Genomics and Metagenomics Analysis for Unveiling Environmental Microbial Diversity

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 December 2021) | Viewed by 3902

Special Issue Editors


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Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina, Rua Diogo de Botelho, 1327 | 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
Interests: bacterial ecology; antibiotic resistance; urban water cycle

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LEPABE, Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Interests: bioremediation; bacterial ecology

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Facultad de Ciencias, Dept. Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears and Instituto Mediterráneo de Estudios Avanzados (IMEDEA UIB-CSIC), Campus UIB, 07190 Esporles - Illes Balears, Spain
Interests: marine microbiology; community function; pollution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The limited capability of culturing most environmental microorganisms, which represented a major obstacle in the exploration of the irphylogenetic and functional diversity, has been largely circumvented by culture-independent strategies. The change of paradigm into a genome-based vision of the microbial world has unveiled a new microbiosphere. Over the last decades, technical advances and related increased knowledge have contributed to expand the analysis of microbial genomes as single entities or as part of complex communities. This renewed vision of microbial diversity is today fundamental in all fields interfacing with microbiology. The extensive study of ecosystem services, the exploration of taxonomic and functional diversity, the assessment of the role and impact of microorganisms, either as risk factors or as biotechnological tools, are examples of research areas that require genomics and metagenomics to progress. This Special Issue aims at collecting original research, review, and opinion papers addressing the use of genomics and metagenomics, aided by other omic techniques (metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics), for the study of environmental microbial diversity and function. It welcomes state-of-the-art and cutting-edge contributions that will offer the readers an updated perspective of the present and future research in the field.

Dr. Célia M. Manaia
Dr. Olga Nunes
Dr. Balbina Nogales
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics
  • phylogenetic diversity
  • metagenome-assembled genomes
  • ecosystem services
  • whole genome analysis
  • gene–function relationship
  • genomics-based environmental monitoring

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

18 pages, 381 KiB  
Review
The Methods of Digging for “Gold” within the Salt: Characterization of Halophilic Prokaryotes and Identification of Their Valuable Biological Products Using Sequencing and Genome Mining Tools
by Jakub Lach, Paulina Jęcz, Dominik Strapagiel, Agnieszka Matera-Witkiewicz and Paweł Stączek
Genes 2021, 12(11), 1756; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/genes12111756 - 01 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3062
Abstract
Halophiles, the salt-loving organisms, have been investigated for at least a hundred years. They are found in all three domains of life, namely Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya, and occur in saline and hypersaline environments worldwide. They are already a valuable source of various [...] Read more.
Halophiles, the salt-loving organisms, have been investigated for at least a hundred years. They are found in all three domains of life, namely Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya, and occur in saline and hypersaline environments worldwide. They are already a valuable source of various biomolecules for biotechnological, pharmaceutical, cosmetological and industrial applications. In the present era of multidrug-resistant bacteria, cancer expansion, and extreme environmental pollution, the demand for new, effective compounds is higher and more urgent than ever before. Thus, the unique metabolism of halophilic microorganisms, their low nutritional requirements and their ability to adapt to harsh conditions (high salinity, high pressure and UV radiation, low oxygen concentration, hydrophobic conditions, extreme temperatures and pH, toxic compounds and heavy metals) make them promising candidates as a fruitful source of bioactive compounds. The main aim of this review is to highlight the nucleic acid sequencing experimental strategies used in halophile studies in concert with the presentation of recent examples of bioproducts and functions discovered in silico in the halophile’s genomes. We point out methodological gaps and solutions based on in silico methods that are helpful in the identification of valuable bioproducts synthesized by halophiles. We also show the potential of an increasing number of publicly available genomic and metagenomic data for halophilic organisms that can be analysed to identify such new bioproducts and their producers. Full article
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