Overview
Next-Generation Sequencing
Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a driving force between the basic and biomedical research due to its very high throughput at a reasonable cost. Several specific applications include: genome sequencing de novo, mutation discovery (e.g. medical resequencing or strain-to-train analyses), defining variability of genomes, metagenomics (survey of organisms present in complex samples), analyses of protein-DNA interactions and chromatin packaging (ChIP) and RNA analyses (noncoding RNAs, expression profiling).
In contrast to Sanger sequencing no subclonig of DNA fragments is required prior to NGS. Typical single readouts for NGS range from 30 to 400 bases with a huge fold coverage. In a week 100 Mb (Roche 454, pyrosequencing based) or 1300 Mb (Illumina, polymerase based sequencing by synthesis) are sequenced in a single run.
AG Schloter - Research Unit for Terrestrial EcogeneticsAmmonia oxidation is not only catalyzed by bacteria in natural ecosystems but also bacteria are highly contributing to that process (Leininger et al., 2006). This observation explains in part stability of nitrification even under changing conditions in the environment, e.g. the spread of manure contaminated with antibiotics (Schauss et al., 2009). Mainly in ecosystems with low pH a specialized group of archaea has been identified which is able to perform ammonia oxidation at very low ammonia/ammonium ratios (Nicol et al., sub.). Recently an ammonia oxidizing archaea from soil has been successfully isolated and partially sequenced (Touma et al., in press) which will help to improve our understanding about the ecophysiology of this group of organisms in future
For 2012 ff we will focus more on the interface of environment and human health. This will include studies on the resistome of soil microbes and their role for the evolution of antibiotic resistant human pathogenic bacteria.
AG Strom- Institute of Human Genetics