Abstract:

Metabolomics is a significant research field of system biology with unique advantages. Recently, microbial
metabolomics has gained much attention. It not only offers a broad picture of metabolic pathways, but also elaborates the
mechanisms of the interaction between microbes and their hosts. This article summarizes the major methods involved in the
research process of microbial metabolomics, including sampling preparation, analysis, metabolite identification and data
analysis. Besides, this review also introduces the development and application of microbial metabolomics in research on
lactic acid bacteria, the gut microbiota, pathogens, food science and nutrition. Moreover, we discuss the major issues and
future trends in microbial metabolomics.

Key words: microbe, metabolomics, analytical methods, application