• Metagenomics

Metagenomics is a technique that allows the study of microbial genomes directly from environmental samples, without requiring isolation or culture of microorganisms. Thanks to high-throughput sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatics analyses, this approach is revolutionizing our understanding of microbial diversity and its roles in different ecosystems. Metagenomics allows us to explore microbial diversity: The majority of microorganisms cannot be cultured in the laboratory, so metagenomics provides access to the entire microbiome of a given environment (soil, ocean, human intestine, etc.). It allows us to study the symbiotic, competitive or pathogenic relationships between microbes and their hosts. By analyzing the human microbiota or natural ecosystems, this approach helps us understand the impact of diseases, pollutants or climate change on microbial communities.

Metagenomics is thus a powerful tool that transforms microbiology and opens up new perspectives in various fields, ranging from human health to ecology, including industry and agriculture.

• Single-cell omics and spatial transcriptomics

scRNAseq, or single-cell RNA sequencing , is a major advancement in the field of genomics. This technique allows us to study gene expression at the level of an individual cell, providing a detailed view of cellular diversity and heterogeneity within a population. With scRNAseq, we can identify cell subpopulations, understand functional differences between them, and explore regulatory mechanisms at the cellular level.

Spatial transcriptomics allows the analysis of gene expression while preserving the spatial organization of cells in a tissue. Unlike classical transcriptomics, which dissociates cells and loses information on their location, this approach offers a more precise vision of biological processes in a tissue context. Thanks to spatial transcriptomics, it is possible to map gene expression in a tissue with fine resolution. It is now possible to study cellular heterogeneity, particularly in cancerology, neuroscience or immunology, while preserving the interactions between cells and their microenvironment.

These two recent technologies open up new perspectives for biomedical research, particularly in the study of tumor heterogeneity and the development of personalized treatments.