Inconsistency in Microbiome Studies due to Variable Approaches to DNA Sequencing and Data Analysis

Article Summary:

Human Longevity, Inc. and Venter Institute Scientists Publish Paper Demonstrating Inconsistency in Microbiome Studies due to Variable Approaches to DNA Sequencing and Data Analysis —SAN DIEGO, Oct. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Human Longevity, Inc. (HLI), the genomics-based, technology-driven company, announced today that its researchers along with those from the J. Craig Venter Institute and theUniversity of California, San Diego, have published a paper in the journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), outlining the confusing and conflicting microbiome results generated by a variety of next generation sequencing technology. They also outline recommendations for new research community standards in the microbiome research field given these differences. The paper is being published this week in the early online edition of PNAS.

The two methods that did not require PCR resulted in lower error rates and higher-quality reads for the mock community compared with the PCR-based methods. Moreover, the four different libraries showed significant variation in the relative abundance of microbial members of the mock community and the stool samples.