The truth about metagenomics: quantifying and counteracting bias in 16S rRNA studies

• Published in: BMC microbiology Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 66
• Main Authors: Brooks, J Paul, Edwards, David J, Harwich, Michael D, Rivera, Maria C, Fettweis, Jennifer M, Serrano, Myrna G, Reris, Robert A, Sheth, Nihar U, Huang, Bernice, Girerd, Philippe, Strauss, Jerome F, Jefferson, Kimberly K, Buck, Gregory A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 21.03.2015; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Bacteria - classification; Bacteria - genetics; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bias; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Female; Genes, rRNA; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing - standards; Humans; Metagenomics - instrumentation; Metagenomics - methods; Metagenomics - standards; Methodology; Microbial Consortia - genetics; Microbiota - genetics; Models, Biological; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction - standards; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - isolation & purification; Specimen Handling - standards; Vagina - microbiology

Characterizing microbial communities via next-generation sequencing is subject to a number of pitfalls involving sample processing. The observed community composition can be a severe distortion of the quantities of bacteria actually present in the microbiome, hampering analysis and threatening the v...