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Liu X, Du W, Wang C, Wu Y, Chen W, Zheng Y, Wang M, Liu H, Yang Q, Qian S, Chen L, Liu C. A multilocus DNA mini-barcode assay to identify twenty vertebrate wildlife species. iScience 2023; 26:108275. [PMID: 38026223 PMCID: PMC10651681 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The world faces significant challenges in preserving the diversity of vertebrate species due to wildlife crimes. DNA barcoding, an effective molecular marker for insufficient nuclear DNA, is an authentic and quick identification technique to trace the origin of seized samples in forensic investigations. Here, we present a multiplex assay capable of identifying twenty vertebrate wildlife species utilizing twenty species-specific primers that target short fragments of the mitochondrial Cyt b, COI, 16S rRNA, and 12S rRNA genes. The assay achieved strong species specificity and sensitivity with a detection limit as low as 5 pg of DNA input. Additionally, it effectively discriminated a minor contributor (≥1%) from binary mixtures and successfully identified of noninvasive samples, inhibited DNA samples, artificially degraded DNA samples, and case samples, demonstrating a sensitive, robust, practical and easily interpretable tool in screening, and investigating forensic wildlife crimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyuan Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Weian Du
- School of Stomatology and Medicine, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, China
- Guangdong Homy Genetics Ltd., Foshan, Guangdong 528000, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Guangzhou Zoo & Guangzhou Wildlife Research Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510070, China
| | - Yajiang Wu
- Guangzhou Zoo & Guangzhou Wildlife Research Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510070, China
| | - Wu Chen
- Guangzhou Zoo & Guangzhou Wildlife Research Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510070, China
| | - Yangyang Zheng
- Guangdong Homy Genetics Ltd., Foshan, Guangdong 528000, China
| | - Mengge Wang
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510030, China
| | - Qianyong Yang
- College of Medicine of Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000 China
| | - Shui Qian
- Foshan Public Security Bureau, Foshan, Guangdong 528000, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
- National Anti-Drug Laboratory Guangdong Regional Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510230, China
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Furlan EM, Davis J, Duncan RP. Identifying error and accurately interpreting environmental DNA metabarcoding results: A case study to detect vertebrates at arid zone waterholes. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 20:1259-1276. [PMID: 32310337 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding surveys enable rapid, noninvasive identification of taxa from trace samples with wide-ranging applications from characterizing local biodiversity to identifying food-web interactions. However, the technique is prone to error from two major sources: (a) contamination through foreign DNA entering the workflow, and (b) misidentification of DNA within the workflow. Both types of error have the potential to obscure true taxon presence or to increase taxonomic richness by incorrectly identifying taxa as present at sample sites, but multiple error sources can remain unaccounted for in metabarcoding studies. Here, we use data from an eDNA metabarcoding study designed to detect vertebrate species at waterholes in Australia's arid zone to illustrate where and how in the workflow errors can arise, and how to mitigate those errors. We detected the DNA of 36 taxa spanning 34 families, 19 orders and five vertebrate classes in water samples from waterholes, demonstrating the potential for eDNA metabarcoding surveys to provide rapid, noninvasive detection in remote locations, and to widely sample taxonomic diversity from aquatic through to terrestrial taxa. However, we initially identified 152 taxa in the samples, meaning there were many false positive detections. We identified the sources of these errors, allowing us to design a stepwise process to detect and remove error, and provide a template to minimize similar errors that are likely to arise in other metabarcoding studies. Our findings suggest eDNA metabarcoding surveys need to be carefully conducted and screened for errors to ensure their accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise M Furlan
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
| | - Jenny Davis
- Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods, College of Engineering, IT and Environment, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, Australia
| | - Richard P Duncan
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia
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Govender A, Groeneveld J, Singh S, Willows-Munro S. The design and testing of mini-barcode markers in marine lobsters. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210492. [PMID: 30677051 PMCID: PMC6345471 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Full-length mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) sequence information from lobster phyllosoma larvae can be difficult to obtain when DNA is degraded or fragmented. Primers that amplify smaller fragments are also more useful in metabarcoding studies. In this study, we developed and tested a method to design a taxon-specific mini-barcode primer set for marine lobsters. The shortest, most informative portion of the COI gene region was identified in silico, and a DNA barcode gap analysis was performed to assess its reliability as species diagnostic marker. Primers were designed, and cross-species amplification success was tested on DNA extracted from a taxonomic range of spiny-, clawed-, slipper- and blind lobsters. The mini-barcode primers successfully amplified both adult and phyllosoma COI fragments, and were able to successfully delimit all species analyzed. Previously published universal primer sets were also tested and sometimes failed to amplify COI from phyllosoma samples. The newly designed taxon-specific mini-barcode primers will increase the success rate of species identification in bulk environmental samples and add to the growing DNA metabarcoding toolkit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashrenee Govender
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- Oceanographic Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Johan Groeneveld
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
- Oceanographic Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Sohana Singh
- Oceanographic Research Institute, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Sandi Willows-Munro
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
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