Genomes and post-genome technology

Abstract

The beginning of the twenty-first century marks the genomic era in microbiology, where many genomes started being completely sequenced. The rate at which this kind of feat is now possible has increased drastically with the development of new sequencing technologies. In this post-genomic scenario, intraspecies genome variation has been examined and the concept of pan-genome, the sum of all genes present in members of one taxonomic group, was proposed. Practical application of this concept is found in the search for universal antigens for vaccine development. On a more fundamental level, these genome comparisons have increased the debate on what is a bacterial species and have shown that lateral gene transfer is more important than previously thought in bacterial genome evolution. Sequencing of the genomes from entire microbial communities has shown that the diversity of microorganisms is much greater than previously thought. Available post-genome technology has allowed the development of successful commercial biotechnology products without resorting to the cultivation of the microorganism of interest. On the opposite side of the spectrum, single cell genomics has allowed sequencing of the genome from individual cells. Accessing these genomes will give a perspective of genome differences between individuals and will facilitate the cultivation of these organisms. Central to all these developments in genome and post-genome technologies is bioinformatics. Some of the strategies used for genome and metagenome data storage and analysis are discussed. Although there are a number of successful examples, the challenge now is to transform the knowledge about genomes and post-genome technologies into commercial products at a greater pace.