Molecular Microbial Community Analysis: Genetic Profiles as a Tool to Characterize Composting Processes

摘要

Nucleic acids from composting material harbors all the information that is necessary to characterize the microorganisms mediating the composting process. The universally abundant rRNA genes are ideal targets that can be isolated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from compost extracted DNA solutions. This approach is independent of cultivating microorganisms in the laboratory. The diversity of PCR-amplified products can be converted into genetic profiles. These “fingerprint”-like profiles reflect the diversity of microorganisms in the original samples. Profiles of different composting materials or process conditions can be compared with each other by digital image analysis and key organisms can be characterized by DNA-sequencing and comparisonto sequences from databases available in the world wide web. Molecular PCR-based approaches have the potential to become valuable tools to optimize process conditions and, possibly, compost quality. Here we describe how PCR-SSCP (single strand conformation polymorphism) can be used for such purposes and how pitfalls of DNA extraction and subsequent detection techniques can be avoided.