ARS | Publication request: MICROBE HOTEL: BIRDS AND THEIR BUGS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 8, 2007
Publication Date: February 9, 2007
Citation: Scupham, A.J. 2007. Microbe hotel: birds and their bugs [abstract]. National Turkey Federation Annual Conference. Available: for members only at www.iowaturkey.org.

Technical Abstract: Tools from the field of molecular environmental microbial ecology are being adapted for the study of veterinary and medical intestinal microbial ecology. These approaches are of three varieties. The first, described as an in-depth examination of a few samples, includes techiques such as sequence analysis of 16S libraries and oligonucleotide fingerprinting of rRNA genes (OFRG). These methods allow a complete description of the microbial communities in an ecosystem. The second approach, a superficial description of a number of samples, allows analysis of community change over time, space or treatment type. These methods include denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA). The first and second approaches are used primarily for surveillance purposes and to provide basic descriptions of the microbial communities. The third approach, selective examination of a promising area, takes advantage of the results from approaches one and two to develop hypothesis-driven research projects. This approach requires the development of tools and experimental designs such as bromodeoxyuridine labelling, stable isotope probing (SIP) and antibiotic dissection to identify microbes associated with particular community functions. These microbes may then be exploited for applied research purposes.