Methods and materials for determining relative abundance of microorganisms in mixed populations

摘要

The present invention relates to a method for determining the relative abundance of individual species or lower phylogenetic subgroups of microorganisms in a mixed population of several microorganisms comprising the steps of: 1) providing a set of labeled in situ hybridization cluster oligonucleotide probes; 2) hybridization of said probes with a sample of the mixed population, and 3) quantitative analysis of the number of labeled microorganisms. Further it relates to a method for analyzing dynamics in relative abundance of individual microorganisms in a mixed population. Further it relates to a set of probes which are cluster specific and which are provided with at least one label for use in a method of the invention and to a kit of parts for determining the relative abundance of individual species of microorganisms in a mixed population of several microorganisms comprising such probes which together with suitable materials for pre- treating the sample and/or suitable materials for carrying out hybridization and/or suitable materials for analysis of the result of the hybridization.