Method and system for identification and classification of operational taxonomic units in a metagenomic sample

Abstract

A system and method for identification and classification of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in a metagenomic sample using short read amplicon sequences has been described. The disclosure enables accurate identification of OTU in a metagenomic sample and provides a framework for easy cross comparison of microbiome community structures sampled across different disconnected metagenomic studies. Instead of using a reference database consisting of full-length marker genes directly for taxonomic classification or OTU-picking, the present disclosure creates customized OTU databases for different hyper-variable regions of a marker gene. These databases consist of reference OTUs obtained through independent clustering of sequences pertaining to different selected hyper-variable regions of the marker gene. In another embodiment, mapping back is also provided facilitating cross comparison between results obtained from different studies that may have utilized different hyper-variable regions. The system results in enhanced accuracy of classification of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the metagenomic sample.