Systems microbiology

Systems microbiology is the combination of systems biology and microbiology devoted to the study of the dynamic interactions of more than one component in a microbiological system in order to understand and predict the behaviour of the system as a whole. Systems microbiology is a rapidly expanding discipline fuelled by the omics era and new technological advances that have increased the data available.[1]

Contents

Cellular Metabolism

High-throughput technologies in microbiology have led to a focus on the biology of a system as a whole. Biological data from all cellular levels (i.e., genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic) can be utilized to provide genome-level models of metabolism. The predictions achieved can be related to methods for molecular genetics manipulation and experimental determination of metabolic fluxes. A microorganism's metabolic network is linked to its phenotype.[2] A systems biology view of bacterial metabolism is obtained by integrating genome-scale computational modelling with molecular genetics tools.[1]

Chemotaxis

The chemotaxis signal-transduction pathway allows microbial cells to sense chemicals in their surroundings in order to regulate flagellated rotary motors, thus allowing them to swim towards nutrients and away from toxins. New approaches using systems biology are leading to revisions of existing models and increasing our understanding of sensing and signalling in bacteria.[1]

Infection

Microbial infections cause approximately one quarter of all deaths globally.[3] The increasing occurrence of drug resistant pathogens is a cause for concern.[4] A systems biology approach to the rapid increase in data from technological advances may translate into practical applications for human health care.[1]

Stress response

To survive adverse conditions microorganisms have developed mechanisms to detect environmental changes and respond appropriately. Microorganisms frequently react to a wide variety of stresses simultaneously and the various stress response systems interact with each other by a complex of global regulatory networks.[2] Stress response systems can play an important role in the virulence of pathogenic organisms.[3][5]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Robertson, BD; Wren, BW (editor) (2012). Systems Microbiology: Current Topics and Applications. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-908230-02-7. 
  2. ^ a b Filloux, AAM (editor) (2012). Bacterial Regulatory Networks. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-908230-03-4. 
  3. ^ a b Locht, C; Simonet, M (editor) (2012). Bacterial Pathogenesis: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-91-2. 
  4. ^ Miller, AA; Miller, PF (editor) (2011). Emerging Trends in Antibacterial Discovery: Answering the Call to Arms. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-89-9. 
  5. ^ Requena, JM (editor) (2012). Stress Response in Microbiology. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-908230-04-1.