Bacterial genome-wide association studies: exploring the genetic variation underlying bacterial phenotypes

With the continuous advancements in high-throughput genome sequencing technologies and the development of innovative bioinformatics tools, bacterial genome-wide association studies (BGWAS) have emerged as a transformative approach for investigating the genetic variations underlying diverse bacterial phenotypes at the population genome level. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the application of BGWAS in elucidating genetic determinants of bacterial drug resistance, pathogenicity, host specificity, biofilm formation, and probiotic fermentation characteristics. We systematically summarize the BGWAS workflow, including study design, data analysis pipelines, and the bioinformatics software employed at various stages. Furthermore, we highlight specialized tools tailored for BGWAS and discuss their unique features and applications. We also discuss confounding factors that can influence the accuracy and reliability of BGWAS results, including population structure, linkage disequilibrium, and multiple testing. By incorporating recent advancements, this review serves as a comprehensive reference for researchers utilizing BGWAS to uncover the genetic basis of bacterial phenotypes.