Following the technological advancements in the field of the nucleic acids sequencing and the possibility to obtain a large number of sequences (millions) from the microorganisms present in a single sample without the need for their cultivation, new opportunities have become available in terms of data production and exploitation in the field of microbiological risk assessment (MRA). More specifically, the behavior of foodborne pathogens, deciphered with transcriptomic, proteomic, and/or metabolomics techniques, during the whole food chain and in response to specific stresses, can now be studied. The current challenge scientists are facing is the integration of such data into risk assessment schemes.

In 2016, at the IAFP European Symposium in Athens, the workshop, "Next Generation MRA (Microbiological Risk Assessment) - Integration of Omics Data into Assessment" was co-organized by ILSI Europe, IAFP, and ICFMH.  During the workshop, four breakout groups (epidemiology, metagenomics, exposure assessment, and hazard characterization) brain-stormed and produced a common strategy to go beyond the current knowledge. In this symposium we will present the main outcomes of the workshop, including the points of view of the academia and the industry, and we will advance the discussion related to how to best use omics data in MRA.

Presentations