Recent data concerning the study of the pathogenesis of infectious agents in certain situations show the limits of the concept "a microbe - a disease"
Indeed, it is now known that many pathogens live in community with other microorganisms, these organisms interact with each other and the process leading to disease are influenced or driven by these interactions.
For example, much research on microbial communities in the digestive tract showed that some commensal microbes of the intestinal flora could become virulent under the influence of various factors, including other micro-organisms. It is also known that arthopod vectors of pathogens in humans, animals and plants are colonized by microflora (composed of commensals and symbionts), which interacts with the transmission of pathogens and the expression of pathogenesis.
It is in this context of microbial communities, Meta-Omics analysis can bring new knowledge on (1) community of microorganisms defining the “pathogens”, (2) highlighting the effect of the community of micro-organisms on the pathogenesis, (3) understanding the impact of the microbial community on the persistence, transmission and evolution of pathogens, and (4) knowledge of biotic and abiotic factors that interfere expression of pathogenesis. All these points represent new scientific fields of remarkable complexity. Metagenomic approaches, and meta-omics in general, will provide answers to these questions represent a challenge for the researchers in the next years.
Recent data concerning the study of the pathogenesis of infectious agents in certain situations show the limits of the concept "a microbe - a disease"
Indeed, it is now known that many pathogens live in community with other microorganisms, these organisms interact with each other and the process leading to disease are influenced or driven by these interactions.
For example, much research on microbial communities in the digestive tract showed that some commensal microbes of the intestinal flora could become virulent under the influence of various factors, including other micro-organisms. It is also known that arthopod vectors of pathogens in humans, animals and plants are colonized by microflora (composed of commensals and symbionts), which interacts with the transmission of pathogens and the expression of pathogenesis.
It is in this context of microbial communities, Meta-Omics analysis can bring new knowledge on (1) community of microorganisms defining the “pathogens”, (2) highlighting the effect of the community of micro-organisms on the pathogenesis, (3) understanding the impact of the microbial community on the persistence, transmission and evolution of pathogens, and (4) knowledge of biotic and abiotic factors that interfere expression of pathogenesis. All these points represent new scientific fields of remarkable complexity. Metagenomic approaches, and meta-omics in general, will provide answers to these questions represent a challenge for the researchers in the next years.
