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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土壤样本保存策略影响微生物群落结构。

在任何依赖分子工具并在偏远地区进行的研究中，样品保存都是一个关键程序。样品保存选项包括低温和室温存储，分别需要冷冻设备和特定的缓冲溶液。本研究的目的是调查来自 Zymo Research 的 DNA/RNA Shield 1x 和 DESS（二甲基亚砜、乙二胺四乙酸、饱和盐）溶液的性能是否与液氮中的速冻相似。土壤样品在每种缓冲液中储存 1 个月，在以下温度范围内没有任何溶液：-20、+4 和 +23°C。所有处理都与“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，并对所有样品的微生物群落结构进行了研究。所得结果表明，所有样品中DNA的数量和完整性都得到了很好的保存；然而，在环境温度下没有任何溶液储存的样品中，分类学分布是倾斜的，特别是在较低分类学水平下进行分析时。尽管这两种解决方案的表现同样出色，但 DESS 处理的样品中的测序输出和 OTU 数量更接近于用液氮速冻的样品。此外，DNA/RNA Shield 存储的样本在保存稀有类群方面表现更好。尤其是在较低的分类水平上进行分析时。尽管这两种解决方案的表现同样出色，但 DESS 处理的样品中的测序输出和 OTU 数量更接近于用液氮速冻的样品。此外，DNA/RNA Shield 存储的样本在保存稀有类群方面表现更好。尤其是在较低的分类水平上进行分析时。尽管这两种解决方案的表现同样出色，但 DESS 处理的样品中的测序输出和 OTU 数量更接近于用液氮速冻的样品。此外，DNA/RNA Shield 存储的样本在保存稀有类群方面表现更好。