Genome Mining for Biosynthetic and Biodegradation Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Microorganisms play essential and irreplaceable roles in the ecosystem as decomposers, which includes the removal of xenobiotic substances and pollutants from the environment. Microbes have also been a major source of various secondary metabolites such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, antitumor, herbicidal, and immunomodulating compounds.

Traditional approaches to excavate such activities or compounds are primarily cultivation-based, while identification of the corresponding genes and gene clusters for biosynthesis or biodegradation is an independent subject of study, both of which have taken much time and effort. However, with the sharp increase in microbial genome data thanks to rapid advances in DNA sequencing technology in combination with bioinformatic tools for genome analysis, the potential of in silico mining has begun to attract attention.

For this Special Issue, original research or review articles on the following topics are invited: genome mining for discovery of novel natural products, genome-based in silico analysis of biodegradation, methodology for in silico analysis of genomes in relation to biosynthesis or biodegradation potential, identification of genes and gene clusters responsible for biosynthesis or biodegradation based on the in silico analysis of genome data, and evolutionary aspects of biosynthesis and biodegradation potential.

Prof. Dr. Seung Bum Kim
Guest Editor

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