ITS Sequencing

ITS sequencing is a molecular technique that utilizes the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) as a genetic marker for species identification. The ITS region is a segment of non-functional DNA situated between the small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) rRNA genes. The ITS region is characterized by high sequence variability among different species, even those closely related, making it an ideal marker for species discrimination.

• DNA Extraction: Isolate DNA from fungal cultures, plant or animal tissues, or environmental samples (soil, water).
• PCR Amplification: Amplify the ITS region using specific primers targeting conserved flanking regions.
• Sequencing: Sequence the amplified ITS region via Sanger or next-generation sequencing.
• Database Comparison: Compare the obtained sequence against databases (e.g., GenBank, UNITE) for species identification.

• Fungal Identification: ITS sequencing is a cornerstone of fungal identification, playing a crucial role in mycology, plant pathology, food safety, and medical mycology.
• Environmental Monitoring: Analyzing fungal communities in soil, water, and air provides valuable insights into ecosystem health and biodiversity.
• Evolutionary Studies: ITS sequences contribute to understanding the evolutionary relationships between different species.
• Plant Identification: While less common than for fungi, ITS sequencing can also be used for plant species identification, especially in cases where morphological identification is challenging.

• Biomonitoring: Assessing fungal diversity in environmental samples helps monitor ecosystem health and detect potential threats.
• Disease Diagnostics: Rapid identification of plant pathogens facilitates timely intervention, minimizing the use of chemical treatments and their environmental impact.
• Bioremediation: Identifying fungi with bioremediation potential aids in developing sustainable solutions for environmental pollution.

• High-Quality Sequencing: We deliver sequencing results from extraction in as little as 2 weeks, ensuring you receive your data promptly.
• Species-Level Resolution: Utilizing a curated 16S rRNA database, our 16S amplicon sequencing service achieves taxonomic identification down to the species level, providing unparalleled precision in species identification.
• Abundance Quantification: Our service goes beyond relative abundance, offering absolute abundance quantification to reveal more about microbial community dynamics, which is crucial for understanding treatment or therapeutic effects.
• Comprehensive Bioinformatics Analysis: Each project includes a detailed report with bioinformatics analysis and raw sequencing data. We provide compositional bar plots, taxonomy heatmaps, alpha-diversity and beta diversity analyses, and LEfSe biomarker discovery.
• Library Preparation and Quality Control: We employ 96 Magbead DNA and DNA Miniprep for DNA extraction, and Quick-16S NGS library prep for library preparation. We also include positive controls for DNA extraction and library preparation, ensuring stringent quality control.
• Sequencing Analysis: We use Amplicon Sequence Variant (ASV) based analysis with DADA2, providing higher accuracy and better resolution of data.
• Data Visualization and Statistical Analysis: We offer a range of data visualization tools, including absolute abundance boxplots, taxa abundance barplots, heatmaps, and alpha and beta diversity plots. Statistical analysis with LEfSe uncovers taxa/traits that are differentially distributed among sample groups.

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By choosing our ITS sequencing services, you benefit from a combination of advanced technology, expert analysis, and a client-focused approach that delivers reliable and actionable insights into your microbial samples, please contact us and confirm with our team for more information.