Alpha and beta diversity study

Alpha and beta diversity analysis allows for the assessment of the structure and variability of a microbiota within a single sample or across multiple samples.
Performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) , this approach provides a comprehensive and detailed view of microbial composition , useful in the fields of health, the environment, fermentation, and the formulation of probiotic products.

• Alpha diversity assesses the richness and uniformity of species present within a single sample (number of species observed, Shannon diversity, Simpson index, etc.).
• Beta diversity compares the difference in microbial composition between several samples (Bray-Curtis distances, UniFrac, etc.), allowing the identification of factors influencing variability (origin, treatment, formulation, environment…).

Methods and technologies used

The analysis is based on the sequencing of target genetic regions characteristic of microorganisms:

• 16S rRNA : for bacteria and archaea.
• ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) : for fungi and yeasts.
• 18S rRNA : for unicellular eukaryotes.

Analytical steps:

1. Extraction of total DNA from the sample.
2. PCR amplification of target regions (16S, ITS…).
3. NGS sequencing (Illumina MiSeq, NovaSeq, etc.).
4. Bioinformatics processing :

• • Sequence filtering and assembly.
  • Taxonomic attribution (from SILVA, Greengenes, UNITE databases).
  • Calculation of alpha and beta diversity indices.
  • Graphical representation (heatmaps, PCA, dendrograms).

Matrices involved

The study applies to a wide range of samples:

• Soils and sediments : monitoring of microbial biodiversity, bioremediation.
• Fermented products : kefir, kombucha, yogurts, beers, wines, etc.
• Probiotic ingredients : quality control of strains and microbial mixture.
• Health products or nutraceuticals : evaluation of microbial composition before marketing.
• Environmental samples : water, industrial surfaces, biofilms, biodegradable packaging.

Industrial and scientific applications

The study of alpha and beta diversity allows us to:

• Characterize the microbial composition of a complex sample.
• Compare formulations, treatments or processes that have an impact on the microbiota.
• Evaluate the microbial stability of a product over time.
• Control the microbiological quality of raw materials, fermentation processes and finished products.
• Optimizing fermentation processes in the food, nutraceutical or cosmetic industries.
• Measuring the environmental impact of materials or packaging on microbial biodiversity.

Related analyses

YesWeLab recommends supplementing this study with:

• Study of microbiological stability to monitor the evolution of the microbial flora over time.
• Quantification of a pollutant in a sample in order to assess the interactions between microbiota and chemical contaminants.

YesWeLab's expertise

YesWeLab relies on a network of laboratories specializing in molecular biology and metagenomics , accredited to ISO 17025 and COFRAC standards .
Our experts support companies in:

• The choice of the appropriate sequencing strategy (amplicon, shotgun, ITS, 16S).
• Bioinformatic and statistical analysis of NGS data.

Thanks to the YesWeLab digital platform , you can order and track your analyses online, obtain interactive reports and visualize your microbial profiles in the form of comparative graphs and matrices.