High-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons (16S-seq) has become a widely deployed method for profiling complex microbial communities but technical pitfalls related to data reliability and quantification remain to be fully addressed. In this work, we have developed and implemented a set of synthetic 16S rRNA genes to serve as universal spike-in standards for 16S-seq experiments. The spike-ins represent full-length 16S rRNA genes containing artificial variable regions with negligible identity to known nucleotide sequences, permitting unambiguous identification of spike-in sequences in 16S-seq read data from any microbiome sample. Using defined mock communities and environmental microbiota, we characterized the performance of the spike-in standards and demonstrated their utility for evaluating data quality on a per-sample basis. Further, we showed that staggered spike-in mixtures added at the point of DNA extraction enable concurrent estimation of absolute microbial abundances suitable for comparative analysis. Results also underscored that template-specific Illumina sequencing artifacts may lead to biases in the perceived abundance of certain taxa. Taken together, the spike-in standards represent a novel bioanalytical tool that can substantially improve 16S-seq-based microbiome studies by enabling comprehensive quality control along with absolute quantification.

By 2012, point of care (POC) testing will constitute roughly one third of the $59 billion in vitro diagnostics market. The ability to carry out multiplexed genetic testing and wireless connectivity are emerging as key attributes of future POC devices. In this study, an inexpensive, user-friendly and compact device (termed Gene-Z) is presented for rapid quantitative detection of multiple genetic markers with high sensitivity and specificity. Using a disposable valve-less polymer microfluidic chip containing four arrays of 15 reaction wells each with dehydrated primers for isothermal amplification, the Gene-Z enables simultaneous analysis of four samples, each for multiple genetic markers in parallel, requiring only a single pipetting step per sample for dispensing. To drastically reduce the cost and size of the real-time detector necessary for quantification, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was performed with a high concentration of SYTO-81, a non-inhibiting fluorescent DNA binding dye. The Gene-Z is operated using an iPod Touch, which also receives data and carries out automated analysis and reporting via a WiFi interface. This study presents data pertaining to performance of the device including sensitivity and reproducibility using genomic DNA from Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, the Gene-Z represents a significant step toward truly inexpensive and compact tools for POC genetic testing.

2016-12-23T18:49:38

Lentimicrobium saccharophilum gen. nov., sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic bacterium representing a new family in the phylum Bacteroidetes, and proposal of Lentimicrobiaceae fam. nov. A novel, strictly anaerobic, short rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain TBC1 T , was isolated from methanogenic granular sludge in a full-scale mesophilic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor treating high-strength starch-based organic wastewater. Cells of this strain were 2-4 µm long and 0.4-0.6 µm wide. They were non-motile and Gram-stain-negative. The optimum growth temperature was 30-37 C, with a range of 20-40 C. The optimum pH for growth was around pH 7.0, while growth occurred in a range of pH 6.5-9.0. Strain TBC1 T grew chemoorganotrophically on a narrow range of carbohydrates under anaerobic conditions. Yeast extract was required for its growth. The major fermentative end products from glucose, supplemented with yeast extract, were acetate, malate, propionate, formate and hydrogen. Doubling time under optimal growth conditions was estimated to be 1 day. The DNA G+C content of strain TBC1 T was 49.2 mol% as determined by HPLC. Major cellular fatty acids were C 16 : 0 , C 18 : 0 , C 16 : 1 !9c and C 18 : 1 !9c. Based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain TBC1 T was shown to represent a distinct lineage at the family level in the phylum Bacteroidetes. Among previously described species of this phylum, Mucilaginibacter boryungensis BDR-9 T (Sphingobacteriaceae) displayed the highest sequence similarity (85.9 %) with strain TBC1 T . Phylogenomic analyses using 38-83 single copy marker genes also supported the novelty of strain TBC1 T at the family level. Based on its characteristics, strain TBC1 T (=JCM 30898 T =DSM 100618 T ) is considered to be the type strain of a novel species of a new genus, Lentimicrobium saccharophilum gen. nov., sp. nov. A new family, Lentimicrobiaceae fam. nov., is also proposed encompassing the strain and related environmental 16S rRNA gene clone sequences.Abbreviations: AAI, amino acid identity; UASB, upflow anaerobic sludge blanket; CTD, C-terminal domain.The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession number for the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain TBC1 T is LC049960.A supplementary figure is available with the online Supplementary Material.

Rapid, sensitive, and low-cost pathogen diagnostic systems are needed for early disease diagnosis and treatment, especially in resource-limited settings. This study reports a low-cost charge-coupled device (CCD)-based fluorescence imaging system for rapid detection of waterborne pathogens by isothermal gene amplification in disposable microchips. Fluorescence imaging capability of this monochromatic CCD camera is evaluated by optimizing the gain, offset, and exposure time. This imaging system is validated for 12 virulence genes of major waterborne pathogens on cyclic olefin polymer (COP) microchips, using SYTO-82 dye and real time fluorescence loop-mediated isothermal amplification referred here as microRT(f)-LAMP. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and threshold time (Tt) of microRT(f)-LAMP assays are compared with those from a commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) instrument. Applying a CCD exposure of 5 s to 10(5) starting DNA copies of microRT(f)-LAMP assays increases the SNR by 8-fold and reduces the Tt by 9.8 min in comparison to a commercial real-time PCR instrument. Additionally, single copy level sensitivity for Campylobacter jejuni 0414 gene is obtained for microRT(f)-LAMP with a Tt of 19 min, which is half the time of the commercial real-time PCR instrument. Due to the control over the exposure time and the wide field imaging capability of CCD, this low-cost fluorescence imaging system has the potential for rapid and parallel detection of pathogenic microorganisms in high throughput microfluidic chips.

Background Validation and standardization of methodologies for microbial community measurements by high-throughput sequencing are needed to support human microbiome research and its industrialization. This study set out to establish standards-based solutions to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of metagenomics-based microbiome profiling of human fecal samples. Results In the first phase, we performed a head-to-head comparison of a wide range of protocols for DNA extraction and sequencing library construction using defined mock communities, to identify performant protocols and pinpoint sources of inaccuracy in quantification. In the second phase, we validated performant protocols with respect to their variability of measurement results within a single laboratory (that is, intermediate precision) as well as interlaboratory transferability and reproducibility through an industry-based collaborative study. We further ascertained the performance of our recommended protocols in the context of a community-wide interlaboratory study (that is, the MOSAIC Standards Challenge). Finally, we defined performance metrics to provide best practice guidance for improving measurement consistency across methods and laboratories. Conclusions The validated protocols and methodological guidance for DNA extraction and library construction provided in this study expand current best practices for metagenomic analyses of human fecal microbiota. Uptake of our protocols and guidelines will improve the accuracy and comparability of metagenomics-based studies of the human microbiome, thereby facilitating development and commercialization of human microbiome-based products.

Development of quantitative PCR (QPCR) assays typically requires extensive screening within and across a given species to ensure specific detection and lucid identification among various pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains and to generate standard curves. To minimize screening requirements, multiple virulence and marker genes (VMGs) were targeted simultaneously to enhance reliability, and a predictive threshold cycle (C T ) equation was developed to calculate the number of starting copies based on an experimental C T . The empirical equation was developed with Sybr green detection in nanoliter-volume QPCR chambers (OpenArray) and tested with 220 previously unvalidated primer pairs targeting 200 VMGs from 30 pathogens. A high correlation (R 2 ‫؍‬ 0.816) was observed between the predicted and experimental C T s based on the organism's genome size, guanine and cytosine (GC) content, amplicon length, and stability of the primer's 3 end. The performance of the predictive C T equation was tested using 36 validation samples consisting of pathogenic organisms spiked into genomic DNA extracted from three environmental waters. In addition, the primer success rate was dependent on the GC content of the target organisms and primer sequences. Targeting multiple assays per organism and using the predictive C T equation are expected to reduce the extent of the validation necessary when developing QPCR arrays for a large number of pathogens or other targets.

Inexpensive, portable, and easy-to-use devices for rapid detection of microbial pathogens are needed to ensure safety of water and food. In this study, a disposable polymer microfluidic chip for quantitative detection of multiple pathogens using isothermal nucleic acid amplification was developed. The chip contains an array of 15 interconnected reaction wells with dehydrated primers for loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and requires only a single pipetting step for dispensing of sample. To improve robustness of loading and amplification, hydrophobic air vents and microvalves were monolithically integrated in the multi-layered structure of the chip using an inexpensive knife plotter. For quantification, LAMP was performed with a highly fluorescent DNA binding dye (SYTO-82) and the reactions monitored in real-time using a low-cost fluorescence imaging system previously developed by our group (Ahmad et al., Biomed. Microdevices 13(5), 929-937). Starting from genomic DNA mixtures, the chip was successfully evaluated for rapid analysis of multiple virulence and marker genes of Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, Shigella, and Vibrio cholerae, enabling detection and quantification of 10-100 genomes per μl in less than 20 min. It is anticipated that the microfluidic chip, along with the real-time imaging system, may be a key enabling technology for developing inexpensive and portable systems for on-site screening of multiple pathogens relevant to food and water safety.