Technologies Promoting Genome-Based Taxonomy

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has proven to be a reliable method. Additionally, it is a commonly used approach in research and surveillance investigations. With the goal of achieving a whole or nearly complete genome sequence, sequencing technologies have been essential from the beginning. This will make sequencing technologies a preferred platform for the investigations of microbiome and single cells from even pristine and extraterrestrial samples. The sequencing and analysis of microbial taxa can currently be done on a variety of platforms and with a variety of assembly techniques. Recently, the whole genome has received significant attention and has been recommended by the Bacteriological Code and the SeqCode. Indeed, the whole genome of axenic culture as well as uncultivated taxa provides comprehensive information for naming a strain, for the enumeration of axenic culture in the future, and for the investigation of important genes that may be useful for various biotechnological applications. This chapter summarizes sequencing methods, a combination of sequencing technologies, algorithms, software solutions, and services for whole genome-based microbial taxonomy.