Metabolomic Techniques in Food & Agriculture,Systems Biology,Omics Space,

Metabolomic Techniques in Food & Agriculture

Systems Biology

is a field in biology aiming at systems level understanding of biological processes, where a bunch of parts that are connected to one another and work together. It attempts to create predictive models of cells, organs, biochemical processes and complete organisms.

•          Integrative systems biology

Extracting biological knowledge from the ‘omics through integration

•          Predictive systems biology

Predicting future of biosystem using ‘omics knowledge, e.g. in-silico biosystems

Omics Space

Differential omics is the beginning of Systems Biology

n  Metabolomics

n  Newly emerging field of 'omics' research

n  Comprehensive and simultaneous systematic determination of metabolite levels  in the metabolome  and their changes over time as a consequence of stimuli

n  Metabolome

n  Refers to the complete set of small-molecule metabolites

n  Metabolites

n  Intermediates and products of metabolism

n  Examples include antibiotics, pigments, carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acids

n  Primary and secondary metabolites

n  the systematic identification and quantitation of all/ biologically relevant small molecules* in a given compartment, cell, tissue or body fluid.

n  It represents the functional end-point of physiological and pathophysiological processes depicting both genetic predisposition and environmental influences like nutrition, exercise or medication.

Importance of Metabolomics

n  >95% of all diagnostic clinical assays test for small molecules

n  89% of all known drugs are small molecules

n  50% of all drugs are derived from pre-existing metabolites

n  30% of identified genetic disorders involve diseases of small molecule metabolism

n  Small molecules serve as cofactors and signaling molecules to 1000’s of proteins

n  Functional end-point of physiology and pathophysiology

n  Reasonable scale of the analytical challenge

n  Direct mirror of environmental influences

n  (Mal-)nutrition

n  Exercize

n  Medication

Metabolomics Applications

Ø  Basic research

-          Functional genomics in biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, microbiology, ecology, …

Ø  Agricultural & nutrition industry

-          Plant intermediary metabolism

-          Health effects of functional food products

Ø  Biotechnology

-          Optimization and monitoring of fermentation processes

Ø  Pharmaceutical R&D

-          Pathobiochemistry / characterization of disease models

-          Safety / toxicology

-          Efficacy / pharmacodynamics and mode-of-action

Ø  Clinical diagnostics & theranostics

-          Early diagnosis and accurate staging

-          Specific monitoring of therapeutic effects

Ø  Toxicology Testing

Ø  Clinical Trial Testing

Ø  Fermentation Monitoring

Ø  Food & Beverage Tests

Ø  Nutraceutical Analysis

Ø  Drug Phenotyping

Ø  Water Quality Testing

Ø  Petrochemical Analysis

Ø  Genetic Disease Tests

Ø  Nutritional Analysis

Ø  Clinical Blood Analysis

Ø  Clinical Urinalysis

Ø  Cholesterol Testing

Ø  Drug Compliance

Ø  Transplant Monitoring

Ø  MRS and CS imaging