Dataset Information

Revealing the diversity and quantity of peritrich ciliates in environmental samples using specific primer-based PCR and quantitative PCR.

ABSTRACT: Peritrichs are a diverse, ecologically important ciliate group usually with a complex life cycle. To date, the community of the peritrichs has been investigated by using morphology-based methods such as living observation and silver staining. Here we show a molecular approach for characterizing the diversity and quantity of free-living peritrichs in environmental samples. We newly designed four peritrich-specific primers targeting 18S rRNA genes that allow clone library construction, screening and analysis. A quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was developed to quantify peritrichs in environmental samples by using rDNA copy number as an indicator. DNA extracted from four water samples of contrasting environmental gradients was analysed. The results showed that the peritrich community was differentiated among these samples, and that the diversity decreased with the increase of water salinity. The qPCR results are consistent with the library sequence analysis in terms of quantity variations from sample to sample. The development of peritrich-specific primers, for the first time, for conventional PCR and qPCR assays, provides useful molecular tools for revealing the diversity and quantity of peritrich ciliates in environmental samples. Also, our study illustrates the potential of these molecular tools to ecological studies of other ciliate groups in diverse environments.

SUBMITTER: Liu X

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4103560 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Revealing the diversity and quantity of peritrich ciliates in environmental samples using specific primer-based PCR and quantitative PCR.

Liu Xihan X Gong Jun J

Microbes and environments 20121026 4

Peritrichs are a diverse, ecologically important ciliate group usually with a complex life cycle. To date, the community of the peritrichs has been investigated by using morphology-based methods such as living observation and silver staining. Here we show a molecular approach for characterizing the diversity and quantity of free-living peritrichs in environmental samples. We newly designed four peritrich-specific primers targeting 18S rRNA genes that allow clone library construction, screening a ...[more]

PMID: 23100023

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Project description:The extent of arsenic contamination in drinking water and its potential threat to human health have resulted in considerable research interest in the microbial species responsible for arsenic reduction. The arsenate reductase gene (arrA), an important component of the microbial arsenate reduction system, has been widely used as a biomarker to study arsenate-reducing microorganisms. A new primer pair was designed and evaluated for quantitative PCR (qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing of the arrA gene, because currently available PCR primers are not suitable for these applications. The primers were evaluated in silico and empirically tested for amplification of arrA genes in clones and for amplification and high-throughput sequencing of arrA genes from soil and groundwater samples. In silico, this primer pair matched (≥90% DNA identity) 86% of arrA gene sequences from GenBank. Empirical evaluation showed successful amplification of arrA gene clones of diverse phylogenetic groups, as well as amplification and high-throughput sequencing of independent soil and groundwater samples without preenrichment, suggesting that these primers are highly specific and can amplify a broad diversity of arrA genes. The arrA gene diversity from soil and groundwater samples from the Cache Valley Basin (CVB) in Utah was greater than anticipated. We observed a significant correlation between arrA gene abundance, quantified through qPCR, and reduced arsenic (AsIII) concentrations in the groundwater samples. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these primers can be useful for studying the diversity of arsenate-reducing microbial communities and the ways in which their relative abundance in groundwater may be associated with different groundwater quality parameters. Arsenic is a major drinking water contaminant that threatens the health of millions of people worldwide. The extent of arsenic contamination and its potential threat to human health have resulted in considerable interest in the study of microbial species responsible for the reduction of arsenic, i.e., the conversion of AsV to AsIII In this study, we developed a new primer pair to evaluate the diversity and abundance of arsenate-reducing microorganisms in soil and groundwater samples from the CVB in Utah. We observed significant arrA gene diversity in the CVB soil and groundwater samples, and arrA gene abundance was significantly correlated with the reduced arsenic (AsIII) concentrations in the groundwater samples. We think that these primers are useful for studying the ecology of arsenate-reducing microorganisms in different environments.

Dataset Information

Revealing the diversity and quantity of peritrich ciliates in environmental samples using specific primer-based PCR and quantitative PCR.

Publications

Revealing the diversity and quantity of peritrich ciliates in environmental samples using specific primer-based PCR and quantitative PCR.

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