Henderson_DNA_bacteria_beadbeater

Molecular microbial ecology techniques are widely used to study the composition of the rumen microbiota and to increase understanding of the roles they play. Therefore, DNA extraction methods that result in adequate yields of microbial DNA that also accurately represents the microbial community are crucial. Different mechanical lysis methods and times were used to extract DNA from cow and sheep rumen samples. The apparent compositions of the archaeal, bacterial and ciliate protozoal communities in identical rumen samples were assessed using 454 Titanium pyrosequencing. Differences in apparent microbial community composition were observed among mechanical lysis methods and times, for example in the relative abundances of members of the phyla Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes.