Fig. 2

Comparison of bioinformatics analyses (OTU versus PE protocol). Preliminary study comparing two different bioinformatics approaches: OTU clustering performed using QIIME and PE protocol. Both bioinformatics approaches used the same database (SILVA version 128). a Taxonomic profiles obtained using PE protocol and OTU clustering for sample AP1E (ELBW infant no supplementation). b Taxonomic profiles obtained using PE protocol and OTU clustering for sample V3 J (term infant sample). Three different 16S rRNA gene libraries were prepared for each sample, V1 + V2 + V3, primers 27F-519R, V4 + V5, primers 530F-926R and V6 + V7 + V8, primers 926F-1394R. Further information on the number of reads obtained for this study can be found in Additional file 8