Advances in DNA sequencing have expanded our view of the microbial world, but the inability to cultivate most microbes has been a major constraint. Now, a systematic, predictive framework that combines existing genomic and computational modeling approaches to accelerate the discovery and cultivation of novel prokaryotic taxa has been proposed by KAUST researchers, in collaboration with an international team of scientists.

“Prokaryotic microbes — bacteria and archaea — are extraordinary microorganisms with unique capabilities that are already proving useful in industrial settings and biotechnological applications,” says Diego Javier Jiménez Avella, who led the perspective study within the research group of Alexandre Rosado at KAUST. “For example, cultivated microorganisms can be used in bioremediation processes, generating bioactive compounds, and enhancing plant growth in agricultural systems.”

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