Unlocking the Power of Metaproteomics: A Novel Tool for Enhancing Shorebird Conservation and Blue-Economy Management
- 1Microbiology and Proteomics Laboratory, Institute for Viticulture and Agri-Food Research (IVAGRO), Faculty of Environmental and Marine Sciences, Department of Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Public Health, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
- 2Department of Biology, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
- 3Microbiology and Proteomics Laboratory, Institute for Viticulture and Agri-Food Research (IVAGRO), Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
Abstract
Metaproteomics, the large-scale analysis of proteins from environmental or host-associated samples, has emerged as a transformative tool for characterizing microbial communities and their functional roles. Unlike metagenomics or metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics directly captures phenotypic expression, linking molecular function to ecological and physiological outcomes. Beyond its established applications in human microbiome and dietary research, metaproteomics enables the precise identification of food-derived protein biomarkers, including the discrimination of tissue-specific origins. This level of resolution is not attainable through DNA-based approaches. Here, we applied metaproteomics for the first time to analyze the feces of shorebirds in the salt flats and salt marshes of Cadiz Bay, aiming to determine their diet with unprecedented resolution. Conventional methods, based on direct observation or fecal inspection, are labor-intensive and risk losing critical dietary information. By contrast, metaproteomics provides rapid, high-resolution insights, offering a robust alternative for ecological monitoring. Our results demonstrate the potential of this technique to transform natural area management, optimize conservation strategies for avian species, and support the sustainable development of the blue economy. This study highlights metaproteomics as an innovative, cross-sectoral approach capable of advancing both fundamental ecological research and practical conservation outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{escobarnino2026unlocking,
title = {{Unlocking the Power of Metaproteomics: A Novel Tool for Enhancing Shorebird Conservation and Blue-Economy Management}},
author = {Almudena Escobar-Niño and María Victoria Calcis-Marzán and Andrea Forján-Miguéns and Irene Punta-Sánchez and Olivier Coste and Alejandro Pérez-Hurtado and Francisco-Javier Fernández-Acero},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219508},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9508},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Unlocking the Power of Metaproteomics: A Novel Tool for Enhancing Shorebird Conservation and Blue-Economy Management
AU - Almudena Escobar-Niño
AU - María Victoria Calcis-Marzán
AU - Andrea Forján-Miguéns
AU - Irene Punta-Sánchez
AU - Olivier Coste
AU - Alejandro Pérez-Hurtado
AU - Francisco-Javier Fernández-Acero
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219508
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9508
AB - Metaproteomics, the large-scale analysis of proteins from environmental or host-associated samples, has emerged as a transformative tool for characterizing microbial communities and their functional roles. Unlike metagenomics or metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics directly captures phenotypic expression, linking molecular function to ecological and physiological outcomes. Beyond its established applications in human microbiome and dietary research, metaproteomics enables the precise identification of food-derived protein biomarkers, including the discrimination of tissue-specific origins. This level of resolution is not attainable through DNA-based approaches. Here, we applied metaproteomics for the first time to analyze the feces of shorebirds in the salt flats and salt marshes of Cadiz Bay, aiming to determine their diet with unprecedented resolution. Conventional methods, based on direct observation or fecal inspection, are labor-intensive and risk losing critical dietary information. By contrast, metaproteomics provides rapid, high-resolution insights, offering a robust alternative for ecological monitoring. Our results demonstrate the potential of this technique to transform natural area management, optimize conservation strategies for avian species, and support the sustainable development of the blue economy. This study highlights metaproteomics as an innovative, cross-sectoral approach capable of advancing both fundamental ecological research and practical conservation outcomes.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -