Metabolomics Approaches in Parasitology

Abstract

Metabolomics is the systematic study of the unique chemical fingerprints of all metabolites in an organism, which is a powerful tool for studying its phenotypic diversity at the molecular level. Metabolomics study in parasites involves the study of their small molecule metabolic profiles. The information on complete genome sequence of some parasites has brightened the prospects for control of parasitic infections. Further investigation into the functional and metabolic levels of parasites is needed for developing effective new therapeutics.  The application of metabolomics study in parasitology requires a multi-disciplinary scientific and analytical approach. This report attempts to highlight some important aspects in parasite metabolomics approaches, as well as the analytical tools and data analysis in parasite metabolomics.