait is production of molecular farming product, no increase in weediness is expected.

PNTs may also be considered unsafe for the environment if the novel trait can be transferred to other plants of the same or related species. A number of mechanisms such as male sterility can be used to mitigate against gene flow through cross-pollination

Confined field trials of PNTs in Canada, including those for molecular farming, are of restricted size and number and are carried out under strict terms and conditions that mitigate against escape of the PNT or its pollen. See also Regulatory Directive 2000-07 Guidelines for the Environmental Release of Plants with Novel Traits Within Confined Field Trials in Canada.

There are no plants for molecular farming approved for pre-commercial or unconfined release into the environment.

Are there human health impacts of plants used for molecular farming?

Some plants used for molecular farming may produce compounds (such as pharmaceuticals) that affect human health. Human health impacts of accidental ingestion, or contact by workers or bystanders, may be unknown. Some field tests of such plants have been carried out in Canada under confined conditions that ensure that the plant material does not enter human food or animal feed supplies. Occupational and bystander safety and exposure are taken into consideration in the authorization of these field trials.

There are no plants for molecular farming currently in commercial production or authorized for unconfined release into the environment in Canada. At the request of stakeholders, the CFIA is developing guidelines for pre-commercial release of plants for molecular farming that will provide for strict measures to ensure the plant material does not enter human food or animal feed supplies, and that plant material with potential negative health impacts for workers or bystanders is not released into the environment.

How is the CFIA regulating plants for molecular farming?

CFIA's Plant Biosafety Office (PBO) is responsible for assessing PNTs, including those used for molecular farming. All PNT products undergo a stepwise assessment process before unconfined release into the environment is permitted.

Before any PNT can be considered for commercial production in Canada it must undergo confined field testing to gather information about the potential impacts on the Canadian environment and biodiversity. (See Regulatory Directive 2000-07 Guidelines for the Environmental Release of Plants with Novel Traits Within Confined Field Trials in Canada.) In granting approval for confined field trials, CFIA evaluators carefully consider potential impacts of the PNT on wildlife and other non-target organisms. To mitigate against potential negative environmental effects, terms and conditions are imposed by the CFIA on confined field trials including:

• Reproductive isolation of the PNT from all other similar crops
• Plants and plant material from the trial site must not be allowed to escape to other environments
• No material from the trial site may enter the human or animal food chain
• The trial site must be open for Agency inspectors at any time
• Following the trial, the site must not be planted with the same or a related species for a prescribed period, depending on the biology of the crop tested (e.g. following a canola trial, canola or related species may not be planted on the trial site for three years after the completion of the field trial)
• Trials can be no more than a hectare in size, and no more than five trials of any PNT may be carried out in any one province in a given year.

Commercial production for PNTs for food, feed or fibre is subject to approval for unconfined environmental release that considers data on environmental impacts gathered from confined field trials. (See Regulatory Directive 1994-08 Assessment Criteria for Determining Environmental Safety of Plants with Novel Traits).

Because of the additional environmental and human and livestock health concerns, PNTs for molecular farming may not be eligible for unconfined environmental release. Instead, commercial production of PNTs for molecular farming may be subject to additional rules, terms and conditions prescribed by new guidelines currently being developed by the CFIA.

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SAMPLE TEXT ANALYSIS OF BIOGRAPHY: CAIE AS ENGLISH LANGUAGE (9093)

Subject: English

Age range: 16+

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

26 May 2024

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This resource contains a sample answer for the **TEXT ANALYSIS **question on Paper 1 of the CIE AS English Language (9093) syllabus. The text being analysed is:

An extract from the biography of Jean Rhys which appeared in the October/ November 2015 paper.

This Resource includes: QUESTION & EXTRACT ANNOTATIONS OF THE EXTRACT SAMPLE TEXT ANALYSIS OF 800 WORDS FOCUSING ON FORM, STRUCTURE & LANGAUGE

Excerpt from the text analysis response:

The text is a biography of the novelist Jean Rhys for an intended audience of Jean Rhys’ fans or general readers of literary non-fiction.

The purpose of the text is to provide an insight into Jean Rhys’ character and her thoughts and feelings. Another purpose of the text is to discuss Rhys’ life and her experiences, particularly of when she decided to return home. The writer achieves these purposes in numerous ways, one of them being the use of several formal and stylistic devices throughout the text. To begin with, the writer says that ‘going home was a matter of urgency’ and that Rhys ‘had to go home to keep writing.’ This gives the readers the impression that she was suffering from a writer’s block and the use of the colon adds to her sense of helplessness since Rhys felt a loss

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• Open access
• Published: 25 May 2024

Fecal Coprococcus , hidden behind abdominal symptoms in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

• Huaizhu Guo 1   na1 ,
• Yuzhu Chen 1   na1 ,
• Wenxin Dong 2 ,
• Siqi Lu 1 ,
• Yanlin Du 1 &
• Liping Duan   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6886-6888 1 , 3  

Journal of Translational Medicine volume  22 , Article number:  496 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is the presence of an abnormally excessive amount of bacterial colonization in the small bowel. Hydrogen and methane breath test has been widely applied as a non-invasive method for SIBO. However, the positive breath test representative of bacterial overgrowth could also be detected in asymptomatic individuals.

To explore the relationship between clinical symptoms and gut dysbiosis, and find potential fecal biomarkers for SIBO, we compared the microbial profiles between SIBO subjects with positive breath test but without abdominal symptoms (PBT) and healthy controls (HC) using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.

Fecal samples were collected from 63 SIBO who complained of diarrhea, distension, constipation, or abdominal pain, 36 PBT, and 55 HC. For alpha diversity, the Shannon index of community diversity on the genus level showed a tendency for a slight increase in SIBO, while the Shannon index on the predicted function was significantly decreased in SIBO. On the genus level, significantly decreased Bacteroides , increased Coprococcus_2 , and unique Butyrivibrio were observed in SIBO. There was a significant positive correlation between saccharolytic Coprococcus_2 and the severity of abdominal symptoms. Differently, the unique Veillonella in the PBT group was related to amino acid fermentation. Interestingly, the co-occurrence network density of PBT was larger than SIBO, which indicates a complicated interaction of genera. Coprococcus_2 showed one of the largest betweenness centrality in both SIBO and PBT microbiota networks. Pathway analysis based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) database reflected that one carbon pool by folate and multiple amino acid metabolism were significantly down in SIBO.

Conclusions

This study provides valuable insights into the fecal microbiota composition and predicted metabolic functional changes in patients with SIBO. Butyrivibrio and Coprococcus_2 , both renowned for their role in carbohydrate fermenters and gas production, contributed significantly to the symptoms of the patients. Coprococcus ’s abundance hints at its use as a SIBO marker. Asymptomatic PBT individuals show a different microbiome, rich in Veillonella . PBT’s complex microbial interactions might stabilize the intestinal ecosystem, but further study is needed due to the core microbiota similarities with SIBO. Predicted folate and amino acid metabolism reductions in SIBO merit additional validation.

Introduction

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a sparsely recognized clinical syndrome as the presence of an abnormally excessive amount of bacterial colonization in the small bowel with abdominal complaints [ 1 , 2 ]. SIBO is closely associated with many gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) [ 3 ], inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) [ 4 ], pancreatitis [ 5 ], nonalcoholic liver disease [ 6 ], colorectal cancer and abdominal surgery [ 7 ]. It is believed that symptoms linked to SIBO consist of bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal pain/discomfort. Besides the main complaints, steatorrhea, vitamin B 12 deficiency, and malnutrition can be seen in more severe cases [ 1 ]. Primary or secondary motility abnormalities destroy the ability of the small intestine to prevent colon bacterial translocation [ 8 ]. Meanwhile, ileocaecal valve dysfunction leads to colonic bacterial regurgitation [ 9 ]. Long-term medication of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with an increased risk of SIBO. The intragastric defense barrier damage by acid suppression therapy makes it easier for upstream opportunistic pathogens to enter the small intestine [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Congenital or postoperative intestinal anatomical malformations increase local food residues and bacterial accumulation, like intestinal diverticulum, Roux-en-Y anastomosis, or small bowel resection [ 13 , 14 ]. Multiple pathophysiological mechanisms contribute to abdominal discomforts including carbohydrate fermentation and improper metabolites, GI chronic inflammation, mucosal immune deficiency, increased gut permeability, food intolerance, and antigenemia [ 15 , 16 ].

The gold standard for diagnosis of SIBO is a quantitative culture of small intestine aspirates. American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recommended a new threshold at > 10 3 colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) on fresh aspirate culture instead of > 10 5  CFU/mL based on a large-scale study [ 17 ], derived from subjects with altered intestinal anatomy because the bacterial levels in normal subjects rarely exceed 10 2  CFU/mL [ 1 ]. Based on the above diagnostic standard, SIBO subjects had a higher relative abundance of Proteobacteria and lower Firmicutes than non-SIBO subjects from the REIMAGINE study [ 18 , 19 ]. Barlow et al. found that absolute loads of taxa in duodenal aspirates including Klebsiella , Escherichia , Enterococcus , and Clostridium enriched in individuals with SIBO were associated with more severe upper GI symptoms, but they lacked healthy controls [ 20 ]. Another cohort study found that duodenal aspirate microbiota was altered in symptomatic patients, while the absolute counting of anaerobes in the small intestine fluid wasn’t parallel with the severity of symptoms [ 21 ]. A significant proportion of patients deny effective treatment due to similar clinical phenotypes compared with many other functional gastrointestinal diseases (FGIDs). Few studies provide independent clinical and microbiome profiles of SIBO patients [ 22 ].

Indeed, the microbiological analysis from the small bowel fluid has limited clinical application considering that sampling is invasive and prone to contamination. An alternative method is the measurement of exhaled hydrogen and methane gas during the breath test (BT), which is considered a non-invasive, safe, useful, and cost-efficient method for SIBO. The North American Consensus recommended that a rise in hydrogen of ≥ 20 parts per million (ppm) or methane levels ≥ 10 ppm by 90 min during a glucose or lactulose breath test was considered positive [ 23 ]. However, the positive lactulose or glucose breath test representative of bacterial overgrowth could also be detected in asymptomatic subjects with the prevalence varying from 3 to 30% [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. At present, we are still not clear about the possible mechanisms that lead to GI complaints and carbohydrate malabsorption in part of the positive BT population. Thus, the characterization of gut microbiota in SIBO patients with evident symptoms may provide a microbiological explanation for their clinical manifestations. This study aimed to illustrate the clinical characteristics and gut microbiota features of SIBO patients compared with asymptomatic positive breath test (PBT) subjects and health control (HC), as well as the correlation between clinical symptoms and microbiota alterations in SIBO. Through the comparison to asymptomatic PBT individuals, this study aimed to potentially explain the occurrence of symptoms in SIBO patients from the perspective of bacterial alterations. We expected to identify potential fecal biomarkers related to abdominal discomforts for SIBO patients.

Patients and methods

Patient recruitment.

The study was performed from April 2019 to May 2021. SIBO patients who reported non-specific abdominal symptoms and fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of lactulose hydrogen and methane breath test were recruited from the Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital. The inclusion criteria of SIBO patients were as follows: (a) aged ≥ 18 and ≤ 65 years old; (b) GI discomfort, mainly abdominal pain, distension, constipation, or diarrhea for over 6 months; (c) positive lactulose hydrogen methane breath test (LBT); (d) voluntarily joined the study and completed the case report form, hydrogen methane breath test, and stool collection. Patients were excluded if they fulfilled one or more of the following exclusion criteria: (a) GI organic diseases detected by endoscopy or digestive tract surgery history; (b) with severe heart, liver, lung, kidney, blood, endocrine and nervous system diseases or severe respiratory tract, digestive tract, urinary tract infections or mental disorders; (c) taking antibiotics and acid suppression drugs for more than 3 days during the past month or probiotics, laxatives, antidiarrheal or prokinetic agents within 2 weeks; (d) pregnant or lactating women.

Asymptomatic subjects were recruited through advertising in the same clinical center. The exclusion criteria were: (a) less than 18 or more than 65 years old; (b) history of taking antibiotics, anti-diarrheal medications, laxatives, or seeking medical advice due to severe abdominal symptoms in the past 6 months; (c) a confirmed diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis in the past year; (d) taking probiotics or prebiotics in the past 2 weeks. According to their LBT results, they were divided into positive breath test (PBT) group and negative health control (HC).

Clinical evaluation

Demographic data including age, gender, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded for each participant. Daily bowel habit and frequency were recorded based on the Bristol stool form (BSF) scale [ 29 ]. GI symptom severity was evaluated by gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) [ 30 ]. The symptom score was the sum of abdominal pain, distension, constipation, diarrhea scores. Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the mental health conditions [ 31 , 32 ]. 7-day food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to estimate their dietary pattern [ 33 ]. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to sample collection.

Lactulose hydrogen and methane breath test (LBT)

All subjects were asked to refrain from antibiotic use and discontinue probiotics, laxatives, antidiarrheal, and prokinetic agents for 2 weeks. To minimize basal hydrogen excretion, dietary restriction and avoidance of smoking for at least 24 h before the test and during the test were recommended. Further, patients were asked to avoid coarse grains, milk, juice, and alcohol in the evening before the test. Fasting for 8 to 12 h before the procedure was required. Before the examination, subjects used 20 mL of antiseptic mouthwash (0.05% chlorhexidine) to eliminate fermentation by oral bacteria. End-expiratory breath samples were collected just before the ingestion of 10 g (15 mL) of lactulose in a 250 mL water solution. Gas samples were collected every 15 min until 90 min using the methane-hydrogen breathing analyzer DA6000 (Sunvou Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., Wuxi, China) which could test hydrogen, methane, hydrogen sulfide, oxygen, and carbon oxide immediately. The North American Consensus recommended that a rise in hydrogen of ≥ 20 ppm or methane levels ≥ 10 ppm by 90 min during a glucose or lactulose breath test was considered positive. A negative LBT was defined by none of the above criteria.

Clinical feature statistical analysis

The analysis was conducted through SPSS V.26.0. The quantitative and qualitative variables were reported as mean ± standard error (SE), median ± interquartile range (IQR), and number (frequency). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined differences among groups for variables with normally distributed continuous variables, followed by a Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) multiple comparisons post-test. Kruskal–Wallis non-parametric test examined differences among groups for discontinuous variables. χ 2 test examined differences for categorical variables. Linear correlations were conducted through Pearson’s correlation analysis. Correlations for non-parametric variables were conducted through Spearman’s correlation analysis. A p  < 0.05 was considered statistical significance for the above tests.

Stool sampling

All included participants were required to stop using antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and other microbiota-related supplements at least 2 weeks before stool sampling. Stool specimens were stored by stool nucleic acid collection tubes (Norgen Biotek Corp., Toronto, Ontario, Canada), then transported to the laboratory using dry ice and were frozen at − 80 °C.

DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing

The sterile water blank samples were made as the control articles. DNA was extracted using E.Z.N.A.® soil DNA Kit (Omega Bio-tek, Norcross, GA, U.S.) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The extracted genomic DNA of each sample was detected using 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. Two samples from the HC group were excluded because of low DNA loads. The hypervariable region V3–V4 of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified with primer pairs 338F (5′-ACTCCTACGGGAGGCAGCAG-3′) and 806R (5′-GGACTACHVGGGTWTTAAT-3′) by an ABI GeneAmp® 9700 PCR thermocycler (ABI, CA, U.S.). The PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene was performed as follows: initial denaturation at 95 °C for 3 min, followed by 27 cycles of denaturing at 95 °C for 30 s, annealing at 55 °C for 30 s, extension at 72 °C for 45 s, single extension at 72 °C for 10 min, and ending at 4 °C. Purified amplicons were pooled in equimolar and paired-end sequences on an Illumina MiSeq PE300 platform (Illumina, San Degio, U.S.) according to the standard protocols by Majorbio Bio-Pharm Technology Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China). A total of 6,789,850 16S rRNA sequences were obtained from the V3–V4 regions, with an average length of 416 bp per read.

Gut microbiome sequencing data processing

The raw 16S rRNA gene sequencing reads were demultiplexed, quality-filtered by Fastq (version 0.20.0), and merged by Flash (version 1.2.7) with the following criteria: (1) the 300 bp reads were truncated at any site receiving an average quality score of < 20 over a 50 bp sliding window, the truncated reads shorter than 50 bp were discarded and reads containing ambiguous characters were also discarded; (2) only overlapping sequences longer than 10 bp were assembled according to their overlapped sequence; the maximum mismatch ratio of overlap region is 0.2; and reads that could not be assembled were discarded; (3) samples were distinguished according to the barcode and primers, and the sequence direction was adjusted, with exact barcode matching, and 2 nucleotide mismatch in primer matching.

The microbiome data profiling was performed by Parallel-Meta Suite (PMS, version 3.7) [ 34 ]. For details, all preprocessed 16S rRNA gene sequences were aligned with a 97% similarity level to the SILVA database (version 132) [ 35 ] for taxonomical annotation. Considering that the uneven sequencing depth (number of sequences) among samples may introduce bias (Table S1), we did sequence rarefaction for sequencing depth normalization after the taxonomic profiling. Using the PM-pipeline command in the PMS toolkit, set parameters as “-s 25,000” to enable this function and set the sequence depth to 25,000. The relative abundance of community members on each taxonomy level was also calculated by PMS. It first determines the copy number of each marker gene using the Integrated Microbial Genomes (IMG) database [ 36 ], and then corrects the relative abundance based on marker gene copy number normalization. This feature was enabled by default in PMS, and can be manually activated by inputting the parameter “-r T”. After taxonomic annotation of the operational taxonomy units (OTU), several sequencing quality control analyses were performed to verify the appropriate sequencing numbers and depth (Figure S1). The functional profiles were predicted with PICRUSt2 (Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States) and annotated with the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) Orthology (KO) [ 37 ].

Diversity and abundance analysis of gut microbiome

For alpha diversity, Shannon indexes of each sample were calculated using “Vegan” package in R and tested by the Kruskal–Wallis rank sum test among three groups. A pairwise comparison was measured by the Wilcoxon rank sum test and false discovery rate (FDR) correction. For beta diversity, we utilized principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) based on the meta storms distance algorithm [ 38 ] and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The computation and visualization were implemented using “vegan”, “mixOmics”, and “ggplot2” packages in R (version 4.2.1).

Then we screened genera with an average relative abundance exceeding 0.1% within each group considering them as commonly present in the respective group. (e.g., commonly present in the HC group). Subsequently, we visualized the unique genera within each group and the shared genera between groups using “Venn Diagram” package in R. This setup aims to prevent the identification of unique genera that exhibit significant individual differences and lack universality across the entire group. The differentially abundant genera and KEGG BRITE Level 3 pathways were examined by permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), and their distribution was displayed using violin plots.

Correlation and co-occurrence network analysis

The correlation of taxonomy and function that differed significantly among groups and clinical characteristics was quantitatively assessed using Spearman correlation analysis (“Hmisc” package in R). Then heatmaps were employed to illustrate correlations, where red indicates a positive correlation, blue indicates a negative correlation and darker colors represent larger |r| values, * p  < 0.05, ** p  < 0.01, *** p  < 0.001.

The co-occurrence networks were constructed based on Spearman correlation analysis between genera with a significance threshold of p < 0.05 and |r| ≥ 0.5. We used Cytoscape [ 39 ] (version 3.9.1) to visualize the network and calculate its topological properties.

Degree measures the total number of edges that connect to a node. Therefore, a node with a high degree will have a significant role in the network.

Network density represents the proportion of actual present connections in all possible relationships. The value is 0 if no connections are built in the network. The value closer to 1, the network is denser and the node is more cohesive in the network. Mathematically, \(d(i)\) is the degree of the node i in the network. The equation of the density of the network nodes:

Betweenness centrality for each node is the number of these shortest paths that pass through this node, which represents the capacity to connect two or more non-adjacent nodes. The node with a higher betweenness centrality will have more control over the network. Let \({\sigma }_{st}\) be the total number of shortest paths from node s to node t and \({\sigma }_{st(i)}\) is the number of those paths that pass through i . The equation of the betweenness centrality of the node i is:

The Euclidean distance (De) of the betweenness centrality between networks P and Q in n-dimension space is calculated as:

The clinical manifestation of SIBO patients

In total, 154 subjects were enrolled, including 63 SIBO patients, 36 PBT, and 55 HC (Fig.  1 a). There were no statistically significant differences among three groups in terms of gender, age, body mass index (BMI), carbohydrate, protein, fat consumption, and energy proportion (Table  1 ). No significant diet nutrient differences were found among three groups (Table S2). Patients with SIBO had significantly higher anxiety scores (39.42 ± 8.70) than PBT (36.53 ± 6.49, p  < 0.05) and HC (34.68 ± 7.68, p  < 0.01), respectively. The depression scores of SIBO (42.84 ± 8.31) were higher than that of HC (38.72 ± 8.41, p  < 0.05) (Table  1 and Fig.  1 b).

The flow diagram and clinical manifestations. a Flow diagram of the participants in this study. b Comparison of anxiety and depression scores. c The severity and proportion of gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) distribution in SIBO patients. HC health control, PBT positive breath test, SIBO small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, IBS-SSS irritable bowel syndrome symptom severity scale, BSF Bristol stool form. * p  < 0.05; ** p  < 0.01

According to GSRS scores, the dominant symptoms in SIBO patients were distension (63.49%), constipation (49.21%), loose stool (47.62%), hunger pain (46.03%), urgent stool (41.27%), hyperactive sound (41.27%) and abdominal pain (38.10%) (Fig.  1 c).

Overall fecal microbiota composition and diversity

Even though no significant difference was found in the Shannon index of community diversity on the genus level, it showed a tendency for a slight increase in SIBO ( p  = 0.275, Fig.  2 a). Notably, the Shannon index of SIBO significantly decreased compared with HC on the KEGG BRITE level3 pathway ( p  = 0.024, Fig.  2 b). Butyrivibrio only occurred in SIBO, Veillonella , Barnesiella , Escherichia–Shigella , and Tyzzerella_3 in PBT, and Holdemanella in HC, respectively. Alloprevotella and Ruminiclostridium_6 were detected in both SIBO and PBT groups (Fig.  2 c and Table  2 ). Each group was dominated by Bacteroides, followed by Prevotella_9, Faecalibacterium, Blautia , and Roseburia on the genus level (Fig.  2 d). PCoA did not reveal any distinct clustering (Fig.  2 e), while PLS-DA indicated a compositional separation of microbiota among three groups (Fig.  2 f).

Overall microbiota composition and diversity. a Shannon index on the genus level of the alpha diversity. b Shannon index on the KEGG Level3 pathway. c Venn analysis. d The relative abundance distribution at the genus level. e PCoA at the OTU level of the beta-diversity analysis. f PLS-DA analysis at the OTU level. KEGG Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genome, PCoA principal co-ordinates analysis, OTU operational taxonomic unit, PLS-DA partial least squares discriminant analysis. * p  < 0.05

Fecal microbiota taxonomic changes for screening potential biomarkers

A significantly lower abundance of Bacteroides and a higher abundance of Coprococcus_2 were observed in SIBO compared with HC on the genus level (Fig.  3 a, b). It's worth mentioning that a greater variety of microbiota differences were observed in the PBT group. The relative abundance of Bilophila , Oscillibacter , and Ruminococcus_torques was significantly decreased, and the Butyricicoccus , Sutterella , Lachnospiraceae_UCG004 , and Dialister were enriched in PBT (Fig.  3 c–i).

Different microbiota profiles and inner correlation. a – i The relative abundance of different genera. j The inner Spearman correlation heatmap on the genus level. k The Spearman correlation heatmap between microbiota and host factors. * p  < 0.05; ** p  < 0.01; *** p  < 0.001

Furthermore, we assessed the Spearman’s correlations of these microbiota which suggested synergistic and competitive interactions (Fig.  3 j). The relative abundance of Bacteroides was negatively associated with that of Coprococcus_2 ( r  = − 0.563, p  < 0.001). We also detected the negative correlation between Ruminococcus_torques and Sutterella ( r  = − 0.304, p  < 0.001), as well as between Bilophila and Lachnospiraceae_UCG004 ( r  = − 0.210, p  < 0.01). The significantly positive correlations between each pair of the three decreasing genera of PBT suggested a similar trend. The relative abundance of Coprococcus_2 was positively associated with that of Oscillibacter ( r  = 0.218, p  < 0.01) and Ruminococcus_torques ( r  = 0.310, p  < 0.001).

The correlation heatmap revealed significant positive correlations between the relative abundance of Coprococcus_2 and the severity of all symptoms (Fig.  3 k). Bacteroides was negatively related to constipation and distension. No significant relation was found between the differential genera and the mental scores.

Microbial co-occurrence network analysis

The topological properties of each co-occurrence network were analyzed through degree and betweenness centrality. Figure  4 a showed the largest network density in PBT (ρ = 0.089), which represented a more complex microbiota interaction compared to HC (ρ = 0.061) and SIBO (ρ = 0.060). The size of each node was proportional to the betweenness centrality in Fig.  4 b. It was worth noting that Coprococcus_2 (node 18) showed a high betweenness centrality, representing it was necessary for the connectivity in both SIBO and PBT networks. To verify the similarity of the network, we calculated the Euclidean distance of betweenness centralities. The distance between PBT and SIBO is 512.78, the distance between PBT and HC is 539.76, and the distance between HC and SIBO is 557.60, reflecting that the necessary microbiota of the whole network were more similar in PBT and SIBO.

Co-occurrence network of relative abundance of sixty-two common genera in three groups. The absolute value of a relative coefficient greater than 0.5 was coded in the line color according to statistical significance (p < 0.05). where red indicates a positive correlation, blue indicates a negative correlation and darker colors represent larger |r| values. The color of each node refers to the phylum. The genus names corresponding to each node are shown in Table S3. a Degree calculated in the network. The largest five nodes indicated the highest degree in the network. b Betweenness centrality was calculated in the network. The size of each node was proportional to the betweenness centrality

Diminishing metabolic functions associated with abdominal symptoms in SIBO

To explore the functional changes associated with differences in microbial composition, gut microbiome function was imputed using PICRUSt2 and pathway analysis based on the KEGG database (Fig.  5 a–d). Interestingly, pathways associated with amino acid metabolism were down in SIBO, including arginine and proline metabolism, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, and phenylalanine metabolism, mostly essential amino acids involved. The pathway reflective of one carbon pool by folate was significantly dropped in SIBO. Furthermore, the significant negative correlations between the gas production rate at 90 min and the functions were stable (Fig.  5 e–h). To determine the association between microbiota functional diversity and disease, the relative abundance of the above functions and host parameters were considered for the correlation analyses. Overall, the above predicted functional changes were negatively associated with symptom scale, constipation, abdominal distension, and pain (Figure S2). The predicted functional changes also had a significantly positive correlation with Bacteroides and a negative correlation with Coprococcus_2 , supporting the synergism with the taxonomic relative abundance (Fig.  5 i).

The predicted microbiota function alterations in SIBO patients. a – d The relative abundance on the KEGG pathways. e – h The scatter plot of the gas production and the function relative abundance. Axis Y presented the hydrogen elevation rate at 90 min compared to the baseline level. i The Spearman correlation heatmap of relative abundance between KEGG BRITE level 3 pathway and genera. * p  < 0.05; ** p  < 0.01; *** p  < 0.001

In this study, we present the microbial composition from the positive hydrogen and methane breath test population with and without abdominal discomfort and with an otherwise healthy gut for the first time. The upward trend of taxonomic diversity and decreasing functional diversity were consistent with the progression of SIBO. The increase in taxonomic diversity may be attributed to changes in the distribution of different microorganisms within the intestine. Some genera that were originally in low abundance have multiplied, and the dominant genera like Bacteroides have reduced (Figure S3a). On the other hand, the functions are highly similar and dominant functions extremely rise, leading to a reduction in overall functional diversity (Figure S3b). A significant decrease in Bacteroides and an increase in Coprococcus_2 were observed, along with a unique occurrence of Butyrivibrio in SIBO, which has been reported to be associated with gas production through carbohydrate fermentation (Table  2 ) [ 40 ]. Pathway analysis based on the KEGG database reflected that one carbon pool by folate and amino acid metabolism were significantly down in SIBO. Both the composition and function alterations of the microbiota were correlated with GI symptoms in SIBO. On the other hand, a great variety of microbiota represented by Veillonella in PBT was associated with the fermentation of amino acids and peptides previously reported (Table  2 ) [ 41 , 42 ]. Asymptomatic individuals with a solely positive breath test possessed a strongly connected network reflecting the more complicated interactions of the fecal microbiota (Fig.  6 ).

The probable explanation of the microbiota effect for SIBO and PBT group and potential treatment strategies. PBT positive breath test, SIBO small intestinal bacterial overgrowth

Mostly, SIBO patients complain of non-specific GI symptoms due to the presence of excessive colonization of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria in the small bowel [ 43 ]. The symptoms are closely related to the fermentation of non-absorbed carbohydrates like nausea, bloating, flatulence, distension, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and/or constipation [ 44 ]. A significant proportion of patients deny effective treatment as misdiagnosed as IBS due to the unclear symptom spectrum [ 2 , 45 , 46 ]. In our study, we found that the most frequently reported symptom was abdominal distension, followed by changes in defecation habits. Abdominal pain for the essential diagnosis of IBS in Rome IV consensus was not highlighted for SIBO patients. Gas-producing related symptoms such as bloating, gassiness, cramping, and distension were more obvious [ 47 ]. Primary or secondary motility abnormalities destroy the ability of the small intestine to prevent colon bacterial translocation [ 8 ], thus slow intestinal transit leads to excessive gas retention and constipation [ 48 ].

The small intestine represents the first region where food components and the intestinal bacteria encounter each other for primary carbohydrate metabolism. SIBO can be defined as the inappropriate fermentation of many kinds of carbohydrates and simultaneously multiple nutrient malabsorption detected by the culture of proximal intestinal aspirates or measurement of exhaled hydrogen and methane. Over the past few decades, the lack of knowledge about SIBO was confined to the collection, storage, and culture of small bowel fluids. Almost all samples were obtained near the duodenal or jejunum rather than the bacterial colonization by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at the risk of contamination. Inevitably gas injection during the endoscopic operation may disturb the anaerobic culture of SIBO [ 49 , 50 ]. The fecal microbiota composition alterations may help in the explanation of the metabolism features and progression of SIBO. The Butyrivibrio spp. from Lachnospriaceae detected only in SIBO patients could encode a more impressive repertoire of carbohydrate-active enzymes than most Firmicutes [ 40 ], capable of growing on a range of carbohydrates, from mono-or oligosaccharides to complex plant polysaccharides, such as pectins, mannans, starch, and hemicelluloses [ 51 , 52 ]. The end products were butyrate and many kinds of gas including hydrogen (H 2 ), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). Butyrivibrio was significantly abundant in subjects that reported traveler’s diarrhea [ 53 ], while also significantly higher in the constipation-dominant IBS patients from mucosal samples [ 54 ].

Our findings supported a negative correlation between the relative abundance of Bacteroides and GI symptoms, concurred with a lower amount of Bacteroides in SIBO patients. Several species of Bacteroides which we considered beneficial bacteria could access their desired nutrients from long-chain polysaccharides and oligosaccharides that are not readily absorbed by the epithelial cells of the colon in healthy status based on the polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) [ 55 ], producing useful short-chain fatty acids. Bamba et.al have found that the relative abundance of Bacteroides in duodenal aspirates of SIBO patients was significantly lower than that of non-SIBO patients, consistent with our findings [ 56 ]. Therefore, we inferred that the decline of Bacteroides in fecal samples in accordance with the duodenal aspirates reflected the overuse of carbohydrates or inner competition by proliferating bacteria in the small intestine.

Conversely, the genus Coprococcus_2 was positively correlated with the symptom score and all symptoms concurred with a higher abundance in SIBO. Coprococcus spp. within the family, Lachnospiraceae of Firmicutes are deemed the core genera for the maintenance of microbial homeostasis and healthy status [ 57 , 58 ], as they contribute to the production of the health-promoting metabolite butyrate. Nevertheless, it was reported that Coprococcus_2 was associated with a higher risk of IBD, obesity, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) [ 59 , 60 , 61 ]. Several studies indicated the enrichment of Coprococcus in SSc, autism spectrum disorder, and radiation enteritis (RE) [ 62 , 63 , 64 ]. There are significant differences in the utilization of carbohydrates among Coprococcus subgroups. Multiple carbon source substrates could be utilized by C.eutactus , mainly contained in Coprococcus_2 [ 65 ]. As a short-chain fatty acid-producing bacterium, C. eutactus mainly generates acetic acid [ 66 ]. However, we lack sufficient understanding of the impact of Coprococcus on SIBO. A randomized clinical trial of berberine and rifaximin effects for SIBO is underway in our clinical center [ 67 ]. The unpublished preliminary analysis verified the enrichment of Coprococcus in SIBO patients compared with healthy individuals again. We further found that a lower relative abundance of Coprococcus inhibited by berberine was observed in patients with negative hydrogen methane breath tests after medication compared with baseline (0.18 ± 0.13% vs. 1.09 ± 0.20%, p  < 0.001). On the contrary, there was no significant change in the relative abundance of Coprococcus before and after medication in those who failed to respond to berberine (0.32 ± 0.17% vs. 0.27 ± 0.11%, p  = 0.775). The baseline relative abundance of Coprococcus could also indicate drug response (Figure S4). The increased Coprococcus abundance may be one of the potential biomarkers of SIBO. Elimination of Coprococcus might be the key approach to eradicating bacterial colonization and helping patients achieve clinical improvement. Further studies should be performed to determine the disruptors in the small intestine.

Several taxonomic groups we identified in PBT reflected the diverse nutrient metabolic features as the highlight of this study. Veillonella from the family Veillonellaceae of Firmicutes existed in 28 of 36 PBT objects and were also commonly found in duodenal aspirate sequencing [ 20 ]. Veillonella is the predominant component in the small intestine of healthy subjects [ 68 ]. It is characterized in that glucose or any other carbohydrate is not fermented, but relies on organic acids, amino acids, and peptides as carbon sources which may explain the exhaled gas production like H 2 and H 2 S (Table  2 ) [ 41 , 42 ]. It was also reported that Barnesiella , another unique genus that occurred in most PBT individuals, could utilize amino acids and proteins as carbon sources [ 69 ]. Asaccharolytic Dialister , Enriched in PBT, had close phylogenetic distance and similar physiological characteristics with Veillonella and was overrepresented in cirrhosis duodenum [ 70 , 71 ]. The great abundance of the above taxa also suggested higher transport and survival of oral microorganisms and promoted the growth of the upper gastrointestinal tract species in the distal bowel related to weight loss after gastric surgery in the previous study [ 72 , 73 ]. However, in our study, they were observed in asymptomatic PBT individuals. It indicated that the existence of these taxa was impossibly responsible for inducing abdominal discomfort. A more stable network we observed in the PBT population provided a possible protective effect. The strong positive correlations between each pair of genera reveal that they grow and proliferate synchronously. In contrast, the negative correlations of the genus abundance indicate that they may compete with survival resources to inhibit each other. The more bacterial interactions in the intestinal microenvironment could help maintain gut homeostasis and make it less susceptible to being disturbed by external environmental factors. The genera with the high degree simply centralized in the Firmicutes in the SIBO group in contrast to Bacteroides from Bacteroidota participated in maintaining the stability of the network in PBT. The betweenness centrality distribution indicated that the essential “bridges” were distinct in each network. However, the similarity could be found in PBT and SIBO due to the smaller Euclidean distance which demonstrated potential pathogens like Coprococcus_2 might be shared in two groups. In brief, we need to pay more attention to the healthy conditions of PBT people even though no abdominal discomfort has been reported so far.

PICRUSt2 analysis found that the metabolic function alterations matched with the microbiota abundance changes. Amino acid metabolism pathways, mostly essential amino acids involved, were downregulated in SIBO patients reflecting the result of competition of the nutrient metabolism in the small bowel. The identified bacteria in our study were previously reported as carbohydrate fermenters, consistent with observations in other studies. This finding may be attributed to the down-regulation of amino acid metabolism, potentially interfering with amino acid absorption. By contrasting our results with existing literature, we aim to elucidate the significance of our findings within the context of current research. In addition, biosynthesis and cycle of tetrahydrofolate were downregulated according to the decreased one carbon pool by folate in SIBO, which provided the potential explanation for megaloblastic anaemia in more severe patients [ 1 ]. The metabolic pathway functions were also negatively correlated with the symptom spectrum and hydrogen levels, which illustrated the harmful effects of SIBO on the microbiota metabolism function. The predicted metabolic function alterations in SIBO are worth further validation.

We also pay attention to the mental health of SIBO patients. Gut–brain–microbiota axis plays a core role in many FGIDs and provides a potential treatment target for mental disorders [ 74 ]. However, there was sparse knowledge about the mental status of SIBO patients. In our study, anxiety and depression scores in the SIBO group using self-reporting scales were worse compared with healthy individuals. Interestingly, the anxiety scores of symptomatic patients were also significantly higher compared with PBT, both with the positive breath test which represented similar intestinal microbial loads, which may indicate the participation of psychosocial abnormalities in SIBO. Neither anxiety nor depression scores were significantly related to the relative abundance of Coprococcus_2 , which denied that the changes in gut microbiota might be caused by abnormal psychiatric status. We supposed that psychosocial abnormalities may be involved in abdominal complaints.

In this study, asymptomatic individuals with abnormal breath tests were recruited for the first time. The bacterial composition and functional characteristics compared by 16S rRNA sequencing revealed possible microorganisms for GI symptoms in hydrogen/methane-producing populations. The saccharolytic bacteria associated with the development of SIBO and functional abnormalities were found. There was a significant correlation between Coprococcus_2 and the severity of symptoms, which may be one of the biomarkers of SIBO. We also adopted novel bioinformatics methods and innovatively applied statistical parameters to establish objective indicators of network analysis. This may provide a basis for targeted treatment of pathogenic bacteria of SIBO in the future.

However, it has some limitations which should not be neglected. First, we lack direct small intestine samples. Although the convenient and non-invasive fecal samples reflected the disturbed luminal contents influenced by the upstream bacterial overgrowth in our study, we need to take into account that the microbiota transmission from the small intestine to the colon could not behave consistently [ 75 ]. The small intestine fluid and mucosal biopsies might be more representative to reflect the local pathogenic microbiota and host interactions even though there is still debate about the sampling position and contamination [ 1 , 75 , 76 ]. Additionally, 16s rRNA sequencing could represent the existence and abundance of the microbes but lack the details of how these microbiota perform their functions. It is nowhere near enough to only provide the functional prediction analysis to reflect the actual role. Multi-omics analysis is necessary to help us understand the connection between the metabolic functions of microbes and the disease progression better. Finally, we failed to follow up on the symptoms of PBT individuals so the long-term impact of differential microbes in the small intestine is unknown. It deserves further concern about their future health status and whether they will develop GI symptoms with persistent intestinal dysbiosis.

This study delivers significant understanding of the fecal microbiota composition and metabolic functional shifts anticipated in SIBO patients, elucidating the factors contributing to their abdominal discomfort. Notably, Butyrivibrio and Coprococcus_2 , both known for gas production through carbohydrate fermenters, contributed significantly to the discomfort experienced by patients with SIBO. Furthermore, the enrichment of Coprococcus suggests its potential as a biomarker for SIBO. On the contrary, asymptomatic PBT subjects exhibited a distinct microbiome spectrum, represented by enriched Veillonella . The complicated network interactions of PBT might provide a stable intestinal environment, but it deserved further follow-up due to the similar core microbiota with SIBO. It is worth further validation that one carbon pool by folate and multiple amino acid metabolism were significantly down in SIBO based on the KEGG database.

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information Sequence Read Archive (SRA) repository at the reference number PRJNA907418.

Abbreviations

American gastroenterological association

Analysis of variance

Body mass index

Bristol stool form

Breath test

Colony-forming units

Carbon dioxide

False discovery rate

Food frequency questionnaire

Functional gastrointestinal diseases

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal symptom rating scale

Hydrogen sulfide

Healthy controls

Inflammatory bowel disease

Irritable bowel syndrome

Interquartile range

Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome

Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome Orthology

Lactulose hydrogen methane breath test

Operational taxonomy units

Positive breath test

Principal coordinates analysis

Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome

Permutational multivariate analysis of variance test

Partial least squares discriminant analysis

Proton pump inhibitors

Part per million

Polysaccharide utilization loci

Self-rating anxiety scale

Self-rating depression scale

Standard error

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Acknowledgements

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The study was supported by the International Institute of Population Health of Peking University Health Science Center (JKCJ202101). This funding source had no role in the design of this study and will not have any role during its execution, analyses, interpretation of the data, or decision to submit results.

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Huaizhu Guo and Yuzhu Chen contributed equally to this work.

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Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China

Huaizhu Guo, Yuzhu Chen, Siqi Lu, Yanlin Du & Liping Duan

Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China

Wenxin Dong

International Institute of Population Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China

Liping Duan

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HZ G and LP D designed the study; HZ G, WX D, SQ L and YL D collected the samples; HZ G analysed the clinical symptom data; YZ C performed the bioinformatic and statistical analysis. HZ G, YZ C and LP D wrote the paper. LP D supervised the whole study. All authors commented on drafts of the paper and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Liping Duan .

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Supplementary Information

12967_2024_5316_moesm1_esm.pdf.

Supplementary Material 1: Figure S1. The taxonomy annotation analysis. (a) Rank-abundance curves. (b) Refraction curves. (c) Pan analysis. (d) Core analysis. HC: health control; PBT: positive breath test; SIBO: small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

12967_2024_5316_MOESM2_ESM.pdf

Supplementary Material 2: Figure S2. The Spearman correlation heatmap between functional changes and host factors. * p  < 0.05; ** p  < 0.01; *** p  < 0.001.

12967_2024_5316_MOESM3_ESM.pdf

Supplementary Material 3: Figure S3. The numerical difference of the relative abundance between SIBO and HC. (a) The relative abundance of the taxonomic composition. (b) the relative abundance of the KEGG BRITE Level3 pathway. HC: health control; SIBO: small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

12967_2024_5316_MOESM4_ESM.pdf

Supplementary Material 4: Figure S4. The validation set of the relative abundance of Coprococcus in SIBO. (a) Compared with healthy individuals. (b) Before and after medication of berberine in responders and non-responders. *A significant difference before and after medication of berberine in responders; # a significant difference at baseline in two groups. *** p  < 0.001, ## p  < 0.01.

Supplementary Material 5: Table S1. The sequencing depth among SIBO, PBT and HC groups.

Supplementary material 6: table s2. comparison of diet nutrients among sibo, pbt and hc groups., supplementary material 7: table s3. the node information of the co-occurrence network., rights and permissions.

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Guo, H., Chen, Y., Dong, W. et al. Fecal Coprococcus , hidden behind abdominal symptoms in patients with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. J Transl Med 22 , 496 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05316-2

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Received : 30 December 2023

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05316-2

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