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Recognizing the reagent microbiome

Nature Microbiology volume 3, pages 851–853 (2018)Cite this article

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A noticeable part of the microbiome literature, especially that working with low-biomass samples, is plagued by reagent contamination. Here we describe visual, statistical, methodical and ecological techniques to facilitate recognition of signals that represent contamination.

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Fig. 1: Reagent contamination recognition strategies.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by the Medical Research Council (UK; G1100221) and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre (Women’s Health theme).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK

    Marcus C. de Goffau, Susannah J. Salter, Josef Wagner, Sharon J. Peacock & Julian Parkhill

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Cambridge, NIHR Cambridge Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, Cambridge, UK

    Susanne Lager, D. Stephen Charnock-Jones & Gordon C. S. Smith

  3. Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Susanne Lager, D. Stephen Charnock-Jones & Gordon C. S. Smith

  4. Department of Internal Medicine IV (Nephrology and Hypertension), Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Andreas Kronbichler

  5. Vasculitis and Lupus Clinic, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK

    Andreas Kronbichler

  6. Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    Sharon J. Peacock

  7. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Sharon J. Peacock

Authors
  1. Marcus C. de Goffau
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  9. Julian Parkhill
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Correspondence to Julian Parkhill.

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de Goffau, M.C., Lager, S., Salter, S.J. et al. Recognizing the reagent microbiome. Nat Microbiol 3, 851–853 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-018-0202-y

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