The innovation of biotechnologies has allowed the accumulation of omics data at an alarming rate, thus introducing the era of ‘big data’. Extracting inherent valuable knowledge from various omics data remains a daunting problem in bioinformatics. Better solutions often need some kind of more innovative methods for efficient handlings and effective results. Recent advancements in integrated analysis and computational modeling of multi-omics data helped address such needs in an increasingly harmonious manner. The development and application of machine learning have largely advanced our insights into biology and biomedicine and greatly promoted the development of therapeutic strategies, especially for precision medicine. Here, we propose a comprehensive survey and discussion on what happened, is happening and will happen when machine learning meets omics. Specifically, we describe how artificial intelligence can be applied to omics studies and review recent advancements at the interface between machine learning and the ever-widest range of omics including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, radiomics, as well as those at the single-cell resolution. We also discuss and provide a synthesis of ideas, new insights, current challenges and perspectives of machine learning in omics.

Briefings in Bioinformatics, doi: 10.1093/bib/bbab460

Stress is one of the leading causes of male infertility, but its exact function in testosterone synthesis has scarcely been reported. We found that adult male rats show a decrease in bodyweight, genital index and serum testosterone level after continual chronic stress for 21 days. Two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE) and MALDI‐TOF‐MS analysis identified 10 differentially expressed proteins in stressed rats compared with controls. A strong protein interaction network was found to be centred on Atp5a1 among these proteins. Atp5a1 expression significantly decreased in Leydig cells after chronic stress. Transfection of Atp5a1 siRNAs decreased StAR, CYP11A1, and 17β‐HSD expression by damaging the structure of mitochondria in TM3 cells. This study confirmed that chronic stress plays an important role in testosterone synthesis by regulating Atp5a1 expression in Leydig cells.