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Main Authors: Ip, Yin Cheong Aden, Allan, Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz, Hirsch, Shana Lee, Kelly, Ryan P
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: Molecular ecology resources 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41482808/
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author Ip, Yin Cheong Aden
Allan, Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz
Hirsch, Shana Lee
Kelly, Ryan P
author_facet Ip, Yin Cheong Aden
Allan, Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz
Hirsch, Shana Lee
Kelly, Ryan P
Ip, Yin Cheong Aden
Allan, Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz
Hirsch, Shana Lee
Kelly, Ryan P
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Fast, Flexible, Feasible: A Transparent Framework for Evaluating eDNA Workflow Trade-Offs in Resource-Limited Settings. Ip, Yin Cheong Aden Allan, Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz Hirsch, Shana Lee Kelly, Ryan P Workflow Animals DNA, Environmental Fishes Metagenomics Time Factors Sensitivity and Specificity Computational Biology Biodiversity Resource-Limited Settings Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis enables biodiversity monitoring by detecting organisms from trace genetic material, but high reagent costs, cold-chain logistics and computational demands limit its broader use, particularly in resource-limited settings. To address these challenges and improve accessibility, we directly compared multiple workflow components, including four DNA extraction methods, two primer sets, three Nanopore basecalling models, and two demultiplexing pipelines. Across 48 workflow combinations tested in an aquarium with 15 fish species, we mapped trade-offs between cost, sensitivity, and processing speed to assess where time and resource savings are possible without compromising detection. Workflows using the Qiagen Blood and Tissue (BT) extraction kit and amplification using the MiFish-U primer set provided the highest sensitivity, detecting ≥ 12 of 15 species by ~3-5 h and reaching the 15-OTU plateau at ~8-10 h with Oxford Nanopore's high accuracy (HAC) basecalling model. Chelex, an alternative lower-cost extraction method, showed partial recovery only (≤ 9 OTUs by 61 h) even with extended sequencing, and did not recover all 15 OTUs. DirectPCR and QuickExtract offered field-friendly extraction alternatives that achieved comparable recovery in ~10-12 h, though their cost-effectiveness varied. While the MarVer1 primer was designed to broaden vertebrate detection, it recovered the same fish species as MiFish-U, though with fewer total reads. Real-time sequencing trials (0-61 h) revealed that high-efficiency workflows (BT + HAC) reached detection plateaus rapidly, indicating sequencing time can be reduced without sacrificing accuracy. The OBITools4 bioinformatics pipeline enabled automated demultiplexing but discarded more reads than an alternative, ONTbarcoder2.3, which retained low-abundance taxa at the cost of manual curation. Rather than identifying a single 'best' workflow, this study provides a transparent decision framework for prioritising cost, speed, and sensitivity in eDNA applications, supporting scalable, cost-effective eDNA monitoring in resource-limited settings.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_41482808
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2026
publisher Molecular ecology resources
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Fast, Flexible, Feasible: A Transparent Framework for Evaluating eDNA Workflow Trade-Offs in Resource-Limited Settings.
Ip, Yin Cheong Aden
Allan, Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz
Hirsch, Shana Lee
Kelly, Ryan P
Workflow
Animals
DNA, Environmental
Fishes
Metagenomics
Time Factors
Sensitivity and Specificity
Computational Biology
Biodiversity
Resource-Limited Settings
Fast, Flexible, Feasible: A Transparent Framework for Evaluating eDNA Workflow Trade-Offs in Resource-Limited Settings. Ip, Yin Cheong Aden Allan, Elizabeth Andruszkiewicz Hirsch, Shana Lee Kelly, Ryan P Workflow Animals DNA, Environmental Fishes Metagenomics Time Factors Sensitivity and Specificity Computational Biology Biodiversity Resource-Limited Settings Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis enables biodiversity monitoring by detecting organisms from trace genetic material, but high reagent costs, cold-chain logistics and computational demands limit its broader use, particularly in resource-limited settings. To address these challenges and improve accessibility, we directly compared multiple workflow components, including four DNA extraction methods, two primer sets, three Nanopore basecalling models, and two demultiplexing pipelines. Across 48 workflow combinations tested in an aquarium with 15 fish species, we mapped trade-offs between cost, sensitivity, and processing speed to assess where time and resource savings are possible without compromising detection. Workflows using the Qiagen Blood and Tissue (BT) extraction kit and amplification using the MiFish-U primer set provided the highest sensitivity, detecting ≥ 12 of 15 species by ~3-5 h and reaching the 15-OTU plateau at ~8-10 h with Oxford Nanopore's high accuracy (HAC) basecalling model. Chelex, an alternative lower-cost extraction method, showed partial recovery only (≤ 9 OTUs by 61 h) even with extended sequencing, and did not recover all 15 OTUs. DirectPCR and QuickExtract offered field-friendly extraction alternatives that achieved comparable recovery in ~10-12 h, though their cost-effectiveness varied. While the MarVer1 primer was designed to broaden vertebrate detection, it recovered the same fish species as MiFish-U, though with fewer total reads. Real-time sequencing trials (0-61 h) revealed that high-efficiency workflows (BT + HAC) reached detection plateaus rapidly, indicating sequencing time can be reduced without sacrificing accuracy. The OBITools4 bioinformatics pipeline enabled automated demultiplexing but discarded more reads than an alternative, ONTbarcoder2.3, which retained low-abundance taxa at the cost of manual curation. Rather than identifying a single 'best' workflow, this study provides a transparent decision framework for prioritising cost, speed, and sensitivity in eDNA applications, supporting scalable, cost-effective eDNA monitoring in resource-limited settings.
title Fast, Flexible, Feasible: A Transparent Framework for Evaluating eDNA Workflow Trade-Offs in Resource-Limited Settings.
topic Workflow
Animals
DNA, Environmental
Fishes
Metagenomics
Time Factors
Sensitivity and Specificity
Computational Biology
Biodiversity
Resource-Limited Settings
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41482808/