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- Title
Challenges and Opportunities of Airborne Metagenomics.
- Authors
Behzad, Hayedeh; Takashi Gojobori; Katsuhiko Mineta
- Abstract
Recent metagenomic studies of environments, such asmarine and soil, have significantly enhanced our understanding of the diverse microbial communities living in these habitats and their essential roles in sustaining vast ecosystems. The increase in the number of publications related to soil and marine metagenomics is in sharp contrast to those of air, yet airbornemicrobes are thought to have significant impactsonmany aspects of our lives from their potential roles inatmospheric events suchas cloud formation, precipitation, and atmospheric chemistry to their major impact on human health. In this review, we will discuss the current progress in airborne metagenomics, with a special focus on exploring the challenges and opportunities of undertaking such studies. Themain challenges of conducting metagenomic studies of airborne microbes are as follows: 1) Low density of microorganisms in the air, 2) efficient retrieval of microorganisms from the air, 3) variability in airborne microbial community composition, 4) the lack of standardized protocols and methodologies, and 5) DNA sequencing and bioinformatics-related challenges. Overcoming these challenges could provide the groundwork for comprehensive analysis of airborne microbes and their potential impact on the atmosphere, global climate, andour health. Metagenomic studies offer a uniqueopportunity toexamine viral andbacterial diversity inthe air andmonitor their spread locally or across the globe, including threats from pathogenicmicroorganisms. Airborne metagenomic studies could also lead to discoveries of novel genes and metabolic pathways relevant to meteorological and industrial applications, environmental bioremediation, and biogeochemical cycles.
- Subjects
METAGENOMICS; MICROBIAL genomics; BACTERIAL diversity; BIOGEOCHEMICAL cycles; BIOREMEDIATION
- Publication
Genome Biology & Evolution, 2015, Vol 7, Issue 5, p1216
- ISSN
1759-6653
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/gbe/evv064