Sample preservation is a critical procedure in any research that relies on molecular tools and is conducted in remote areas. Sample preservation options include low and room temperature storage, which require freezing equipment and specific buffering solutions, respectively. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether DNA/RNA Shield 1x from Zymo Research and DESS (Dimethyl sulfoxide, Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, Saturated Salt) solution performed similarly to snap freezing in liquid nitrogen. Soil samples were stored for 1 month in each of the buffers and without any solution at a range of temperatures: -20, +4, and +23°C. All treatments were compared to the "optimal treatment", namely, snap freezing in liquid nitrogen. The quality and quantity of DNA were analyzed, and the microbial community structure was investigated in all samples. The results obtained indicated that the quantity and integrity of DNA was preserved well in all samples; however, the taxonomic distribution was skewed in samples stored without any solution at ambient temperatures, particularly when analyses were performed at lower taxonomic levels. Although both solutions performed equally well, sequencing output and OTU numbers in DESS-treated samples were closer to those snap frozen with liquid nitrogen. Furthermore, DNA/RNA Shield-stored samples performed better for the preservation of rare taxa.

中文翻译：

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土壤样品保存策略影响微生物群落结构。

在任何依赖于分子工具并且在偏远地区进行的研究中，样品保存都是至关重要的程序。样品保存选项包括低温和室温存储，这分别需要冷冻设备和特定的缓冲溶液。本研究的目的是研究Zymo Research和DESS（二甲基亚砜，乙二胺四乙酸，饱和盐）溶液中的DNA / RNA Shield 1x是否与在液氮中速冻相似。将土壤样品在每种缓冲液中储存1个月，并且在-20，+ 4和+ 23°C的温度范围内不加任何溶液。将所有处理与“最佳处理”进行比较，即在液氮中速冻。分析了DNA的质量和数量，并对所有样品中的微生物群落结构进行了研究。结果表明，所有样品中DNA的数量和完整性都得到了很好的保留。但是，在室温下没有任何溶液的情况下存储的样品中，分类学分布会偏斜，尤其是在较低分类学水平下进行分析时。尽管两种解决方案的性能均相同，但DESS处理的样品中的测序输出和OTU值更接近于用液氮速冻的样品。此外，DNA / RNA Shield储存的样品在保存稀有分类群方面表现更好。特别是在较低分类标准下进行分析时。尽管两种溶液的性能均相同，但DESS处理的样品中的测序输出和OTU值更接近于用液氮速冻的样品。此外，DNA / RNA Shield储存的样品在保存稀有分类群方面表现更好。特别是在较低分类标准下进行分析时。尽管两种溶液的性能均相同，但DESS处理的样品中的测序输出和OTU值更接近于用液氮速冻的样品。此外，DNA / RNA Shield储存的样品在保存稀有分类群方面表现更好。