title: Mining Microbial Signals for Enhanced Biodiscovery of Secondary Metabolites.
abstract: The advent of metagenomics based biodiscovery has provided researchers with previously unforeseen access to the rich tapestry of natural bioactivity that exists in the biosphere. Unhindered by the "culturable bottleneck" that has severely limited the translation of the genetic potential that undoubtedly exists in nature, metagenomics nonetheless requires ongoing technological developments to maximize its efficacy and applicability to the discovery of new chemical entities.Here we describe methodologies for the detection and isolation of quorum sensing (QS) signal molecules from metagenomics libraries. QS signals have already shown considerable potential for the activation and "awakening" of biosynthetic gene clusters, bridging the existing divide between the natural product repertoire and the natural biosynthetic biodiversity hinted at by nature's blueprint. The QS pipeline from high-throughput robotics to functional screening and hit isolation is detailed, highlighting the multidisciplinary nature of progressive biodiscovery programs.
authors.affiliation: BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, University College Cork-National University of Ireland, Western Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: F Jerry
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Reen
authors.affiliation: BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, University College Cork-National University of Ireland, Western Road, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez-Barranquero
authors.affiliation: BIOMERIT Research Centre, School of Microbiology, University College Cork-National University of Ireland, Western Road, Cork, Ireland. f.ogara@ucc.ie.|School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia. f.ogara@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Fergal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: O'Gara
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D057225:Data Mining / Q000379:methods*; D015723:Gene Library; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods; D056186:Metagenomics / Q000379:methods; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D064307:Microbiota; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000235:genetics; D064210:Secondary Metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
keywords: Biosensors; High throughput; Metagenomics; Natural product biodiscovery; Quorum sensing signals; Secondary metabolites