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Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is increasingly affordable and easier to perform. However, standard protocols prior to the sequencing step are only available for few selected sample types. Here we investigated the impact of DNA extraction methods on the consistency of NGS results. Four commercial DNA extraction kits (QIAamp DNA Mini Kit, QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit, MO BIO Power Water Kit, and MO BIO Power Soil DNA Isolation Kit) were used on sample sources including lake water and wastewater, and sample types including planktonic and biofilm bacteria communities. Sampling locations included a lake water reservoir, a trickling filter, and a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR). Unique genera such as Gemmatimonadetes, Elusimicrobia, and Latescibacteria were found in multiple samples. The Stool Mini Kit was least efficient in terms of diversity in sampling results with freshwater lake samples, and surprisingly the Power Water Kit was the least efficient across all sample types examined. Detailed NGS beta diversity comparisons indicated that the Mini Kit and PowerSoil Kit are best suited for studies that extract DNA from a variety of water and wastewater samples. We ultimately recommend application of Mini Kit or PowerSoil Kit as an improvement to NGS protocols for these sampling environments. These results are a step toward achieving accurate comparability of complex samples from water and wastewater environments by applying a single DNA extraction method, further streamlining future investigations.

This review examines methods to sterilize soil or inhibit microbial activity in soil. This is often necessary for experiments involving microbial survival, enzyme measurements, soil respiration, biodegradation or as controls in direct soil DNA extraction-PCR analysis.

Soil fungal community structures are often highly heterogeneous even among samples taken from small field plots. Sample pooling is widely used in order to overcome this heterogeneity, however, no objective criteria have yet been defined on how to determine the number of samples to be pooled for representatively profiling a field plot. In the present study PCR/RFLP and T-RFLP analysis of fungal 18S rDNA in ten soil samples obtained from a grassland plot of 400 m(2) also revealed this known heterogeneity in fungal community structures. Based on these data a three-step approach to assess representativity of fungal community profiles was established. First, soil DNA quantities needed for robust community profiling were determined. Second, profiles of single or multiple samples were theoretically averaged to test for statistically significant clustering in order to determine the minimal number of samples to be pooled to achieve representativity. Third, DNA extracts of single or multiple samples were pooled prior to profiling in order to test for statistically significant clustering. Analyses revealed robust profiles for 50 ng soil DNA but not for 5 ng. Averaged T-RFLP profiles from five or more soil samples and experimental T-RFLP profiles from pools of seven or more samples formed one significant branch. Theoretical averaging and experimental pooling revealed that five to seven samples have to be pooled for robustly representing the field plot. Our results demonstrate that representativity of soil fungal community profiles can objectively be determined for a field plot with only little deviation between theoretical and experimental approaches. This three-step approach will be of assistance for designing sampling and pooling strategies for comparative analyses of soil fungal communities in ecological studies.

This study describes the development and evaluation of a specific Legionella pneumophila Taqman duplex real-time PCR (qPCR) for fast and reliable quantification of this human pathogen in suspected man-made water systems. The qPCR assay was 100% specific for all L. pneumophila serogroups 1-15 with a sensitivity of 60 genome units/l and an amplification efficiency of 98%. Amplification inhibitors were detected via an exogenous internal positive control, which was amplified simultaneously with L. pneumophila DNA using its own primer and probe set. Mean recovery rates of the qPCR assay for tap water and cooling circuit water, spiked with a known number L. pneumophila bacteria, were 93.0% and 56.3%, respectively. Additionally, by using the Ultraclean Soil DNA isolation kit, we were able to remove amplification inhibitors ubiquitously present in cooling water. The practical value of our qPCR assay was evaluated through analysis of 30 water samples from showers, taps, eyewash stations, fire sprinklers and recirculation loops with qPCR and traditional culture. In conclusion, the described L. pneumophila Taqman duplex real-time assay proved to be specific, sensitive and reproducible. This makes it a promising method complementing the current time-consuming culture standard method.