Differential Recovery of Bacterial and Archaeal 16S rRNA Genes from Ruminal Digesta in Response to Glycerol as Cryoprotectant

Abstract

Bacteria and archaea in frozen (- 20. °C) ruminal digesta were analysed by qPCR and cloning/sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Samples frozen with and without glycerol as cryoprotectant indicated a major loss of Bacteroidetes in unprotected samples, resulting in higher proportions of Firmicutes. Archaeal numbers and diversity were unaffected. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.