Utilizing metagenomic data for the study of genes and gene cassettes
Itay Sharon, Technion
Abstract:
Metagenomics is an increasingly popular method for studying microbes
and viruses directly from the environment in which they live, through their
DNA. Using metagenomics it is possible to access the vast majority of microbes
on earth, more than 99% of microbial species according to some estimates, that
cannot be studied using other methods. The data consists of a random collection
of very short DNA sequences originating from microbes and viruses in the
examined environment. Through computational analysis it is possible to study
aspects of microbial and viral lifestyle in the examined environment such as
community structure, functional capabilities and more.
In this talk I will describe computational methods developed in our lab for the
study of genes and gene cassettes from metagenomic data. I will focus on our
latest finding of Photosystem I gene cassettes in marine virus genomes, and
also describe the application of the methods for large-scale analysis aimed to
find microbial genes on viral genomes with no prior knowledge.
References: (Kagan et al., Genome Biology, 2008, Sharon et al., Nature, 2009).