Metagenomics: Tools and Insights for Analyzing Next-Generation Sequencing Data Derived from Biodiversity Studies

Advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have allowed significant breakthroughs in microbial ecology studies. This has led to the rapid expansion of research in the field and the establishment of “metagenomics”, often defined as the analysis of DNA from microbial communities in environmental samples without prior need for culturing. Many metagenomics statistical/computational tools and databases have been developed in order to allow the exploitation of the huge influx of data. In this review article, we provide an overview of the sequencing technologies and how they are uniquely suited to various types of metagenomic studies. We focus on the currently available bioinformatics techniques, tools, and methodologies for performing each individual step of a typical metagenomic dataset analysis. We also provide future trends in the field with respect to tools and technologies currently under development. Moreover, we discuss data management, distribution, and integration tools that are capable of performing comparative metagenomic analyses of multiple datasets using well-established databases, as well as commonly used annotation standards.

Download Full-text

NGSphy: phylogenomic simulation of next-generation sequencing data

10.1101/197715 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Merly Escalona ◽

Sara Rocha ◽

David Posada

Keyword(s):

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Variant Calling ◽

Gene Families ◽

Common Species ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽

Phylogenomic Analysis ◽

Next Generation ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Sequencing Technologies ◽

Generation Sequencing

AbstractMotivationAdvances in sequencing technologies have made it feasible to obtain massive datasets for phylogenomic inference, often consisting of large numbers of loci from multiple species and individuals. The phylogenomic analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data implies a complex computational pipeline where multiple technical and methodological decisions are necessary that can influence the final tree obtained, like those related to coverage, assembly, mapping, variant calling and/or phasing.ResultsTo assess the influence of these variables we introduce NGSphy, an open-source tool for the simulation of Illumina reads/read counts obtained from haploid/diploid individual genomes with thousands of independent gene families evolving under a common species tree. In order to resemble real NGS experiments, NGSphy includes multiple options to model sequencing coverage (depth) heterogeneity across species, individuals and loci, including off-target or uncaptured loci. For comprehensive simulations covering multiple evolutionary scenarios, parameter values for the different replicates can be sampled from user-defined statistical distributions.AvailabilitySource code, full documentation and tutorials including a quick start guide are available at http://github.com/merlyescalona/[email protected]. [email protected]

Download Full-text

easyfm : An easy software suite for file manipulation of Next Generation Sequencing data on desktops

10.1101/2021.09.29.462291 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hyungtaek Jung ◽

Brendan Jeon ◽

Daniel Ortiz-Barrientos

Keyword(s):

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

High Performance ◽

Biological Data ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽

Next Generation ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

File Formats ◽

Biological Data Analysis ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Ngs ◽

Generation Sequencing

Storing and manipulating Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) file formats is an essential but difficult task in biological data analysis. The easyfm ( easy f ile m anipulation) toolkit ( https://github.com/TaekAndBrendan/easyfm ) makes manipulating commonly used NGS files more accessible to biologists. It enables them to perform end-to-end reproducible data analyses using a free standalone desktop application (available on Windows, Mac and Linux). Unlike existing tools (e.g. Galaxy), the Graphical User Interface (GUI)-based easyfm is not dependent on any high-performance computing (HPC) system and can be operated without an internet connection. This specific benefit allow easyfm to seamlessly integrate visual and interactive representations of NGS files, supporting a wider scope of bioinformatics applications in the life sciences.

Download Full-text

Introduction to the analysis of next generation sequencing data and its application to venous thromboembolism

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1160/th15-05-0411 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 114 (11) ◽

pp. 920-932 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Joost C. M. Meijers ◽

Saskia Middeldorp ◽

Marisa L. R. Cunha

Keyword(s):

Venous Thromboembolism ◽

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽

Next Generation ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Ngs Data Analysis ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Ngs ◽

Ngs Data ◽

Generation Sequencing

SummaryDespite knowledge of various inherited risk factors associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE), no definite cause can be found in about 50% of patients. The application of data-driven searches such as GWAS has not been able to identify genetic variants with implications for clinical care, and unexplained heritability remains. In the past years, the development of several so-called next generation sequencing (NGS) platforms is offering the possibility of generating fast, inexpensive and accurate genomic information. However, so far their application to VTE has been very limited. Here we review basic concepts of NGS data analysis and explore the application of NGS technology to VTE. We provide both computational and biological viewpoints to discuss potentials and challenges of NGS-based studies.

Download Full-text

Pharmacogenomics, How to Deal with Different Types of Variants in Next Generation Sequencing Data in the Personalized Medicine Area

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10010034 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 34

Author(s):

Alireza Tafazoli ◽

Natalia Wawrusiewicz-Kurylonek ◽

Renata Posmyk ◽

Wojciech Miltyk

Keyword(s):

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Personalized Medicine ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽

Next Generation ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Clinical Practices ◽

Clinical Investigations ◽

Different Types ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Ngs ◽

Generation Sequencing

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is the knowledge of diverse drug responses and effects in people, based on their genomic profiles. Such information is considered as one of the main directions to reach personalized medicine in future clinical practices. Since the start of applying next generation sequencing (NGS) methods in drug related clinical investigations, many common medicines found their genetic data for the related metabolizing/shipping proteins in the human body. Yet, the employing of technology is accompanied by big obtained data, which most of them have no clear guidelines for consideration in routine treatment decisions for patients. This review article talks about different types of NGS derived PGx variants in clinical studies and try to display the current and newly developed approaches to deal with pharmacogenetic data with/without clear guidelines for considering in clinical settings.

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of VarWalker: personalized mutation network analysis of putative cancer genes from next-generation sequencing data.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.718272765.793499663 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Gary Bader ◽

Mohamed Helmy

Keyword(s):

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽

Cancer Genes ◽

Next Generation ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Generation Sequencing

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Bioinformatory-assisted analysis of next-generation sequencing data for precision medicine in pancreatic cancer.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.727775566.793536095 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Steve Pereira

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Precision Medicine ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽

Next Generation ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Assisted Analysis ◽

Generation Sequencing

Download Full-text

NGSremix: A software tool for estimating pairwise relatedness between admixed individuals from next-generation sequencing data

G3 Genes|Genome|Genetics ◽

10.1093/g3journal/jkab174 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anne Krogh Nøhr ◽

Kristian Hanghøj ◽

Genis Garcia Erill ◽

Zilong Li ◽

Ida Moltke ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Genetic Research ◽

Likelihood Estimation ◽

Software Tool ◽

Estimation Methods ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽

Next Generation ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

Ngs Data ◽

Generation Sequencing

Abstract Estimation of relatedness between pairs of individuals is important in many genetic research areas. When estimating relatedness, it is important to account for admixture if this is present. However, the methods that can account for admixture are all based on genotype data as input, which is a problem for low-depth next-generation sequencing (NGS) data from which genotypes are called with high uncertainty. Here we present a software tool, NGSremix, for maximum likelihood estimation of relatedness between pairs of admixed individuals from low-depth NGS data, which takes the uncertainty of the genotypes into account via genotype likelihoods. Using both simulated and real NGS data for admixed individuals with an average depth of 4x or below we show that our method works well and clearly outperforms all the commonly used state-of-the-art relatedness estimation methods PLINK, KING, relateAdmix, and ngsRelate that all perform quite poorly. Hence, NGSremix is a useful new tool for estimating relatedness in admixed populations from low-depth NGS data. NGSremix is implemented in C/C ++ in a multi-threaded software and is freely available on Github https://github.com/KHanghoj/NGSremix.

Download Full-text

recoup: flexible and versatile signal visualization from next generation sequencing

BMC Bioinformatics ◽

10.1186/s12859-020-03902-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Panagiotis Moulos

Keyword(s):

Next Generation Sequencing ◽

Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽

Special Focus ◽

Next Generation ◽

Sequencing Data ◽

User Friendliness ◽

Computational Environment ◽

Level Data ◽

Data Signal ◽

Generation Sequencing

Abstract Background The relentless continuing emergence of new genomic sequencing protocols and the resulting generation of ever larger datasets continue to challenge the meaningful summarization and visualization of the underlying signal generated to answer important qualitative and quantitative biological questions. As a result, the need for novel software able to reliably produce quick, comprehensive, and easily repeatable genomic signal visualizations in a user-friendly manner is rapidly re-emerging. Results recoup is a Bioconductor package for quick, flexible, versatile, and accurate visualization of genomic coverage profiles generated from Next Generation Sequencing data. Coupled with a database of precalculated genomic regions for multiple organisms, recoup offers processing mechanisms for quick, efficient, and multi-level data interrogation with minimal effort, while at the same time creating publication-quality visualizations. Special focus is given on plot reusability, reproducibility, and real-time exploration and formatting options, operations rarely supported in similar visualization tools in a profound way. recoup was assessed using several qualitative user metrics and found to balance the tradeoff between important package features, including speed, visualization quality, overall friendliness, and the reusability of the results with minimal additional calculations. Conclusion While some existing solutions for the comprehensive visualization of NGS data signal offer satisfying results, they are often compromised regarding issues such as effortless tracking of processing and preparation steps under a common computational environment, visualization quality and user friendliness. recoup is a unique package presenting a balanced tradeoff for a combination of assessment criteria while remaining fast and friendly.

Download Full-text