Multi-omic approaches for mapping interactions among marine microbiomes

The marine ecosystems, teeming with microscopic life, provide an interesting avenue for studying host-microbe interactions. Microbes are mostly found to interact with other organisms as a community, and such relationships range from predation and symbiosis to pathogenesis. Their interactions with their immediate environmental niche also deserve considerable attention, as the microbiome is the source of major energy and carbon flux in the ocean biosystem. New-generation multi-omic approaches help us gather and analyze large amounts of data for comprehensive understanding. While metagenomics helps us know the taxonomic profile, metatranscriptomics and metaproteomics help us derive the functional angle. Metabolomics of microbiomes on the other hand has been employed to study the resulting metabolic products of such interactions. This diverse research have involved various consortia of institutions in recent times, resulting in the discovery of important linkages between nutrient exchanges, cell signaling, and biogeochemical processes. The article focuses on the current developments and challenges in the vast area of omic- based marine research.