Metagenomic Assembly: Reconstructing Genomes from Metagenomes
Zhang Wang1, Jie-Liang Liang1, Li-Nan Huang2
1Institute of Ecological Science, School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|May 7, 2021
Summary
Metagenomic assembly reconstructs microbial genomes from sequencing data. This workflow details steps for reliable genome reconstruction, aiding in understanding microbial communities and their functions.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Metagenomic assembly is crucial for understanding microbial communities.
- Advances in sequencing and algorithms enable microbial genome reconstruction.
- Disentangling community complexity requires accurate genome assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a standard metagenomic assembly workflow.
- To detail steps for reconstructing microbial genomes from metagenomes.
- To present a case study demonstrating the workflow's application.
Main Methods:
- Read quality filtering
- Metagenomic assembly
- Contig/scaffold binning
- Post-assembly checks for completeness and contamination
Main Results:
- The workflow enables reliable reconstruction of microbial genomes.
- Near-complete microbial genomes were reconstructed in a case study.
- The process ensures genome completeness and minimizes contamination.
Conclusions:
- The presented workflow is effective for metagenomic assembly.
- This approach facilitates the study of microbial community functions.
- Reliable genome reconstruction is achievable with current technologies.
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