Omics approaches in food safety: fulfilling the promise?

Teresa M Bergholz; Andrea I Moreno Switt; Martin Wiedmann

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2014.01.006

Omics approaches in food safety: fulfilling the promise?

Trends Microbiol. 2014 May;22(5):275-81. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2014.01.006. Epub 2014 Feb 23.

Authors

Teresa M Bergholz¹, Andrea I Moreno Switt², Martin Wiedmann³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA.
² Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
³ Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA. Electronic address: mw16@cornell.edu.

Abstract

Genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics are rapidly transforming our approaches to the detection, prevention, and treatment of foodborne pathogens. Microbial genome sequencing in particular has evolved from a research tool into an approach that can be used to characterize foodborne pathogen isolates as part of routine surveillance systems. Genome sequencing efforts will not only improve outbreak detection and source tracking, but will also create large amounts of foodborne pathogen genome sequence data, which will be available for data-mining efforts that could facilitate better source attribution and provide new insights into foodborne pathogen biology and transmission. Although practical uses and application of metagenomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics data and associated tools are less prominent, these tools are also starting to yield practical food safety solutions.

Keywords: food safety; foodborne pathogens; genomics; proteomics; synthetic biology; transcriptomics.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Food Safety / methods*
Foodborne Diseases / prevention & control*
Gene Expression Profiling / methods*
Genomics / methods*
Humans
Proteomics / methods*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding