Evaluation of the effectiveness of DNA/RNA shield for the preservation of microbial DNA in field-collected insect specimens

Monday, November 14, 2022

10:42 AM – 10:54 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 202

Presenting Author(s)

EB

Ezra Bailey

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Co-Author(s)

Cristian Fernando Beza-Beza

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
BW

Brian M. Wiegmann

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
AM

Aram Mikaelyan

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Accurate and comparable analyses of insect microbiomes heavily rely on the uniform application of DNA collection and preservation methods across samples. The potential lack of laboratory facilities at remote sampling locations creates a need for practical, cost-effective methods that allow storing and shipping insect samples at ambient temperatures until DNA extraction. While many methods exist for the preservation of environmental DNA from swabs, soil, and tissue samples, the thick chitinous exoskeleton and fat tissue of insects presents unique challenges to preservation of microbial DNA. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of the commercial preservative DNA/RNA Shield in maintaining the compositional integrity of blowfly-associated microbiomes over time, under cold storage and ambient temperatures.