A1 Journal article (refereed)
Does Intraspecific Variation in rDNA Copy Number Affect Analysis of Microbial Communities? (2021)
Lavrinienko, A., Jernfors, T., Koskimäki, J. J., Pirttilä, A. M., & Watts, P. C. (2021). Does Intraspecific Variation in rDNA Copy Number Affect Analysis of Microbial Communities?. Trends in microbiology, 29(1), 19-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2020.05.019
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Lavrinienko, Anton; Jernfors, Toni; Koskimäki, Janne J.; Pirttilä, Anna Maria; Watts, Phillip C.
Journal or series: Trends in microbiology
ISSN: 0966-842X
eISSN: 1878-4380
Publication year: 2021
Volume: 29
Issue number: 1
Pages range: 19-27
Publisher: Elsevier
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2020.05.019
Publication open access: Openly available
Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71026
Abstract
Amplicon sequencing of partial regions of the ribosomal RNA loci (rDNA) is widely used to profile microbial communities. However, the rDNA is dynamic and can exhibit substantial interspecific and intraspecific variation in copy number in prokaryotes and, especially, in microbial eukaryotes. As change in rDNA copy number is a common response to environmental change, rDNA copy number is not necessarily a property of a species. Variation in rDNA copy number, especially the capacity for large intraspecific changes driven by external cues, complicates analyses of rDNA amplicon sequence data. We highlight the need to (i) interpret amplicon sequence data in light of possible interspecific and intraspecific variation, and (ii) examine the potential plasticity in rDNA copy number as an important ecological factor to better understand how microbial communities are structured in heterogeneous environments.
Keywords: microbes; microbiome; DNA analysis; ribosomes; DNA; RNA
Free keywords: rRNA; copy number; amplicon sequencing; community dynamics
Contributing organizations
Related projects
- WILD HEALTH: How does environmental biodiversity affect wildlife health? (Watts)
- Watts, Phillip
- Research Council of Finland
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2021
JUFO rating: 1