Freeze-drying can replace cold-chains for transport and storage of fecal microbiome samples.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The transport and storage of samples in temperatures of minus 80 °C is commonly considered as the gold standard for microbiome studies. However, studies conducting sample collection at remote sites without a reliable cold-chain would benefit from a sample preservation method that allows transport and storage at ambient temperature.

Methods

In this study we compare alpha diversity and 16S microbiome composition of 20 fecal sample replicates from Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis) preserved in a minus 80 °C freezer and transported on dry ice to freeze-dried samples that were stored and transported in ambient temperature until DNA extraction.

Results

We found strong correlations between relative abundances of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) bet

SUBMITTER: Bensch HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8932309 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature