Laboratory Test Indirectly Reveals the Unreliability of RNA-Dependent 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequences in Detecting the Gut Bacterial Diversity of <i>Delia antiqua</i>.

ABSTRACT: In insect-microbe symbiosis, understanding the diversity of associated bacteria is crucial. DNA-dependent sequence methods are widely used to assess microbial diversity in insects, but they cannot distinguish between live and dead microbes. In contrast, RNA-dependent sequencing can identify alive bacterial communities, making them more suitable for evaluating alive microbiota diversity. However, its practical reliability in insect-microbe symbiosis remains poorly validated. This study investigated larval gut bacteria diversity of Delia antiqua, a major pest of Liliaceae crops, by employing both DNA- and RNA-dependent 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The reliability of both sequencing methods was evaluated by comparing the effects of synthetic communities (SynComs, constructed according

SUBMITTER: Li M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12193304 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature