Microbiome sequencing in high-host and low biomass samples

The field of cultivation-independent microbiome analysis has developed rapidly and is at the threshold of major advances in read-length, accuracy and rigor through application of standards. This webcast will discuss new sequencing methods, including those generating synthetic long reads, with a focus on their relevance for microbial community analysis.
However, difficulties associated with low biomass – particularly background contamination – and with high non-microbial host nucleic acids, remain. The speaker will address practical approaches to high host and low microbial biomass issues, fundamental concerns related to PCR-amplification bias, and how to transition to alternate approaches for analyzing complex microbial communities.

Learn about:

• Choosing molecular methods to use with difficult samples for microbiome analysis
• Developing trends in microbiome analysis to consider for new studies
• How to reduce bias in microbiome studies

Dr. Stefan J. Green
Associate Director
RRC - Genome Research Division University of Illinois at Chicago