SourceApp

SourceApp infers source attribution and apportionment in metagenomic fecal source tracking analyses by mapping metagenomic data to source-associated genome databases.

Key Features:

• Genome database construction: SourceApp uses publicly available reference genomes and metagenome assembled genomes recovered from short- and long-read sequencing of fecal samples.
• Source attribution and apportionment: SourceApp maps metagenomic data to source-associated genome databases to infer the presence and proportions of various fecal inputs.
• Performance benchmarking: SourceApp was benchmarked against alternative tools using mixed input spike-in mesocosms with predetermined cell concentrations.
• Parameter tuning: Sensitivity and specificity near 0.90 overall exceeded all alternative tools.

Scientific Applications:

• Fecal source tracking: SourceApp assesses the presence and proportions of various fecal inputs simultaneously in environmental samples such as recreational and drinking water reservoirs.
• Mesocosm simulation studies: SourceApp analyzes shotgun sequencing data from controlled fecal pollution events of known composition, including animal sources, wastewater sources, septage, and synthetic microbiome spike-ins.
• Standard operating procedure development: SourceApp assists researchers with interpreting shotgun sequencing data and developing protocols for metagenomic fecal source tracking.

Methodology:

SourceApp maps metagenomic data to source-associated genome databases built from publicly available reference genomes and metagenome assembled genomes.