A new primer set for Clade I nosZ that recovers genes from a broader range of taxa
We developed a new PCR primer set that amplifies a 355-bp region of Clade I nosZ, and showed a broader range of taxonomic coverage and a higher target novelty than conventional primers in in-silico tests and experimental performance. Moreover, the new primer set performed well with different sequencing platforms (Ion Torrent and Illumina) and very different soils (from polar to tropical, dessert to agricultural, and surface to very low biomass subsoil), showing general usability for Clade I nosZ-carrying microbial communities.