Phospholipid fatty acid profiling of microbial communities–a review of interpretations and recent applications

• Published in: Journal of applied microbiology Vol. 119; no. 5; pp. 1207 - 1218
• Main Authors: Willers, C, Jansen van Rensburg, P.J, Claassens, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Published for the Society for Applied Bacteriology by Blackwell Science 01.11.2015; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Bacteria - chemistry; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bacteria - metabolism; environmental assessment; Environmental Microbiology; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - chemistry; Fatty Acids - metabolism; fungal to bacterial ratio; Lipids; microbial activity; microbial biomass; microbial communities; microbial community structure; Microbiology; phospholipid fatty acid; phospholipid fatty acids; Phospholipids - chemistry; Phospholipids - metabolism; physiological stress ratio; microbial biomass; physiological stress ratio; microbial community structure; microbial activity; phospholipid fatty acid; fungal to bacterial ratio
• ISSN: 1364-5072; 1365-2672
• DOI: 10.1111/jam.12902

Profiling of microbial communities in environmental samples often utilizes phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. This method has been used for more than 35 years and is still popular as a means to characterize microbial communities in a diverse range of environmental matrices. This review examines the various recent applications of PLFA analysis in environmental studies with specific reference to the interpretation of the PLFA results. It is evident that interpretations of PLFA results do not always correlate between different investigations. These discrepancies in interpretation and their subsequent applications to environmental studies are discussed. However, in spite of limitations to the manner in which PLFA data are applied, the approach remains one with great potential for improving our understanding of the relationship between microbial populations and the environment. This review highlights the caveats and provides suggestions towards the practicable application of PLFA data interpretation.