Dataset Information

Simulating metagenomic stable isotope probing datasets with MetaSIPSim.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:DNA-stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) links microorganisms to their in-situ function in diverse environmental samples. Combining DNA-SIP and metagenomics (metagenomic-SIP) allows us to link genomes from complex communities to their specific functions and improves the assembly and binning of these targeted genomes. However, empirical development of metagenomic-SIP methods is hindered by the complexity and cost of these studies. We developed a toolkit, 'MetaSIPSim,' to simulate sequencing read libraries for metagenomic-SIP experiments. MetaSIPSim is intended to generate datasets for method development and testing. To this end, we used MetaSIPSim generated data to demonstrate the advantages of metagenomic-SIP over a conventional shotgun metagenomic sequencing experiment. RESULTS:Through simulation we show that metagenomic-SIP improves the assembly and binning of isotopically labeled genomes relative to a conventional metagenomic approach. Improvements were dependent on experimental parameters and on sequencing depth. Community level G?+?C content impacted the assembly of labeled genomes and subsequent binning, where high community G?+?C generally reduced the benefits of metagenomic-SIP. Furthermore, when a high proportion of the community is isotopically labeled, the benefits of metagenomic-SIP decline. Finally, the choice of gradient fractions to sequence greatly influences method performance. CONCLUSIONS:Metagenomic-SIP is a valuable method for recovering isotopically labeled genomes from complex communities. We show that metagenomic-SIP performance depends on optimization of experimental parameters. MetaSIPSim allows for simulation of metagenomic-SIP datasets which facilitates the optimization and development of metagenomic-SIP experiments and analytical approaches for dealing with these data.

SUBMITTER: Barnett SE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6993524 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Simulating metagenomic stable isotope probing datasets with MetaSIPSim.

Barnett Samuel E SE Buckley Daniel H DH

BMC bioinformatics 20200130 1

<h4>Background</h4>DNA-stable isotope probing (DNA-SIP) links microorganisms to their in-situ function in diverse environmental samples. Combining DNA-SIP and metagenomics (metagenomic-SIP) allows us to link genomes from complex communities to their specific functions and improves the assembly and binning of these targeted genomes. However, empirical development of metagenomic-SIP methods is hindered by the complexity and cost of these studies. We developed a toolkit, 'MetaSIPSim,' to simulate s ...[more]

PMID: 32000676

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Dataset Information

Simulating metagenomic stable isotope probing datasets with MetaSIPSim.

Publications

Simulating metagenomic stable isotope probing datasets with MetaSIPSim.

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