iMeta: Integrated meta‐omics for biology and environments

Abstract

The cover of iMeta's inaugural issue. The galaxy represents the complexity and value of bioinformatics and metagenomics. DNA, which represents genetic components that guide biological diversity, is at the center of the galaxy. The spiral arms are the microbiome welcoming scientists from all over the world to make novel discoveries. Let us usher in the metaverse era of the microbiome.

The microbiomes, collective communities of trillions of microorganisms in humans, animals, and environments, play crucial roles in all aspects of our society, including but not limited to human health [1], food industry [2], agriculture [3], sustainable environment [4], and biodiversity [5]. In the past decades, our knowledge of the microbiome has expanded exponentially [6]. Several ground‐breaking initiatives, such as the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) [7], Earth Microbiome Project (EMP) [8], Tara Oceans [9], Metagenomics of the Human Intestinal Tract (MetaHIT) project [10], the Integrative HMP [11], and China Microbiome Initiative (CMI) [12], have opened up this new horizon by generating experimental pipelines [13, 14], sequencing technologies [15, 16], reference catalogs [17, 18], and bioinformatics tools [19, 20]. Big data and bioinformatics advancements have become one of the major driving forces behind flourishing microbiome researches [21, 22]. However, scientific journals focusing on this aspect are lacking. In this context, iMeta was founded to promote scientific research that combines microbiome research with big data and innovative, current state‐of‐the‐art (bioinformatics) methodologies.

iMeta (ISSN: 2770‐5986; eISSN: 2770‐596X) is an open‐access and Wiley partner journal launched in 2022. The journal aims to publish original research, reproducible methods and protocols, and systemic reviews to promote metagenomics and bioinformatics advancement. The editorial office is based in Beijing, China, and embraces the scientific community worldwide. Accepted publications are expected to have a high impact (top 10%) with a broad readership, and provide peers with novel findings, easy‐to‐use analysis tools, or systematic knowledge. The first papers were published online in February 2022.

Microbiology, biotechnology, and applied microbiology are also included in the scope of iMeta. iMeta focuses on wide‐scope topics of microbiome research in humans, animals, plants, and environments; meta‐omics methods and protocols development and application; bioinformatics tools, pipelines, and databases; systematic reviews in metagenomics, bioinformatics, and microbiome. Some unique features of iMeta include video summaries of the submitted work, video tutorials for methods and tools, figure polishing, and promotion by social media (Twitter, Facebook, and WeChat) with 500,000 followers in metagenomics, bioinformatics, and microbiome [23]. In this fast development era, we believe that online publication is just the beginning. Promotion, translation, and updates (protocols, software, databases, or scripts) to publications are all required and would be scheduled by editors and authors.

The inaugural issue (Figure 1) features 12 papers from 57 authors and 10 countries or regions. We are glad to provide you with a snapshot of the contents first:

• ‐Convenient tools would greatly facilitate scientists' research. Chen et al. [24] designed ImageGP, a popular data visualization web server that has been cited over 300 times (Google Scholar by 2/20/2022). Yu et al. [25] created a platform for microbiome and metabolome integrative analysis. Using a deep neural network, Lv et al. [26] developed a software (include local and online tool) to predict lysine lactylation sites in proteins.
• ‐Some exciting findings are also reported in this issue. Jiao et al. [27] presented a story about soil fungi with bacterial community assembly in Hexi Corridor. Zheng et al. [28] connected the traditional Chinese medicine liquorice with the detoxification of cadmium and explored its potential mechanism at the metagenomic and metabolomic levels. Huang et al. [29] conducted a meta‐analysis of gut microbiota in a population with an Altitude diet.
• ‐Innovative methods are the propeller to promote the development of science. To make user analysis and visualization easier, Chen et al. [30] developed an integrative microbiome analysis pipeline. Michel‐Mata et al. [31] introduced a deep learning algorithm to predict microbiome composition.
• ‐Reviews are also essential for peers to learn and begin their studies readily. Dufault‐Thompson et al. [32] provided a comprehensive and insightful review of de Bruijn graphs' progress and future applications in microbiome studies. Wang et al. [33] reviewed plant genetics‐mediated remodeling of microbiota and techniques in response to stress, and Yang et al. [34] reviewed the advantages of the targeted approach in integrating metagenome data for accurate protein structure prediction.

Figure 1.

The cover of iMeta's inaugural issue. The galaxy represents the complexity and value of bioinformatics and metagenomics. DNA, which represents genetic components that guide biological diversity, is at the center of the galaxy. The spiral arms are the microbiome welcoming scientists from all over the world to make novel discoveries. Let us usher in the metaverse era of the microbiome

The editorial team at iMeta hope that you will support this endeavor by submitting your research and review articles, and furthering our understanding of bioinformatics, metagenomics, and microbiome.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

All authors read and approved the final manuscript.