Standardized naming of microbiome samples in Genomes OnLine Database

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bioinformatics
• Genomics

Background:

• Next-generation sequencing has led to a surge in microbiome research.
• Lack of standardized reporting for microbiome data hinders follow-up studies.
• Current naming conventions for metagenomes and metatranscriptomes lack essential sample information, impeding comparative analysis and leading to misclassification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the challenge of inconsistent microbiome sample naming in public databases.
• To introduce a standardized nomenclature system for naming microbiome samples.
• To promote the adoption of this naming system as a best practice for the scientific community.

Main Methods:

• Development of a standardized nomenclature system by the Genomes OnLine Database (GOLD).
• Curating hundreds of thousands of metagenomes and metatranscriptomes with standardized names.
• Describing the naming process for adoption by researchers worldwide.

Main Results:

• GOLD provides well-curated, easy-to-understand names for microbiome samples.
• The proposed naming system facilitates accurate classification and description of samples.
• The system enhances the interoperability and reusability of microbiome data.

Conclusions:

• A standardized naming system is essential for advancing microbiome research.
• Adoption of the GOLD naming system can significantly improve data quality and accessibility.
• This initiative promotes better data sharing and collaborative research in the microbiome field.