Practical application of self-organizing maps to interrelate biodiversity and functional data in NGS-based metagenomics.

ABSTRACT: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have enabled the application of broad-scale sequencing in microbial biodiversity and metagenome studies. Biodiversity is usually targeted by classifying 16S ribosomal RNA genes, while metagenomic approaches target metabolic genes. However, both approaches remain isolated, as long as the taxonomic and functional information cannot be interrelated. Techniques like self-organizing maps (SOMs) have been applied to cluster metagenomes into taxon-specific bins in order to link biodiversity with functions, but have not been applied to broad-scale NGS-based metagenomics yet. Here, we provide a novel implementation, demonstrate its potential and practicability, and provide a web-based service for public usage. Evaluation with published data sets mimicki

SUBMITTER: Weber M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3105762 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature