A decade of metaproteomics: where we stand and what the future holds.

摘要: We are living through exciting times during which we able to unravel the “microbial dark matter” in and around us application of high-resolution “meta-omics”. Metaproteomics offers ability resolve major catalytic units microbial populations thereby allows establishment genotype-phenotype linkages from situ samples. A decade has passed since term “metaproteomics” was first coined corresponding analyses were carried out on mixed communities. Since then metaproteomics yielded many important insights into ecosystem function various environmental settings where it been applied. Although initial progress analytical capacities resulting numbers proteins identified extremely fast, this trend slowed rapidly. Here, discuss several representative metaproteomic investigations activated sludge, acid mine drainage biofilms, freshwater seawater communities, soil, human gut microbiota. By using these case studies, highlight current challenges possible solutions for realize its full potential, i.e. enable conclusive links between community composition, physiology, function, interactions, ecology, evolution situ.