High-throughput insect barcoding in microbiome studies

The study aims to explore the possibility of using high-throughput barcoding methods to characterize insect-associated microbial diversity, addressing the gap in our understanding of insect microbiota at a time of rapid biodiversity decline. Specifically, we tested the impact of the non-destructive DNA extraction method, HotSHOT, on microbial abundance estimates and reconstructed bacterial community profiles in a diverse set of insect species. The results suggest that combining barcoding with microbiome studies can efficiently accelerate the accumulation of knowledge about the insects' microbial community, providing valuable insights into their symbiotic relationships and broader ecological roles.