Metagenomics, biotechnology with non-culturable microbes

Abstract

Metagenomics as a new field of research has been developed over the past decade to elucidate the genomes of the non-cultured microbes with the goal to better understand global microbial ecology on the one side, and on the other side it has been driven by the increasing biotechnological demands for novel enzymes and biomolecules. Since it is well accepted that the majority of all microbes has not yet been cultured, the not-yet-cultivated microbes represent a shear unlimited and intriguing resource for the development of novel genes, enzymes and chemical compounds for use in biotechnology. However, with respect to biotechnology, metagenomics faces now two major challenges. Firstly, it has to identify truly novel biocatalysts to fulfil the needs of industrial processes and green chemistry. Secondly, the already available genes and enzymes need to be implemented in production processes to further prove the value of metagenome-derived sequences.

El camino de la biotecnología en la Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Perú

“…Otro desarrollo que vale la pena resaltar es el advenimiento de la metagenómica que está permitiendo por un lado, estudiar y entender más profundamente la ecología de microorganismos y, de otro, la identificación de nuevas especies microbianas hasta ahora elusivas a su estudio (Langer et al 2006, Riesenfeld et al 2004, Schmeisser et al 2007, Warnecke & Hugenholtz 2007. La "bioprospección molecular" permite la identificación de nuevos genes de interés económico a partir de diversos metagenomas (Grey et al 2003, Handelsman 2005, Lorenz & Eck 2005.…”

Industrial systems biology

“…There have been extensive reviews regarding the application of random mutagenesis and directed evolution for novel development or enhancement of existing microbial cell factories for the production of a wide range of industrial biotechnology products (Demain, 2000;Demain and Adrio, 2008a,b;Parekh et al, 2000;Patnaik, 2008;Schmeisser et al, 2007). What is often referred to as ''classical strain development'' is dependent on the capability of inducing and promoting genetic diversity, under controlled laboratory conditions, in a desirable production host organism that can be selectively screened, isolated, cultured, and preserved based on a phenotypic criteria.…”

An introduction to and a reflection on the “ecogenomics promise”

“…A challenge for ecogenomics can therefore be that the step from promise to (a concrete) product or service is big. Schmeisser et al (2007) pointed to this issue when they stressed that the detection of novel genes and enzymes is a lesser problem than the actual implementation in production processes. Fortunately, parallel to the rapid developments in ecogenomics research, also knowledge is becoming available on how the ''societal promise'' of emerging science and technology like ecogenomics can (further) be shaped and realised (Roelofsen et al 2008;Kloet et al 2010).…”

“…(Pettit 2004;Riesenfeld et al 2004;Langer et al 2006;Schmeisser et al 2007;Demain and Adrio 2008;Oh et al 2009;Barke et al 2010;Kakirde et al 2010). Sixty per cent of the drugs that became commercially available over the past 20 years originate from existing natural compounds, and not directly from the chemical industry (Lefevre et al 2008).…”