Methodology & Equipment
Molecular analysis of microbial communities
- combined DNA/RNA extraction
- PCR and RT-PCR
- quantification by real-time PCR
- cloning
- DGGE and/or SSCP
- T-RFLP
- 454 pyrosequencing
- sequencing and phylogenetic grouping using ARB
Cell-specific analysis using
- FISH or CARD-FISH combined with image analysing system
- CARD-FISH combined with microautoradiography ("MICRO-CARD-FISH", or "MAR-FISH")
- flow cytometry and cell sorting
Growth based analysis
- enrichment experiments with natural communities
- cultivation and isolation of bacteria and protozoa
- cultivation and isolation of bacteria and protozoa
Activity analysis and measurements
- comparison between 16S genes at DNA and RNA level
- stable isotope probing of nucleic acids (RNA-SIP)
- stable isotope probing of nucleic acids (RNA-SIP)
- heterotrophic bacterial production by measurement of 3H-thymidine and/or 3H-leucine incorporation
- chemoautotrophic bacterial production by measurement of 14C-bicarbonate incorporation
- transformations within the nitrogen cycle (nitrification, denitrification) using 15N labelled ammonia and nitrate
- transformations within the nitrogen cycle (nitrification, denitrification) using 15N labelled ammonia and nitrate