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Current Genomics

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-2029
ISSN (Online): 1875-5488

Impact of Next Generation Sequencing Techniques in Food Microbiology

Author(s): Baltasar Mayo, Caio T. C. C. Rachid, Angel Alegria, Analy M. O. Leite, Raquel S. Peixoto and Susana Delgado

Volume 15, Issue 4, 2014

Page: [293 - 309] Pages: 17

DOI: 10.2174/1389202915666140616233211

Price: $65

Abstract

Understanding the Maxam-Gilbert and Sanger sequencing as the first generation, in recent years there has been an explosion of newly-developed sequencing strategies, which are usually referred to as next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. NGS techniques have high-throughputs and produce thousands or even millions of sequences at the same time. These sequences allow for the accurate identification of microbial taxa, including uncultivable organisms and those present in small numbers. In specific applications, NGS provides a complete inventory of all microbial operons and genes present or being expressed under different study conditions. NGS techniques are revolutionizing the field of microbial ecology and have recently been used to examine several food ecosystems. After a short introduction to the most common NGS systems and platforms, this review addresses how NGS techniques have been employed in the study of food microbiota and food fermentations, and discusses their limits and perspectives. The most important findings are reviewed, including those made in the study of the microbiota of milk, fermented dairy products, and plant-, meat- and fishderived fermented foods. The knowledge that can be gained on microbial diversity, population structure and population dynamics via the use of these technologies could be vital in improving the monitoring and manipulation of foods and fermented food products. They should also improve their safety.

Keywords: Next generation sequencing, NGS techniques, Pyrosequencing, Illumina, Food microbiology, Molecular microbial ecology, Food ecology.

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