DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/P3H9-P628
Defense Date
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Biology
First Advisor
Maria Rivera, Ph.D.
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized biological research by generating unprecedented volumes of genomic data, necessitating advanced bioinformatics tools and specialized expertise to fully interpret complex microbial communities. This study outlines an integrated workflow to characterize the gut microbiome of the wood-feeding beetle Odontotaenius disjunctus. Prokka is employed for functional annotation to identify protein-coding genes and other genomic features, while Kaiju is used for taxonomic classification. DIAMOND is then applied to locate and validate the taxonomic assignments generated by Kaiju by aligning sequences within the contigs to a comprehensive protein database, proGenomes. Functional analysis revealed that the contigs encode proteins involved in essential cellular processes—such as DNA replication, transcription, translation, and cell division—as well as specialized metabolic and stress response pathways. Taxonomic analysis identified known lignocellulose-degrading taxa. Together, these findings validate the multi-tool bioinformatics approach and underscore the importance of robust computational methods for leveraging NGS data in microbial ecology studies.
Rights
© Keidra E. Carter
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-9-2025