Microbial Taxonomy Run Amok

Sanford, Robert A.; Lloyd, Karen G.; Konstantinidis, Konstantinos T.; Löffler, Frank E.

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2020.12.010

Microbial Taxonomy Run Amok

Journal Article · Tue Feb 02 00:00:00 EST 2021 · Trends in Microbiology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2020.12.010· OSTI ID:1820756

Sanford, Robert A. ^[1]; Lloyd, Karen G. ^[2]; Konstantinidis, Konstantinos T. ^[3]; ^[4]

Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA (United States)
Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Center for Environmental Biotechnology; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

DNA sequencing has led to an explosion in discovery of microbial phylogenetic novelty, especially that represented by uncultivated taxa, to which the traditional system of prokaryotic taxonomy has not adapted. A lack of expansion of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP, 'the Code') to effectively capture this information has created a 'wild west' situation where names are published or appear in popular reference databases without further verification or validation. The rapid propagation of variant and questionable naming methods has led to widespread confusion and undermines prior accomplishments. Furthermore, we exemplify inconsistencies that have arisen from this practice and endanger the interoperability of scientific findings. The immediate solution to this problem is to develop and adopt universal best practices that are accepted by expert researchers, major publishers, the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP), and international microbiological societies.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725; SC0020369

OSTI ID:: 1820756

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1991923

Journal Information:: Trends in Microbiology, Journal Name: Trends in Microbiology Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 29; ISSN 0966-842X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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