Comparing a Single Sample to Multiple Samples Using MaAsLin

Downstream analysis and statistics MaAsLin
1

Hello everyone,

I have been using MaAsLin2 to identify differences between microbial communities, and I have obtained promising results so far. However, I am now interested in comparing a single sample from a diseased individual (acting as group one) to a second group comprised of multiple samples, specifically a well-defined cohort of healthy individuals.

I would like to know if MaAsLin2 is suitable for this type of analysis. If it is not intended for this purpose, I would greatly appreciate any recommendations for alternative programs or approaches that I could use to perform these comparisons.

Best regards,

Chenwen

2

Hi Chenwen,

It depends what you’re trying to get out of the analysis. You’ll be able to get an effect size showing you the difference between your sample of interest and the average of the other samples, and—if you believe the variance of your sample of interest is the same as the variance of your other samples—you’ll be able to get a p-value. Your results probably won’t be very significant because you’ll have a high standard error with only a single sample in one group, but it’ll work.

Oh, and MaAsLin 3 also exists if you’re interested.

Will

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