Validation of a universal set of primers to study animal -associated microeukaryotic communities

Abstract

The application of metabarcoding to study animal-associated microeukaryotes has been restricted because standard 18S rRNA primers co-amplify the host. Here we validate a set of universal primers that minimize host amplification and allow comprehensive profiling of microeukaryotic diversity in animal samples. We test these primers on a range of animal hosts and environmental samples and show they capture previously undersampled groups.

Javier del Campo

Group Leader

My research aims at understanding the global diversity and distribution of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbes employing curated phylogenetic frameworks focusing on novel environmental taxa.