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Wednesday, November 4, 2009: 10:15 AM
Convention Center, Room 305, Third Floor
Abstract:
The ribosomal RNA sequence has become the cornerstone of understanding microbial community structure, the catalysts behind microbial processes. The rRNA gene sequence is often not the end, but the beginning, the point of reference for microbial community studies. As such researchers need rapid, reliable, informative tools to guide their experimentation whether it be on function, dynamics or impact of environmental conditions. The molecular tools have provided major advances in our understanding of soil and other communities. New sequencing technologies such as pyrosequencing can, in a single run, produce 400,000 or more sequences of rRNA or other genes of particular functions. These technologies allow a major boost in the extent, depth and accuracy of such information.
To allow researchers to more easily take advantage of these new technologies, we developed a suite of web-enabled tools for rapid high-throughput analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data. This suite processes sequence data from multiplexed, barcoded samples to provide trimmed, quality-controlled reads for each individual sample. Additional tools allow researchers to align, cluster, dereplicate and simplify the analysis of such large sequencing libraries and provide standard ecological metrics, along with the ability to download the processed data in formats suitable for common ecological and statistical packages.
To help determine important soil metadata attributes, we hosted a soil metadata survey in collabration with the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) and the International Soils Metagenome Sequencing Consortium (Terragenome). A total of 71 questions were grouped into 8 categories: Chemical, Biological, Geographical, Climate, Physical, Soil/Geological, Management, and Sampling. Results will be used to help derive a set of recommended attributes.
The better view of microbial community structure that these types of experiments will provide will help improve our understanding of soil fertility, carbon cycling, and sustainable crop, forest and biofuel production along with soil ecosystem services.
To allow researchers to more easily take advantage of these new technologies, we developed a suite of web-enabled tools for rapid high-throughput analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data. This suite processes sequence data from multiplexed, barcoded samples to provide trimmed, quality-controlled reads for each individual sample. Additional tools allow researchers to align, cluster, dereplicate and simplify the analysis of such large sequencing libraries and provide standard ecological metrics, along with the ability to download the processed data in formats suitable for common ecological and statistical packages.
To help determine important soil metadata attributes, we hosted a soil metadata survey in collabration with the Genomic Standards Consortium (GSC) and the International Soils Metagenome Sequencing Consortium (Terragenome). A total of 71 questions were grouped into 8 categories: Chemical, Biological, Geographical, Climate, Physical, Soil/Geological, Management, and Sampling. Results will be used to help derive a set of recommended attributes.
The better view of microbial community structure that these types of experiments will provide will help improve our understanding of soil fertility, carbon cycling, and sustainable crop, forest and biofuel production along with soil ecosystem services.