Fig. 8From: Optimizing 16S rRNA gene profile analysis from low biomass nasopharyngeal and induced sputum specimensShifts in profiles of bacterial genera commonly detected from the nasopharynx prior to and following decontamination via two in silico approaches. Per specimen shifts (n = 148) in bacterial proportions are shown for bacterial genera commonly detected from the nasopharynx: aMoraxella, bCorynebacterium 1, cHaemophilus, dStaphylococcus and eStreptococcus. Open circles and smoothing splines (representing a factor of 2x the standard deviation) denote bacterial proportions (Y-axis) for each of the specimens (X-axis). Red: Proportions prior to decontamination; Blue: Proportions following the removal of “potential contaminants” identified using the “NTConly” approach; Yellow: Proportions following the removal of “potential contaminants” identified using the “NTC + decontam” approachBack to article page