Project description:Microarrays are useful tools for detecting and quantifying specific functional and phylogenetic genes in natural microbial communities. In order to track uncultivated microbial genotypes and their close relatives in an environmental context, we designed and implemented a âgenome proxyâ microarray that targets microbial genome fragments recovered directly from the environment. Fragments consisted of sequenced clones from large-insert genomic libraries from microbial communities in Monterey Bay, the Hawaii Ocean Time-series station ALOHA, and Antarctic coastal waters. In a prototype array, we designed probe sets to thirteen of the sequenced genome fragments and to genomic regions of the cultivated cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus MED4. Each probe set consisted of multiple 70-mers, each targeting an individual ORF, and distributed along each ~40-160kbp contiguous genomic region. The targeted organisms or clones, and close relatives, were hybridized to the array both as pure DNA mixtures and as additions of cells to a background of coastal seawater. This prototype array correctly identified the presence or absence of the target organisms and their relatives in laboratory mixes, with negligible cross-hybridization to organisms having â¤~75% genomic identity. In addition, the array correctly identified target cells added to a background of environmental DNA, with a limit of detection of ~0.1% of the community, corresponding to ~10^3 cells/ml in these samples. Signal correlated to cell concentration with an R2 of 1.0 across six orders of magnitude. In addition the array could track a related strain (at 86% genomic identity to that targeted) with a linearity of R2=0.9999 and a limit of detection of ~1% of the community. Closely related genotypes were distinguishable by differing hybridization patterns across each probe set. This arrayâs multiple-probe, âgenome-proxyâ approach and consequent ability to track both target genotypes and their close relatives is important for the arrayâs environmental application given the recent discoveries of considerable intra-population diversity within marine microbial communities. Keywords: target addition experiment, proof-of-concept for GPL6012 ***Overall Array design*** The prototype microarray targeted thirteen BAC or fosmid genome fragments (20-160kb) from both bacteria and archaea, recovered from a variety of marine habitats, as well as the cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus MED4. These clones were originally sequenced because of the presence of taxonomic marker or specific functional genes. This array consisted of sets of 70-bp oligonucleotides targeting each genome or genome fragment (Fig. 1), dispersed along the target sequences with no more than one probe per gene, and excluding rRNA genes as targets. The probes were selected solely based on theoretical thermodynamic properties and GC content (~40%); that is, probe selection did not focus on specific genes or regions, but simply produced the âoptimalâ probes for each genome proxy based on the probesâ predicted hybridization properties. rRNA genes were excluded, because this probe design approach, which avoids sequence alignments and considerations of RNA secondary structure, would be unlikely to result in useful rRNA probes. Furthermore, rRNA probes of traditional design could not be included on the array because their appropriate hybridization conditions would be very different from those of this arrayâs probes. ***Microarray probe design*** Microarray 70-mer probes were designed using the program ArrayOligoSelector (Zhu et al., 2003) with the following settings: target %GC = 40%, 1 probe/gene, with the ORFs for each genome fragment as both the input and the database file. The output candidate 70mers were then sorted based on their %GC and those closest to 40% were chosen. In the case of more than the target number of probes having 40%GC, the subset with the lowest free energy of hybridization were selected as probes. Generally, 20 probes were selected per organism. Prochlorococcus MED4 was represented by 60 probes total, 20 each for three different 80kb âgenome-proxyâ regions: 0-80kb, 1.29-1.37Mbp, and 1.58 to 1.66Mbp. Using the same method, a set (n=20) of positive control probes were designed to the genome of the halophillic archaeon Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1. Negative control probes (n=28) were designed to a set of 49 random 1000-base sequences (Stothard, 2000). ***Microarray construction and hybridization*** Oligonucleotides were synthesized (Illumina, San Diego, California), suspended in 3XSSC to a concentration of 40pmol/Î¼l, and spotted on homemade poly-L-lysine-coated glass slides using a QArray 2 microarraying robot (Genetix, Hampshire, England). Six replicates of each probe were spotted. ***Microarray data analysis*** Hybridized arrays were scanned using an Axon Instruments 4000B scanner (Foster City, CA) and the data was normalized and filtered using perl scripts written for the purpose, by the following steps. (1) Signal intensities for each spot were calculated by subtracting the local background (mean F532 â median B532, as calculated by GenePix Pro 5.1 software, Axon Instruments). (2) The median value across replicates was calculated for each probe. (3) For each probe set, the number of probes greater than twice the mean negative control signal was calculated, before further processing. (4) Filter I: Arrays with less than half their positive control probes exceeding twice the mean negative control signal were considered poor quality, low dynamic range, arrays and were excluded from further analysis. (5) Each probe signal was corrected for non-specific binding by subtracting the mean negative control spot signal. (6) The data was then normalized for array-to-array variations in brightness by dividing each probe signal by the mean positive control signal. This positive control signal was the mean signal across the Halobacterium salinarum probes in each hybridization, with identical amounts of H. salinarum DNA having been added to each reaction prior to amplification and labeling. (7) Filter II: In order for a genotype to be considered âpresentâ, at least 45% of its probes had to exceed twice the mean negative control signal. (8) Finally, each genotype signal was calculated as either the MEAN or TUKEY BIWEIGHT across its probe set. ***Experimental Design*** The array was hybridized to laboratory mixtures of cloned environmental genomic DNA targeted by the array, in varying ratios. The use of multiple probes to target many genes from each organism helped to normalize probe-to-probe heterogeneity, by averaging across all probes in a set (as described below). The evenness of probe response across each genotypeâs set was also used to evaluate the relatedness of hybridizing DNA. To more precisely define the arrayâs phylogenetic range and specificity, it was tested against DNA from Prochlorococcus MED4 and related strains, spanning the known range of Prochlorococcus phylogenetic diversity. To test the effects of hybridization stringency on the specificity and signal of the MED4 probes, Prochlorococcus strains were hybridized at a range of conditions. To test whether the specificity results for Prochlorococcus were comparable for other targeted clades, two genome fragments recovered from closely related phylotypes within the SAR86 clade of the gamma-proteobacteria were represented on the array, and were tested for specificity. To understand the equivalence of probe sets targeting different regions of the same organismâs genome, we targeted three 80kb âgenome proxyâ regions of the Prochlorococcus MED4 genome. One of the regions fell in a genomic âislandâ where inter-strain variability is concentrated (âISL5â in Coleman et al., 2006). To test the array in a complex environmental context, we collected coastal seawater (lacking detectable Prochlorococcus cells by flow cytometry) and added Prochlorococcus cells from strains MED4, MIT9515, MIT9312 and MIT9313 over a range of concentrations from ~101 â 106 cells/ml (Fig. 3). The seawater was then filtered and the DNA extracted, amplified, labeled, and hybridized to the array.

Project description:To gain improved temporal, spatial and phylogenetic resolution of marine microbial communities, in this study we expanded the original prototype genome proxy array (an oligonucleotide microarray targeting marine microbial genome fragments and genomes), evaluated it against metagenomic sequencing, and applied it to time series samples from the Monterey Bay long term ecological research site. The expanded array targeted 268 microbial genotypes (vs. 14 in the original prototype) across much of the known diversity of cultured and uncultured marine microbes. The target abundances measured by the genome proxy array were highly correlated to pyrosequence-based abundances (linear regression R2 = 0.85-0.91, p<0.0001). Fifty-seven samples from ~4-years in Monterey Bay were examined with the array, spanning the photic zone (0m), the base of the surface mixed layer (30m), and the subphotic zone (200m). A significant portion of the expanded genome proxy array’s targets showed signal (95 out of 268 targets present in ≥ 1 sample). The multi-year community survey showed the consistent presence of a core group of common and abundant targeted taxa at each depth in Monterey Bay, higher variability among shallow than deep samples, and episodic occurrences of more transient marine genotypes. The abundance of the most dominant genotypes peaked after strong episodic upwelling events. The genome-proxy array’s ability to track populations of closely-related genotypes indicated population shifts within several abundant target taxa, with specific populations in some cases clustering by depth or oceanographic season. Although 51 cultivated organisms were targeted (representing 19% of the array) the majority of targets detected and of total target signal (85% and ~92%, respectively) were from uncultivated lineages, often those derived from Monterey Bay. The array provided cost-effective (~$15 per array, for construction and use) insights into the natural history of uncultivated lineages in the wild. To gain improved temporal, spatial and phylogenetic resolution of marine microbial communities, in this study we expanded the original prototype genome proxy array (an oligonucleotide microarray targeting marine microbial genome fragments and genomes), evaluated it against metagenomic sequencing, and applied it to time series samples from the Monterey Bay long term ecological research site. The expanded array targeted 268 microbial genotypes (vs. 14 in the original prototype) across much of the known diversity of cultured and uncultured marine microbes. The target abundances measured by the genome proxy array were highly correlated to pyrosequence-based abundances (linear regression R2 = 0.85-0.91, p<0.0001). Fifty-seven samples from ~4-years in Monterey Bay were examined with the array, spanning the photic zone (0m), the base of the surface mixed layer (30m), and the subphotic zone (200m). A significant portion of the expanded genome proxy array’s targets showed signal (95 out of 268 targets present in ≥ 1 sample). The multi-year community survey showed the consistent presence of a core group of common and abundant targeted taxa at each depth in Monterey Bay, higher variability among shallow than deep samples, and episodic occurrences of more transient marine genotypes. The abundance of the most dominant genotypes peaked after strong episodic upwelling events. The genome-proxy array’s ability to track populations of closely-related genotypes indicated population shifts within several abundant target taxa, with specific populations in some cases clustering by depth or oceanographic season. Although 51 cultivated organisms were targeted (representing 19% of the array) the majority of targets detected and of total target signal (85% and ~92%, respectively) were from uncultivated lineages, often those derived from Monterey Bay. The array provided cost-effective (~$15 per array, for construction and use) insights into the natural history of uncultivated lineages in the wild.

Project description:To gain improved temporal, spatial and phylogenetic resolution of marine microbial communities, in this study we expanded the original prototype genome proxy array (an oligonucleotide microarray targeting marine microbial genome fragments and genomes), evaluated it against metagenomic sequencing, and applied it to time series samples from the Monterey Bay long term ecological research site. The expanded array targeted 268 microbial genotypes (vs. 14 in the original prototype) across much of the known diversity of cultured and uncultured marine microbes. The target abundances measured by the genome proxy array were highly correlated to pyrosequence-based abundances (linear regression R2 = 0.85-0.91, p<0.0001). Fifty-seven samples from ~4-years in Monterey Bay were examined with the array, spanning the photic zone (0m), the base of the surface mixed layer (30m), and the subphotic zone (200m). A significant portion of the expanded genome proxy array’s targets showed signal (95 out of 268 targets present in ≥ 1 sample). The multi-year community survey showed the consistent presence of a core group of common and abundant targeted taxa at each depth in Monterey Bay, higher variability among shallow than deep samples, and episodic occurrences of more transient marine genotypes. The abundance of the most dominant genotypes peaked after strong episodic upwelling events. The genome-proxy array’s ability to track populations of closely-related genotypes indicated population shifts within several abundant target taxa, with specific populations in some cases clustering by depth or oceanographic season. Although 51 cultivated organisms were targeted (representing 19% of the array) the majority of targets detected and of total target signal (85% and ~92%, respectively) were from uncultivated lineages, often those derived from Monterey Bay. The array provided cost-effective (~$15 per array, for construction and use) insights into the natural history of uncultivated lineages in the wild. To gain improved temporal, spatial and phylogenetic resolution of marine microbial communities, in this study we expanded the original prototype genome proxy array (an oligonucleotide microarray targeting marine microbial genome fragments and genomes), evaluated it against metagenomic sequencing, and applied it to time series samples from the Monterey Bay long term ecological research site. The expanded array targeted 268 microbial genotypes (vs. 14 in the original prototype) across much of the known diversity of cultured and uncultured marine microbes. The target abundances measured by the genome proxy array were highly correlated to pyrosequence-based abundances (linear regression R2 = 0.85-0.91, p<0.0001). Fifty-seven samples from ~4-years in Monterey Bay were examined with the array, spanning the photic zone (0m), the base of the surface mixed layer (30m), and the subphotic zone (200m). A significant portion of the expanded genome proxy array’s targets showed signal (95 out of 268 targets present in ≥ 1 sample). The multi-year community survey showed the consistent presence of a core group of common and abundant targeted taxa at each depth in Monterey Bay, higher variability among shallow than deep samples, and episodic occurrences of more transient marine genotypes. The abundance of the most dominant genotypes peaked after strong episodic upwelling events. The genome-proxy array’s ability to track populations of closely-related genotypes indicated population shifts within several abundant target taxa, with specific populations in some cases clustering by depth or oceanographic season. Although 51 cultivated organisms were targeted (representing 19% of the array) the majority of targets detected and of total target signal (85% and ~92%, respectively) were from uncultivated lineages, often those derived from Monterey Bay. The array provided cost-effective (~$15 per array, for construction and use) insights into the natural history of uncultivated lineages in the wild. The expanded genome proxy array was designed as in (Rich et al., 2008). Briefly, each genotype was targeted using suites of ~20 70-mer oligonucleotide probes designed using the program ArrayOligoSelector (Zhu et al., 2003). Probes had approximately the same %GC (40%) and were distributed across the target genome or genome fragment, with no more than one probe per gene and avoiding 16S and 23S rRNA genes. The array included positive and negative control probes designed using the same method, to Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1 and a random genome sequence, respectively. The expanded array had a broader scope than the prototype of Rich et al., 2008 (268 target genotypes, as opposed to the prototype’s 14) and included a co-spot oligo for spot alignment and gridding purposes (using the “alien” oligo sequence of (Urisman et al., 2005). The targets were selected from fully-sequenced marine microbial genomes, publicly-available marine-derived BAC and fosmid clone sequences, and fully-sequenced clones from the lab’s Monterey Bay and Hawaii environmental BAC- and fosmid-based genomic libraries. Targeted genotypes are detailed in Table S1, summarized in Table S2, and presented in a schematic phylogenetic overview in Fig. 1. Previously-unpublished sequences used for array design were submitted to Genbank under accession numbers GU474833-GU474949. This submission presents the analysis of 57 samples, each hybridized to >= 3 arrays. In addition to negative control probes, for each hyrbdization date and run a negative control array was hyrbdized for which the input DNA was TE, taken through the entire aplification, labeling, and hybridization process.

Project description:To effectively monitor microbial populations in acidic environments and bioleaching systems, a comprehensive 50-mer-based oligonucleotide microarray was developed based on most of the known genes associated with the acidophiles. This array contained 1,072 probes in which there were 571 related to 16S rRNA and 501 related to functional genes. Acid mine drainage (AMD) presents numerous problems to the aquatic life and surrounding ecosystems. However, little is known about the geographic distribution, diversity, composition, structure and function of AMD microbial communities. In this study, we analyzed the geographic distribution of AMD microbial communities from twenty sites using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes, and the results showed that AMD microbial communities were geographically distributed and had high variations among different sites. Then an AMD-specific microarray was used to further analyze nine AMD microbial communities, and showed that those nine AMD microbial communities had high variations measured by the number of detected genes, overlapping genes between samples, unique genes, and diversity indices. Statistical analyses indicated that the concentrations of Fe, S, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu and pH had strong impacts on both phylogenetic and functional diversity, composition, and structure of AMD microbial communities. This study provides insights into our understanding of the geographic distribution, diversity, composition, structure and functional potential of AMD microbial communities and key environmental factors shaping them. This study investigated the geographic distribution of Acid Mine Drainages microbial communities using a 16S rRNA gene-based RFLP method and the diversity, composition and structure of AMD microbial communities phylogenetically and functionally using an AMD-specific microarray which contained 1,072 probes ( 571 related to 16S rRNA and 501 related to functional genes). The functional genes in the microarray were involved in carbon metabolism (158), nitrogen metabolism (72), sulfur metabolism (39), iron metabolism (68), DNA replication and repair (97), metal-resistance (27), membrane-relate gene (16), transposon (13) and IST sequence (11).

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Design and testing of genome-proxy microarrays to profile marine microbial communities

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