ITS2 rDNA Sequencing (Mycobiome)

Overview

ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer 2) rDNA sequencing is an amplicon-based approach for profiling fungal communities (mycobiome) in biological samples. The ITS2 region of fungal ribosomal DNA is amplified using universal primers, then sequenced on next-generation platforms and classified against fungal reference databases (e.g., UNITE). This method is analogous to 16S rRNA sequencing for bacteria but targets fungi, enabling characterization of gut, biliary, or tumor-associated mycobiome composition.

Used by

• Synthesized in a narrative review of gut-liver axis dysregulation in cholangiocarcinoma (Zhang L, cited): ITS2 rDNA mycobiome sequencing of iCCA gut samples documented Candida albicans overgrowth and reduced Saccharomyces cerevisiae correlating with advanced TNM stage (III–IV) PMID:25608663

Notes

• The ITS2 region provides higher taxonomic resolution for fungi than ITS1 in many datasets.
• Often paired with 16S rRNA sequencing to simultaneously characterize bacterial and fungal dysbiosis.
• Susceptible to host DNA contamination; enrichment or blocking primers are used to reduce background.
• Gut mycobiome studies in cancer remain limited by small sample sizes and lack of standardized protocols.

Sources

• PMID:25608663 — Gut-liver axis review in cholangiocarcinoma (narrative review synthesizing fungal dysbiosis data)

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