Abstract
Given the heterogeneity seen in cell populations within biological systems, analysis of single cells is necessary for studying mechanisms that cannot be identified on a bulk population level. There are significant variations in the biological and physiological function of cell populations due to the functional differences within, as well as between, single species as a result of the specific proteome, transcriptome, and metabolome that are unique to each individual cell. Single-cell analysis proves crucial in providing a comprehensive understanding of the biological and physiological properties underlying human health and disease. Omics technologies can help to examine proteins (proteomics), RNA molecules (transcriptomics), and the chemical processes involving metabolites (metabolomics) in cells, in addition to genomes. In this review, we discuss the value of multiomics in drug discovery and the importance of single-cell multiomics measurements. We will provide examples of the benefits of applying single-cell omics technologies in drug discovery and development. Moreover, we intend to show how multiomics offers the opportunity to understand the detailed events which produce or prevent disease, and ways in which the separate omics disciplines complement each other to build a broader, deeper knowledge base.
Highlights
Introduction of Omics in Drug DiscoveryOmics approaches provide useful tools for characterizing and quantifying pools of biological molecules and exploring their functions, relationships, and actions in the cells of living creatures
Another method of protein profiling, called mass cytometry (CyTOF), incorporates aspects of both flow cytometry and mass spectrometry (MS). The basis of this method is similar to flow cytometry, though instead of using fluorescent dye-conjugated antibodies, they are conjugated to heavy metal ions, allowing antibody binding to be detected with the precision of mass spectrometry
Subjects’ blood was drawn twice, once soon after initial diagnosis of COVID, and the second several days afterward [85]. Multiomics approaches such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics analyze biological samples; each type of analysis can generate and add important information
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Determining the proper combination of properties such as activity, toxicity, and exposure is a complex process, and one of the keys steps in the design of drug candidates and their subsequent advancement to the development stage. The drug discovery process starts with the identification of potential targets for drug candidates’ effects. In order to be considered acceptable, a drug must be efficacious, safe, and meet the applicable clinical and commercial needs. A drug needs to first bind to its target, and subsequently impact the function of this target, in order to have a significant effect; such targets may include specific genes, proteins, or other biomolecules. Unavoidable on-target toxicities and clinical adversities constitute potential safety challenges during the process of drug target identification and prioritization [6,7,8]
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