Researchers from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU Biosustain) and the University of California, San Diego have published a comprehensive comparative analysis of the genetic makeup of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). LAB, a group of microorganisms, plays a pivotal role in natural ecosystems and is essential to the food industry.
The recent study offers a comprehensive look at the genetic capabilities of 26 LAB species. The team studied over 2,400 high-quality, publicly available genomes and successfully mapped out the functional genetic abilities, metabolic pathways, and biosynthetic gene clusters of individual strains in the Lactobacillaceae family. A newly developed integrated workflow allowed for large-scale pan-genome analysis, encompassing data curation, taxonomic definitions, phylogroup identification, pangenome reconstruction, functional annotations, and genome mining. This state-of-the-art computational exploration led to a more profound understanding of functional variations across different LAB species, offering a marked improvement over previous studies that only considered individual species or metagenome investigations.
Postdoc Omkar Satyavan Mohite from DTU Biosustain, one of the study's lead authors, commented, "In mapping the genetic landscape of LAB, we have cracked open the door to a treasure trove of novel possibilities represented by phylogenetic groups and individual strains for future biotechnological applications.”
Furthermore, the results of this research go beyond merely understanding microbes at a data level. Akanksha Rajput, a Postdoctoral Researcher at UCSD and a lead author, emphasized the broad applications of their findings: "We've laid the groundwork for everything from species identification and functional studies to phylogenetic research and biotechnological innovations. This work can drive advancements in various sectors, including the food industry, healthcare, and environmental sciences."
Researchers and experts from diverse fields, including academia, industry, medicine, and environment, can utilize these findings, allowing them to prioritize strains based on specific genetic backgrounds.
In their future endeavors, the research team plans to harness pan-genomic characteristics to further study bacterial evolution, metabolic pathways, or sequence level variations. The comprehensive pangenome analysis method developed for this study could also serve as a key platform for examining other industrially significant microbial groups.
Read the original publication in Food Microbiology.
-
Innovations in next-generation sequencing technologies and techniques are driving more precise and comprehensive exploration of complex biological systems. Current advancements include improved accessibility for long-read sequencing and significant progress in single-cell and 3D genomics. This article explores some of the most impactful developments in the field over the past year.
Long-Read Sequencing
Long-read sequencing has seen remarkable advancements,...12-02-2024, 01:49 PM