Shotgun metagenomic sequencing provides information on the total genomic DNA from all organisms in a sample, avoiding the need for isolation and cultivation of microorganisms or amplification of target regions. This is crucial because it is believed that nearly 99% of all microorganisms cannot be cultivated in the laboratory. Differently from the targeted approach used in the 16S/18S/ITS amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomic sequencing uses next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to provide not only information on the taxonomic annotations of each organism but also the functional profiling, gene prediction and microbial interaction of the whole community.

• A general analysis of both 16S/18S/ITS amplicon metagenomic sequencing and shotgun metagenomic sequencing
• Gain insights into a variety of research strategies