Genomics for food biotechnology: prospects of the use of high-throughput technologies for the improvement of food microorganisms

Functional genomics is currently the most effective approach for increasing the knowledge at the molecular level of metabolic and adaptive processes in whole cells. High-throughput technologies, such as DNA microarrays, and improved-two-dimensional electrophoresis methods combined with tandem mass-spectroscopy, supported by bioinformatics, are useful tools for food biotechnology, which depends on detailed knowledge of the properties of food microbes (and pathogens) in their industrial, food and consumer environments. Genomics of food microbes, based on rapidly emerging genome sequence information, generates valuable knowledge that can be used for metabolic engineering, improving cell factories and development of novel preservation methods. Furthermore, pre- and probiotic studies, characterization of stress responses, studies of microbial ecology and, last but not least, development of novel risk assessment procedures will be facilitated.