Systems Biology: Integrating ‘‐Omics'‐Oriented Approaches to Determine Foodborne Microbial Toxins

Abstract

The possible origins of microbial toxins vary widely, and detection of these toxins in different food matrices is a major challenge for food industries and regulatory agencies. New methodologies are needed to quickly and precisely detect traces of micro‐organisms and their toxic metabolites. In post‐genomics era, systems biology approaches, ranging from genomic sequencing to transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomic profiling, may be an effective platform for developing tests to identify a variety of toxins in field applications; multiple functional ‘‐omics’ could be combined into a system‐wide approach for detecting toxins, which may also be useful in the study of microbial pathogenesis. Advances in systems biology are addressed in the current article, as well as possible uses of these high‐throughput platforms to ensure food and feed safety.

Bioremediation: a genuine technology to remediate radionuclides from the environment

“…In order to identify genes, proteins and enzymes involved in the bioremediation of radionuclides, it is important to study the structural and functional interactions between proteins and other metabolites. Potential genes and proteins involved in the metabolism of radionuclides can be identified and studied via advanced genomics and proteomics techniques (Nagaraj and Singh, 2010 ; Singh et al ., 2011 ). Recent advances in next-generation sequencing, genomics and proteomics allow the expression of required proteins and enzymes of interest into radionuclide-resistant organisms for bioremediation.…”