Metagenomics is a set of techniques used to study microbial communities through direct collection and analysis of environmental DNA samples. It allows researchers to study millions of microbial organisms and genetic fragments simultaneously without needing to culture individual microbes in the lab. The main procedures involve sampling an environment, filtering out particles by size, extracting and sequencing DNA fragments. Two common sequencing methods are shotgun sequencing and high-throughput sequencing using platforms like Illumina or SOLiD. Projects like MetaHIT use metagenomics to study the human gut microbiome and its role in health and disease. Potential applications include contributions to earth sciences, life sciences, biomedicine, bioenergy, biotechnology, and microbial forensics.

1. Metagenomics
MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY
SUBMITTED TO
DR. WALEED ALBASHA
PREPARED BY:
GHAYDA’A SHAQOUR
2012-2013

2. Introduction
 Microbes play an enormous role
in processes that relate to nearly
every aspect of our planet
 Microbes Maintain the
atmosphere
 Microbes Keep Us Healthy
 Microbes Clean Up Fuel Leaks

3. Metagenomics
 It is both a set of research
techniques
 Meta means “transcendent”
 “Metagenomics” refers to the
collection of genomes of complex
microbial communities, and
these communities include many
different types of microbes

4. Metagenomics
 Millions of organisms in one sample
 Millions of random fragments of DNA
 It is like jigsaw puzzles

5. Procedures
 Environmental Shotgun
Sequencing (ESS):
A. Sampling from habitat
B. Filtering particles,
typically by size
C. Lysis and DNA extraction
D. Cloning and library
construction
E. Sequencing the clones
F. Sequence assembly into
contigs and scaffolds

6. Procedures
 High-throughput
sequencing:
1. Illumina Genome
Analyzer II
2. Applied Biosystems
SOLiD system

7. Illumina Genome Analyzer II

8. MetaHIT
 Human intestinal microbial
metagenome
 Understand the role of microbes
in health and in GI disorders
such as IBS, obesity and
metabolic syndrome.

9. Potential contributions
 Earth Sciences
 Life Sciences
 Biomedical Sciences
 Bioenergy
 Biotechnology
 Biodefense and Microbial Forensics

10. Read more
 The New Science of Metagenomics: Revealing the
Secrets of Our Microbial Planet
free PDF downloade
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11902.html
 Metagenomics of the Human Intestinal Tract
http://www.metahit.eu

11. References
 http://www.cloud-
sequencing.com/service/service_76.aspx?typeid=4
 http://www.ucc.ie/research/apc/content/research/bacte
rial_genomics.html
 http://mgrc.com.my/new/services-metagenomics.html
 http://www.interacademies.net/cms/7665.aspx
 http://www.horizonpress.com/metagenomics
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metagenomics
 http://www.metahit.eu/index.php?id=410
 http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/articles/com
munique/2010/05.html

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