Functional Microbiomes

Our understanding of the microbiome has grown exponentially in recent times. Advances in genome sequencing technologies and metagenomic analysis have enabled researchers to study these microbes and their function, and to research microbiome -based interactions both in the natural and industrial environment through to human health and agricultural systems. Up until recently, the majority of research has focused on characterizing and understanding the biological community structure and its potential through system wide (meta)genomic and transcriptomic-based studies. Thus far, the functional output of these microbiomes, in terms of protein and metabolite expression, has been limited.
As such, this Research Topic is focused on a systems biology approach in order to investigate high value microbiomes and their functional capacity. That is, investigating microbiomes relating to the natural and industrial environment, human health, agriculture and aquaculture using a multi-omics based approach with the aim of obtaining a better understanding of clinical phenotype expression, anthropogenic change or enabling functional microbiomes that elicit increased value in terms of value add resources and bioremediation.