3.2. Sequencing Metadata
Our 213/213 sample analyses (100%) were successful for DNA extraction and sequencing library preparation. The sample analyses yielded between 42,602 and 202,974 DNA reads after quality check and bioinformatic processing, therefore 42,602 reads per sample were included in downstream analysis. From the 213 samples, 17 million reads were retrieved and 3238 unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified. A total of 95 different bacterial genera were identified corresponding to 91.48% coverage of the generated sequences, while 339 different bacterial species were identified corresponding to 59.94% coverage of the generated sequences. Determined by the Shannon and Simpson indices, the mean alpha diversity across all 213 samples was 4.12 (2.56 to 5.4) and 3.28 (1.10 to 4.72), respectively.