Next-generation sequencing and culture-based techniques offer complementary insights into fungi and prokaryotes in beach sands

Daniela Romão, Christopher Staley, Filipa Ferreira, Raquel Rodrigues, Raquel Sabino, Cristina Veríssimo, Ping Wang, Michael Sadowsky, João Brandão

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

A next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach, in conjunction with culture-based methods, was used to examine fungal and prokaryotic communities for the presence of potential pathogens in beach sands throughout Portugal. Culture-based fungal enumeration revealed low and variable concentrations of the species targeted (yeasts and dermatophytes), which were underrepresented in the community characterized by NGS targeting the ITS1 region. Conversely, NGS indicated that the potentially pathogenic species Purpureocillium liliacinum comprised nearly the entire fungal community. Culturable fecal indicator bacterial concentrations were low throughout the study and unrelated to communities characterized by NGS. Notably, the prokaryotic communities characterized revealed a considerable abundance of archaea. Results highlight differences in communities between methods in beach sand monitoring but indicate the techniques offer complementary insights. Thus, there is a need to leverage culture-based methods with NGS methods, using a toolbox approach, to determine appropriate targets and metrics for beach sand monitoring to adequately protect public health.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)351-358
Number of pages8
JournalMarine Pollution Bulletin
Volume119
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 15 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017

Keywords

  • Beach sand
  • Fungal community structure
  • Monitoring
  • Prokaryotic community structure
  • Public health

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