16S amplicon sequencing of BC108
The 16S rRNA gene V4 variable region PCR primers 515/806  with barcode on the forward primer were used in a 30-cycle PCR using the HotStarTaq Plus Master Mix Kit (Qiagen, USA) under the following conditions: 94C for 3 minutes, followed by 30-35 cycles of 94C for 30 seconds, 53C for 40 seconds and 72C for 1 minute, after which a final elongation step at 72C for 5 minutes was performed. Multiple samples are pooled together (e.g., 100 samples) in equal proportions based on their molecular weight and DNA concentrations. Pooled samples are purified using calibrated Ampure XP beads. Then the pooled and purified PCR product is used to prepare Illumina DNA library. Sequencing was performed at MR DNA (www.mrdnalab.com, Shallowater, TX, USA) on a MiSeq following the manufacturers guidelines.