Microbiology in the post-genomic era

Genomics has revolutionized every aspect of microbiology. Now, 13 years after the first bacterial genome was sequenced, it is important to pause and consider what has changed in microbiology research as a consequence of genomics. In this article, we review the evolving field of bacterial typing and the genomic technologies that enable comparative analysis of multiple genomes and the metagenomes of complex microbial environments, and address the implications of the genomic era for the future of microbiology.     

Bioinformatics in the post-genomic era

The Bioinformatics and Genome Research conference, one of the Cambridge Healthtech Institute's ‘Beyond the Genome’ conferences, was held 17–19 June 2001 in San Francisco, California, USA.     

Membrane traffic in the post-genomic era

A multi-parametric genetic screening approach sheds light on integrated control of the endocytic pathway in mammalian cells.     

Host-pathogen studies in the post-genomic era

Several studies are starting to show the power of DNA microarrays to identify interactions between animal hosts and their pathogens, and have revealed interesting correlations between host responses to different infectious agents.     

Looking beyond the post-genomic era

A report on BioMed Central’s fourth annual Beyond the Genome conference held at the University of California, San Francisco Mission Bay Conference Center, USA, 1–3 October 2013.     

Malaria research in the post-genomic era

Genomic sequence determination of Plasmodium falciparum and other species of the genus, as well as that of Anopheles gambiae, and human, rat and mouse genome sequencing have completely changed the landscape of fundamental research about malaria. These data should urgently be exploited, in order to develop new tools to combat the disease: new drugs, fine dissection of the cascade of events following infection of the various vector species and vertebrate host, analysis of the complex interaction leading to the pathology or, inversely, contributing to sustained protection. Powerful population biology tools are now available, allowing to investigate genetic exchanges within natural population and to identify factors structuring parasitic and vector populations. Nevertheless, important impediments persist, including the complexity of experimental systems and the unclear relevance of animals models. Numerous challenges are to be faced; they call upon a more efficient organisation of research efforts in the systematic explorations using the powerful novel post-genomic technologies, as well as the development of new tools and experimental models required by functional genomics and integrative biology.     

Malaria research in the post-genomic era

Within the next few years, the complete genomic sequences of Plasmodium falciparum, and potentially several other Plasmodium spp, will be available to researchers worldwide. These complete genomic sequence data are certain to provide the foundation for nearly all malaria research in the next decades, as discussed here by Dan Carucci.     

Lipids join the post-genomic era

A report of the meeting 'From Proteomics to Lipidomics - Basics, Advances and Applications', Bonn, Germany, 30 June-1 July 2006.     

后基因组时代的生物信息学

随着人类基因组计划的完成,不断积累的巨量的生物学数据和快速发展的信息学技术,给后基因组时代的生物信息学研究带来了新的挑战。该文对后基因组时代的生物信息学研究内容进行了比较全面的描述,分别就其研究对象和研究方向作了区别讨论,分析了生物信息学研究的现状和趋势,比较了国内外的研究发展情况和差距。针对我国在研究中所存在的主要问题,提出了建议并做了展望。     

Bacterial flagellar diversity in the post-genomic era

Flagellar biosynthesis has been studied most thoroughly in laboratory strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica. However, genome sequencing has uncovered flagellar loci in distantly related bacteria. We have used homology searches to determine how far the E. coli/S. enterica paradigm can be generalised to other flagellar systems. Numerous previously unrecognized homologues of flagellar components were discovered, including novel FlgM, FlgN, FliK and FliO homologues. Homology was found between the FliK proteins and a molecular ruler, YscP, from a virulence-associated type-III secretion system. Also described is a new family of flagellar proteins, the FlhX proteins, which resemble the cytoplasmic domain of FlhB.     

Computational cell biology in the post-genomic era

Rapid accumulation of biological data from novel high throughput technologies characteristic of genomic and proteomic research as well as advances in more traditional biological disciplines are leading to wider use of detailed and complex computational models of cell behavior. These models address a variety of dynamic intracellular processes ranging from interactions within a gene regulation network to intracellular and intercellular signal transduction. This review focuses on the current trends in computation cell biology, particularly emphasizing the role of experimental validation. The recent successes and future challenges facing computational cell biology are also discussed.     

The post-genomic era for a select few

A report of the 4th Colmar Scientific Symposium 'Biology in the Post-genomic Era', Colmar, France, 16-17 October 2003.     

Proteomics--a new player in the post-genomic era

In the post-genomic era the concept of personalized medicine and molecular medicine emphasizes the utility of the proteomics approach. Proteomics is the global analysis of cellular proteins and complements the genomics approach. Proteins, in principle do all the work of the cell and ultimately dictate all biological processes and the cellular fate. Proteomics uses a combination of sophisticated techniques including two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis, image analysis, mass spectrometry, amino acid sequencing and bioinformatics to identify and characterize proteins. This review aims at providing the various approaches and pitfalls associated with this technique and gives a brief overview of the utility of this approach in the area of biomedical research.     

Tick neurobiology: recent advances and the post-genomic era

Increasing worldwide resistance to acaricides necessitates greater research on the identification of potential acaricide targets in ticks to aid in the control of these serious pests of medical and veterinary importance. Historically, and most likely in the future, acaricide targets are largely of neural origin, but our knowledge of tick neurobiology is surprisingly limited. The tick central nervous system is a fused nerve mass, termed the synganglion. Tick synganglion material is relatively easily accessible to most researchers and employing modern amplification methods of complementary-DNA construction is readily amenable for gene cloning investigations. The various tick neurotransmitter systems are described with emphasis on our current knowledge of both existing and potential acaricide targets at the molecular level. We describe the impact of mass gene sequencing (expressed sequence tag and genome projects), advances in bioinformatics and RNA-interference on target identification and validation.     

The hepatic stellate cell in the post-genomic era

The draft human genome sequence was published on February 15, 2001, which will provide a huge amount of information on human genetics, human disease, and human cell biology. Now, medical scientists and cell biologists are turning their attention to illustrating gene expression pattern using gene microarray and to identifying the functions and the expression patterns of proteins encoded by the genes. Hepatic stellate cell is one of the sinusoid-constituent cells that play multiple roles in the liver pathophysiology. Transformation of stellate cells from the vitamin A-storing phenotype to the "myofibroblastic" one closely correlates to hepatic fibrosis during chronic liver trauma. Analyses of the molecular mechanisms of stellate cell activation have made a great progress, in particular, in the field of intracellular signal transduction of transforming growth factor-beta and platelet-derived growth factor, integrin signaling related to cell-adhesion, and cell motility-associated Rho and focal-adhesion kinase. Accumulation of the information on the stellate cell activation would shed light on the establishment of a novel therapeutic strategy against fibrosis of human liver disease.