Amplicon sequencing is appropriate when you require focused information about selected genomic regions. It is precise and scalable. This means it is highly applicable to activities that require targets and comparability across samples.
The following are the main areas where amplicon sequencing provides real value.
Microbiome Profiling in Gut and Host-Associated Samples
Amplicon sequencing is used to profile microbiota composition. This is based on 16S rRNA gene and ITS region sequencing. In a gut microbiome study, this method enables you to study the composition of the bacterial and fungal communities in large cohorts. You are able to:
- Compare microbial diversity in healthy and sick populations
- Track alterations over time
- Assess reactions to external factors
Monitoring Microbial Diversity of the Environment
The approach has found extensive application in environmental research to measure the microbial diversity in:
- Soil
- Water
- Sediment
- Air samples
It allows you to:
- Monitor the ecosystem
- Follow microbial changes due to climate change or pollution
- Assess the effects of agricultural or industrial practices
Such applications can be used in water quality monitoring. For instance, the targeted sequencing can identify microbial indicators of contamination. It can also monitor variations in community structure between sites and times of the year.
It is used in soil ecology to evaluate factors like:
- Biodiversity
- Nutrient cycling
- Land use impacts
Clinical Microbiome Research and Biomarker Discovery
The sequencing is widely used in studying:
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Metabolic diseases
- Inflammatory diseases
- Reproductive health research
The method is cost-effective and can be expanded. Therefore, it is appropriate with big groups of patients. You can learn about taxa associated with disease conditions and cluster patients. You just need to formulate hypotheses. Then, generate diagnostic biomarkers.
Surveillance and Detection of Pathogens in Infectious Diseases
Here, the goal is to identify species or strains in mixed samples. This is made feasible by targeting pathogen-specific genomic regions.
This application of amplicon sequencing is particularly useful in:
- Viral surveillance
- Antimicrobial resistance research
- Outbreak investigations
These are situations where high-resolution and rapid sequencing help make timely decisions in relation to public health.
Detecting Rare Variants in Selected Genomic Regions
This approach is also applied in the field of genetics and oncology research. It helps to identify low-frequency variants at specific genomic regions. The deep sequencing of a particular locus can enable you to detect rare mutations that would otherwise be overlooked by larger sequencing methods.
This usage is especially applicable to cancer studies. In this case, detecting minor subclonal variants can be used to inform tumor heterogeneity work and analysis of response to treatment.
Applications in Agriculture and Food Safety
This technique is increasingly used in agriculture and food science. It promotes research on:
- Plant-related microbiomes
- Soil health
- Crop yield
Targeted sequencing in food safety can also be used to:
- Identify spoilage organisms
- Track microbial contamination of production areas
These applications enhance agricultural sustainability.
Wrapping Up
Do you need accuracy, scalability, and deep understanding? Amplicon sequencing is the ideal technology. Its flexibility has made it a fundamental tool in the above studies.
