Multi-omics tools for studying microbial biofilms: current perspectives and future directions

Seneviratne, C. J., Suriyanarayanan, T., Widyarman, A. S., Lee, L. S., Lau, M., Ching, J., Delaney, C. and Ramage, G. (2020) Multi-omics tools for studying microbial biofilms: current perspectives and future directions. Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 46(6), pp. 759-778. (doi: 10.1080/1040841X.2020.1828817) (PMID:33030973)

Abstract

The advent of omics technologies has greatly improved our understanding of microbial biology, particularly in the last two decades. The field of microbial biofilms is, however, relatively new, consolidated in the 1980s. The morphogenic switching by microbes from planktonic to biofilm phenotype confers numerous survival advantages such as resistance to desiccation, antibiotics, biocides, ultraviolet radiation, and host immune responses, thereby complicating treatment strategies for pathogenic microorganisms. Hence, understanding the mechanisms governing the biofilm phenotype can result in efficient treatment strategies directed specifically against molecular markers mediating this process. The application of omics technologies for studying microbial biofilms is relatively less explored and holds great promise in furthering our understanding of biofilm biology. In this review, we provide an overview of the application of omics tools such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics as well as multi-omics approaches for studying microbial biofilms in the current literature. We also highlight how the use of omics tools directed at various stages of the biological information flow, from genes to metabolites, can be integrated via multi-omics platforms to provide a holistic view of biofilm biology. Following this, we propose a future artificial intelligence-based multi-omics platform that can predict the pathways associated with different biofilm phenotypes.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ramage, Professor Gordon and Delaney, Mr Christopher
• Authors: Seneviratne, C. J., Suriyanarayanan, T., Widyarman, A. S., Lee, L. S., Lau, M., Ching, J., Delaney, C., and Ramage, G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Journal Name: Critical Reviews in Microbiology
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 1040-841X
• ISSN (Online): 1549-7828
• Published Online: 06 October 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor and Francis Group
• First Published: First published in Critical Reviews in Microbiology 46(6): 759-778
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy