Article Synopsis
- The assembly of single-amplified genomes (SAGs) and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) has increased the discovery of new Archaea and Bacteria, highlighting the need for naming guidelines for uncultivated microorganisms.
- The International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) currently only recognizes cultured organisms as valid for naming, which poses a challenge for uncultivated species.
- The proposed solutions include modifying the ICNP to accept DNA sequences as naming material or creating a new nomenclatural code for uncultivated microbes, emphasizing the urgency for unified naming practices to ensure clarity in microbial diversity.
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Article Abstract
The assembly of single-amplified genomes (SAGs) and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) has led to a surge in genome-based discoveries of members affiliated with Archaea and Bacteria, bringing with it a need to develop guidelines for nomenclature of uncultivated microorganisms. The International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) only recognizes cultures as 'type material', thereby preventing the naming of uncultivated organisms. In this Consensus Statement, we propose two potential paths to solve this nomenclatural conundrum. One option is the adoption of previously proposed modifications to the ICNP to recognize DNA sequences as acceptable type material; the other option creates a nomenclatural code for uncultivated Archaea and Bacteria that could eventually be merged with the ICNP in the future. Regardless of the path taken, we believe that action is needed now within the scientific community to develop consistent rules for nomenclature of uncultivated taxa in order to provide clarity and stability, and to effectively communicate microbial diversity.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7381421 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41564-020-0733-x | DOI Listing |
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