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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #388228

Research Project: Novel Pre-harvest Interventions and Alternatives to Antibiotics to Reduce Foodborne Pathogens

Location: Poultry Microbiological Safety and Processing Research Unit

Title: Considerations and best practices in animal science 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing microbiome studies

Author
item Weinroth, Margaret - Maggie
item BELK, AERIEL - Colorado State University
item DEAN, CHRIS - University Of Minnesota
item NOYES, NOELLE - University Of Minnesota
item DITTOE, DANA - University Of Wisconsin
item Rothrock, Michael
item RICKE, STEVEN - University Of Wisconsin
item MYER, PHILLIP - University Of Tennessee
item HENNIGER, MADISON - University Of Tennessee
item RAMIREZ, GUSTAVO - Western University Of Health Sciences
item OAKLEY, BRIAN - Western University Of Health Sciences
item Summers, Katie
item Miles, Asha
item AULT-SEAY, TAYLOR - University Of Tennessee
item YU, ZHONGTANG - The Ohio State University
item METCALF, JESSICA - Colorado State University
item Wells, James - Jim

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2021
Publication Date: 2/1/2022
Citation: Weinroth, M.D., Belk, A.D., Dean, C.J., Noyes, N.R., Dittoe, D.K., Rothrock Jr, M.J., Ricke, S.C., Myer, P.R., Henniger, M.T., Ramirez, G.A., Oakley, B.B., Summers, K.L., Miles, A.M., Ault-Seay, T.B., Yu, Z., Metcalf, J., Wells, J. 2022. Considerations and best practices in animal science 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing microbiome studies. Journal of Animal Science. 100:1018. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab346.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab346

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Advancements in technology have made 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing an available tool to help animal scientist study microbiomes within animals and in their surrounding environments. However, because 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing integrates many fields, these experiments are sometimes hard to set up and analyze. Here, we have reviewed the current methods and best practices in the field and presented them. Common areas of trouble during a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing study are preparing and planning the experiment, processing the samples in the lab, and analyzing the data; here we discuss all of those steps. In addition, we discuss several animal science specific issues that must be addressed when performing a microbiome study.