Microbial Community Characteristics Largely Unaffected by X-Ray Computed Tomography of Sediment Cores.

ABSTRACT: X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanning is used to study the physical characteristics of soil and sediment cores, allowing scientists to analyze stratigraphy without destroying core integrity. Microbiologists often work with geologists to understand the microbial properties in such cores; however, we do not know whether CT scanning alters microbial DNA such that DNA sequencing, a common method of community characterization, changes as a result of X-ray exposure. Our objective was to determine whether CT scanning affects the estimates of the composition of microbial communities that exist in cores. Sediment cores were extracted from a salt marsh and then submitted for CT scanning. We observed a minimal effect of CT scanning on microbial community composition in the sediment cores either whe

SUBMITTER: Ewton E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8072469 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature