Shared Facilities

Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics Laboratory

Assisting Laboratories with Metagenomic Sequencing and Analysis Support

The Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics Laboratory (MGML) provides metagenomic sequencing and analysis support to Cincinnati Children’s, the University of Cincinnati and surrounding communities. We have assisted laboratories throughout the region with metagenomic studies since 2014 and formally became a shared facility in 2019.

Metagenomics is a rapidly expanding field and has been a useful tool in examining alternative causes and treatments for diseases. Recent studies have shown that the various microbiota in the body contribute significantly to immune response, metabolism and other important bodily functions. Studying how various treatments and diseases respond to microbiome composition changes may provide insightful ways to improve treatment and disease prevention.

Our Research

The Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics Laboratory is staffed and equipped to provide services ranging from 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing (16S rRNA), shotgun metagenomics and RNA sequencing.

Equipment within the laboratory includes:

• Bead Ruptor Elite (Omni International) Qiacube automated DNA extraction devices (Qiagen)
• Tapestation 2200 fragment analyzer (Agilent)
• Blue Pippen size selector (Sage Science)
• Biomek i5 Span 8 to automate library preparation
• NovaSeq 6000 sequencing machine (Illumina)

In addition to DNA and RNA sequencing, we provide bioinformatics support. The laboratory developed a bioinformatics pipeline that takes raw DNA sequencing read data all the way through taxonomic assignment, functional metabolic gene abundance, and antibiotic gene detection. Advanced statistical analysis and graphing software is also available. We have performed sequencing of individual bacterial isolates followed by downstream analysis of organism similarity (molecular epidemiology), presence of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes.

Work from the laboratory has been included in more than 15 publications, including publications in Nature, Nature Medicine, Cell Host and Microbe and Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Acknowledgment Statement

This [publication, project, or research] was made possible, in part, using the Cincinnati Children’s Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics Laboratory [RRID: SCR_022649]. (Optional): We specifically acknowledge the assistance of [name(s) of staff member(s)].