Molecular methods for the analysis of gut microbiota

Namsolleck, P., Thiel, R., Lawson, P., Holmstrom, K., Rajilic, M., Vaughan, E.E., Rigottier-Gois, L., Collins, M.D., de Vos, W. and Blaut, M. (2004) Molecular methods for the analysis of gut microbiota. Microbial Ecology in Health and Disease, 16 (2-3). pp. 71-85. ISSN 1651-2235 doi: 10.1080/08910600410032367

Abstract/Summary

This review focuses on methodological approaches used to study the composition of human faecal microbiota. Gene sequencing is the most accurate tool for revealing the phylogenetic relationships between bacteria. The main application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in both microscopy and flow cytometry is to enumerate faecal bacteria. While flow cytometry is a very fast method, FISH microscopy still has a considerably lower detection limit.