The 16S gene library consisted of Illumina MiSeq sequences targeting the V4 variable region. n brief, genomic DNA was subjected to 16S amplification using primers incorporating the Illumina adapters and a sample-specific barcode sequence, allowing directional sequencing covering variable region V4 (Primers: 515F [GTGCCAGCMGCCGCGGTAA] and 806R [GGACTACHVGGGTWTCTAAT]). PCR mixtures contained 10 μl of diluted template (1:50), 10 μl of HotMasterMix with the HotMaster Taq DNA Polymerase (5 Prime), and 5 μl of primer mix (2 μM of each primer). The cycling conditions consisted of an initial denaturation of 94°C for 3 min, followed by 30 cycles of denaturation at 94°C for 45 sec, annealing at 50°C for 60 sec, extension at 72°C for 5 min, and a final extension at 72°C for 10 min. Amplicons were quantified on the Caliper LabChipGX (PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA), pooled in equimolar concentrations, size selected (375-425 bp) on the Pippin Prep (Sage Sciences, Beverly, MA) to reduce non-specific amplification products from host DNA, and a final library sizing and quantification was performed on an Agilent Bioanalyzer 2100 using DNA 1000 chips (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA). Sequencing was performed on the Illumina MiSeq v2 platform, according to the manufacturer’s specifications with addition of 5% PhiX, and generating paired-end reads of 150b in length in each direction. The overlapping paired-end reads were stitched together (approximately 97 bp overlap), and size selected to reduce non-specific amplification products from host DNA (225-275 bp).