Microbial amplicon data associated with a publication

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Manuscript title: Prokaryotic microbial ecology as an ecosurveillance tool for eukaryotic pathogen colonisation: Meiothermus and Naegleria fowleri.

Abstract
Naegleria fowleri has been previously detected in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) in Australia, Pakistan and the United States and is the causative agent of the highly fatal disease primary amoebic meningoencephalitis. Ecogenomic methods have previously been used to describe bacterial and eukaryotic biofilm communities in DWDS and to identify trophic interactions between established microorganisms. This 20-month long study of an operational DWDS investigated the trophic interaction between N. fowleri and its intracellular associated bacteria Meiothermus. A total of 232 samples were collected from five sites, which contained 29 positive N. fowleri samples. Amplicon sequencing assessed the value of Meiothermus as a potential marker for monitoring site colonisation by N. fowleri. Two specific 16S rRNA gene sequences were identified as Meiothermus spp. and shared an environmental niche with N. fowleri in the DWDS. The Meiothermus spp. were present in all 29 field site samples where N. fowleri was detected. The two specific species, M. chliarophilus and M. hypogaeus, were significantly associated with N. fowleri presence. This suggests that Meiothermus could serve as an ecosurveillance marker to assist water utilities in risk management and mitigation of N. fowleri colonisation within DWDS.

Lineage: 16S amplicon data