Introduction and Workflow
- Metagenomics is a genomic method to investigate the genetic diversity within a sample, focusing on the specific regions (16S rRNA/ 18S rRNA/ ITS regions) or utilizing Shotgun metagenomics for comprehensive sequencing of all genes present.
- The workflow begins with DNA extraction from environmental samples, followed by fragmentation and sequencing of either specific region or the entire geneset.
- Bioinformatics analysis encompasses sequence alignment, taxonomy identification, and phylogenetic analysis. Additional analyses may involve functional annotation, comparative genomics, and statistical evaluations.
- Can be used to study diverse environmental samples like water, soil, and fecal matter, providing valuable insights into microbial diversity and host-microbiome interactions.
Advantage
- Offers a comprehensive view of microbial diversity in complex samples, capturing both known and novel species. NGS enables the parallel sequencing of thousands of organisms in a single run, providing high sequence coverage and detecting low-abundance microbes that may be missed or are cost-prohibitive with other techniques.
- Analyzes genomes directly from environmental samples without prior isolation or cultivation, overcoming the limitations of traditional culture-based methods. This approach is effective for studying microbial communities in their natural habitats.
- Reveals the metabolic capabilities and functional diversity of microbial communities, enhancing our understanding of ecosystem processes and microbial roles within various environments.
- Facilitates detailed genetic and ecological analysis, supporting studies on microbial interactions, evolution, and adaptation, with broad applications in environmental monitoring, biotechnology, agriculture, and human health.

Bioinformatics Pipeline
Applications of Metagenomics Sequencing
- Environmental Monitoring- Assessing microbial diversity in natural environments, tracking changes in response to environmental factors, and monitoring ecosystem health.
- Biotechnology- Discovering novel enzymes, bioactive compounds, and metabolic pathways from microbial communities for applications in bioremediation, biofuel production, and pharmaceuticals.
- Agriculture- Studying soil microbiomes to improve crop yield, enhance nutrient cycling, and develop sustainable agricultural practices.
- Human Health- Investigating the human microbiome to understand its role in health and disease, including studies on gut microbiota, antibiotic resistance, and personalized medicine.
- Ecological Studies- Exploring microbial interactions, community dynamics, and ecosystem functions in diverse habitats, from oceans to terrestrial environments.
- Microbial Ecology- Analyzing community structure, biodiversity, and adaptation strategies of microbes in various ecosystems, advancing our understanding of microbial ecology and evolution.
Service Specifications
Sample Requirement
Samples sources including environmental and clinical samples
Please refer to sample submission guidelines or Contact Us!
Sequencing Platform
Illumina MiSeq and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT)

Deliverables
- The original sequencing data
- Experimental results
- Bioinformatics and Data Analysis Report
- Details of Metagenomics Sequencing (customizable)
- Quality Control and Host Removal
- Analysis of Reads Species
- Assembly
- Analysis of Assembled Species
- Functional Analysis
- Prediction of Phage Host