Two-thirds of the microbiologists report they are currently using microbial genotyping methods and the number of users is poised to grow by 20% over the next 12 months
With public attention focused on outbreaks of Sars and monkeypox, along with fears of bioterrorism, microbiologists are increasingly finding themselves in the spotlight.
However, these same scientists would be quick to point out that microbes have been on Earth for more than 3.8 billion years and life itself would be impossible without them.
Microbial genotyping applies recent advances in molecular genetics and DNA technology to identify and characterise such microscopic organisms based on their genetic composition.
A better understanding of microbes' genetic blueprints is already leading to breakthroughs in detecting and treating disease, protecting national security, increasing crop yields, improving the environment and even making the production of energy more efficient.
Two-thirds of the microbiologists who participated in a recent survey report they are currently using microbial genotyping methods and the number of users is poised to grow by 20% over the next 12 months.
Sensing a major market opportunity, companies such as Applied Biosystems, Roche Applied Science, Agilent Technologies, and Affymetrix have emerged as top suppliers in the market for microbial genotyping-related products.
Competition in this underserved market remains robust due to the need for wider product offerings that accommodate more fully the diverse requirements of microbiologists.
These findings were published by BioInformatics in its latest life science market report, 'The market for microbial genotyping products: research and testing applications'.
Based on a 38-question survey of approximately 400 qualified researchers and clinicians, the comprehensive report examines the products and techniques most commonly used by microbiologists for microbial genotyping, including probes and primers for real-time PCR, rapid diagnostic assays, lab-on-a-chip products and DNA microarrays. These new microbial genotyping techniques offer much greater levels of flexibility, speed and precision as compared to traditional methods of microbial identification, which often require lengthy periods of culture and the use of multiple, non-specific assays.
Understanding the unique experiences, preferences and expectations of microbiologists is essential for suppliers aiming to serve this expanding and diverse market.
To this end, the report details researchers' experimental design, sample throughput, preferred suppliers and satisfaction with product attributes, as well as identifies limitations that microbiologists encounter and opportunities for expanding the marketplace.
For example, lab-on-a-chip products and commercially available microarrays do not appear to be well developed to meet the specific research needs of microbiologists. "Lab-on-a-chip suppliers may be able to increase sales by emphasising features of their systems that are important to scientists who perform microbial genotyping, such as accuracy, minimal sample preparation and time-to-results.
And microarray vendors may be able to increase market share by developing products that are targeted to customers who want to discriminate between different microbial species or strains," notes Robin Rothrock, director of market research at BioInformatics. Microbiology researchers also expressed a need for commercially available, premade primers, probes and kits.
Although four-fifths of basic researchers use DNA oligonucleotides for microbial genotyping, only 16% use 'off-the-shelf' oligonucleotides.
Similarly, survey results indicate a low penetration of assay usage in the diagnostics/testing market. Indeed, less than half of the respondents who focus on diagnostics and testing use commercially available assays for their research.
When asked about their satisfaction with these assays, end-users indicated that suppliers are doing a good job of providing integrated products, however, they were less satisfied with species representation among existing products. "The key to the future growth of the market is further development of new applications for the technology.
Of the respondents that do not plan to use microbial genotyping in the future, 30% cited that their lack of adoption is due to the fact that the technology has not been developed for their particular area of focus," concludes Rothrock.
