Analysis of Fecal Microbiota Dynamics in Lupus-Prone Mice Using a Simple, Cost-Effective DNA Isolation Method

The proposed DNA isolation method can serve to study the gut microbiota dynamics in autoimmune diseases mouse models. A more versatile, cost-effective, and efficient method is proposed to obtain DNA from fecal samples that are comparable to commercially-available kits. To begin, take each mouse individually out of its cage, collect a fecal pellet directly from the anus and store it at minus 80 degrees Celsius until being processed.

Process the samples with sterile and clean forceps, tubes, and gloves. Add a frozen pellet to a pre-weighed, two milliliter screw cap tube, and record the fecal weight in grams, which should be between 0.02 to 0.05 grams per fecal pellet. Add to the pellet a thin layer of 0.1 millimeter glass beads, 500 microliters of lysis buffer, and 200 microliters of 20%sodium dodecyl sulfate.