Selection of validated hypervariable regions is crucial in 16S-based microbiota studies of the female genital tract.

ABSTRACT: Next-generation sequencing-based methods are extensively applied in studies of the human microbiota using partial 16 S rRNA gene amplicons. However, they carry drawbacks that are critical to consider when interpreting results, including differences in outcome based on the hypervariable region(s) used. Here, we show that primers spanning the V3/V4 region identify a greater number of taxa in the vaginal microbiota than those spanning the V1/V2 region. In particular, taxa such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Chlamydia trachomatis, all species that influence vaginal health and disease, are not represented in V1/V2-based community profiles. Accordingly, missing or underestimating the frequency of these species overestimates the abundance of other taxa and fails to correctl

SUBMITTER: Graspeuntner S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6018735 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature