Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41671163›Full record

ArticleFEMS microbiology ecology2026

A discriminative primer design workflow enables selective metabarcoding, demonstrated using long-read sequencing of endophytic fungi.

Ting He, Koert Jansonius, Xiao Li, Alison M Reilly, Bahar Sevgin, Rita Setroikromo, Thomas Hackl, Kristina Haslinger

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in FEMS microbiology ecology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ting HeDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Koert JansoniusDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Xiao LiDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Alison M ReillyDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Bahar SevginGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Rita SetroikromoDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Thomas HacklGroningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-0022-320X
Kristina HaslingerDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-1361-1508

Funding

China Scholarship Council 202006550001China Scholarship Council 202106550001Federation of European Biochemical Societies
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Metabarcoding is a powerful tool to simultaneously identify multiple taxa within a habitat. However, its application to host-associated microbiomes is challenged by substantial co-amplification of host DNA. Here we developed a host-exclusive primer design workflow, to selectively generate amplicons from target taxa while excluding the host. This workflow is centered around a new computational tool, mbc-prime, that can generate a list of discriminative candidate primers and score them. We showcase the use of this tool in the design of primers for long-read metabarcoding of endophytic fungi in Vinca minor. Mbc-prime streamlines the design of fungus-specific primers, enabling efficient and plant-free amplification of fungal rDNA from mixed DNA samples. Our workflow can be used to study the composition of complex host-associated microbiomes. It should be universally applicable for the design of discriminative primers in a user-friendly and practical manner and thus be of use for various researchers in microbiome research.

Indexed as

DNA Barcoding, TaxonomicDNA PrimersEndophytesFungiDNA, FungalMicrobiotaSequence Analysis, DNAWorkflowDNA, FungalDNA PrimersAmplicon sequencingdiscriminative primer designhost-associated microbiomemetabarcoding, marker genesOxford Nanopore Technology

Identifiers

PMID41671163
PMCPMC12923166

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.