Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Importance
Bacterial strains and clonal complexes are two cornerstone concepts for microbiology that remain loosely defined, which confuses communication and research. Here we identify a natural gap in genome sequence comparisons among isolate genomes of all well-sequenced species that has gone unnoticed so far and could be used to more accurately and precisely define these and related concepts compared to current methods. These findings advance the molecular toolbox for accurately delineating and following the important units of diversity within prokaryotic species and thus should greatly facilitate future epidemiological and micro-diversity studies across clinical and environmental settings.
SUBMITTER: Rodriguez-R LM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10790751 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Rodriguez-R Luis M LM Conrad Roth E RE Viver Tomeu T Feistel Dorian J DJ Lindner Blake G BG Venter Stephanus N SN Orellana Luis H LH Amann Rudolf R Rossello-Mora Ramon R Konstantinidis Konstantinos T KT
mBio 20231212 1
<h4>Importance</h4>Bacterial strains and clonal complexes are two cornerstone concepts for microbiology that remain loosely defined, which confuses communication and research. Here we identify a natural gap in genome sequence comparisons among isolate genomes of all well-sequenced species that has gone unnoticed so far and could be used to more accurately and precisely define these and related concepts compared to current methods. These findings advance the molecular toolbox for accurately delin ...[more]