Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in human biomonitoring: why needed and how can Oxford Nanopore sequencing contribute?
Chemical risk assessment can benefit from integrating informative biomarkers in human biomonitoring (HBM). Beyond exposure biomarkers, effect biomarkers inform on biological reactions in the body, potentially leading to adverse effects, while susceptibility biomarkers address inter-individual variab...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1610248/full |
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| author | Mathieu Gand Adelheid Soubry Birgit Mertens Nancy H. C. Roosens Sigrid C. J. De Keersmaecker |
| author_facet | Mathieu Gand Adelheid Soubry Birgit Mertens Nancy H. C. Roosens Sigrid C. J. De Keersmaecker |
| author_sort | Mathieu Gand |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chemical risk assessment can benefit from integrating informative biomarkers in human biomonitoring (HBM). Beyond exposure biomarkers, effect biomarkers inform on biological reactions in the body, potentially leading to adverse effects, while susceptibility biomarkers address inter-individual variability in exposure. DNA methylation of key genes shows promise as an effect biomarker but this epigenetic mark remains underexplored in the context of chemicals. Similarly, although some genetic polymorphisms are linked to increased chemical susceptibility, genetic biomarkers are rarely included in HBM. This mini-review highlights recent literature supporting the inclusion of genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in HBM. Subsequently, we elaborate on how Oxford Nanopore Technologies as sequencing method can efficiently measure these biomarkers simultaneously, even in non-invasive samples like saliva. Widely used in other fields, this experimental set-up could facilitate the design of large-population studies paving the way for a next generation risk assessment (NGRA) of chemicals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22ccc25d15df450399fd46f8fc6c8ff2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-22ccc25d15df450399fd46f8fc6c8ff22025-08-20T02:38:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-07-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.16102481610248Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in human biomonitoring: why needed and how can Oxford Nanopore sequencing contribute?Mathieu Gand0Adelheid Soubry1Birgit Mertens2Nancy H. C. Roosens3Sigrid C. J. De Keersmaecker4Transversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, BelgiumEpigenetic Epidemiology Lab, Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumRisk and Health Impact Assessment, Sciensano, Brussels, BelgiumTransversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, BelgiumTransversal Activities in Applied Genomics, Sciensano, Brussels, BelgiumChemical risk assessment can benefit from integrating informative biomarkers in human biomonitoring (HBM). Beyond exposure biomarkers, effect biomarkers inform on biological reactions in the body, potentially leading to adverse effects, while susceptibility biomarkers address inter-individual variability in exposure. DNA methylation of key genes shows promise as an effect biomarker but this epigenetic mark remains underexplored in the context of chemicals. Similarly, although some genetic polymorphisms are linked to increased chemical susceptibility, genetic biomarkers are rarely included in HBM. This mini-review highlights recent literature supporting the inclusion of genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in HBM. Subsequently, we elaborate on how Oxford Nanopore Technologies as sequencing method can efficiently measure these biomarkers simultaneously, even in non-invasive samples like saliva. Widely used in other fields, this experimental set-up could facilitate the design of large-population studies paving the way for a next generation risk assessment (NGRA) of chemicals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1610248/fullsusceptibility biomarkereffect biomarkerSNPDNA-methylationhuman biomonitoringOxford Nanopore Technologies |
| spellingShingle | Mathieu Gand Adelheid Soubry Birgit Mertens Nancy H. C. Roosens Sigrid C. J. De Keersmaecker Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in human biomonitoring: why needed and how can Oxford Nanopore sequencing contribute? Frontiers in Public Health susceptibility biomarker effect biomarker SNP DNA-methylation human biomonitoring Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
| title | Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in human biomonitoring: why needed and how can Oxford Nanopore sequencing contribute? |
| title_full | Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in human biomonitoring: why needed and how can Oxford Nanopore sequencing contribute? |
| title_fullStr | Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in human biomonitoring: why needed and how can Oxford Nanopore sequencing contribute? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in human biomonitoring: why needed and how can Oxford Nanopore sequencing contribute? |
| title_short | Genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in human biomonitoring: why needed and how can Oxford Nanopore sequencing contribute? |
| title_sort | genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in human biomonitoring why needed and how can oxford nanopore sequencing contribute |
| topic | susceptibility biomarker effect biomarker SNP DNA-methylation human biomonitoring Oxford Nanopore Technologies |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1610248/full |
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