Use of Metabolomics in Biomedical and Environmental Studies

Abstract

Biological systems undergo changes in response to disease or environmental stressors and these changes are mediated by molecular components such as genes, proteins and metabolites. Among them, metabolites represent the cumulative response of the system, but are relatively less studied. Metabolomics is the systematic study of metabolites and can potentially allow the study of biological responses at a deeper level. This thesis examines the broad application of untargeted metabolomics in cells, animal models and human samples in an attempt to demonstrate newer insights derived from studying metabolites. Notably, novel disease-specific biomarkers and metabolic changes induced by stressors have been identified. With the advent of higher resolution instruments, a paradigm shift in data processing is required to effectively handle larger raw data in metabolomics. In light of such emerging requirements, an R language-based software was also developed to pipeline the analytical & database processes required for expedient metabolomics studies.