Life Identification Numbers: A strain nomenclature approach to aid epidemiological surveillance of bacterial pathogens

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

The cgMLST-based Life Identification Number (LIN) method provides a stable, multilevel strain taxonomy system that resolves classification instability and bridges new nomenclature with classical MLST identifiers for precise bacterial pathogen surveillance. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.METHODOLOGICAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Federica Palma; Mélanie Hennart; Keith A. Jolley; Chiara Crestani; Kelly L. Wyres; Sébastien Bridel; Corin Yeats; Bryan Brancotte; Brice Raffestin; Sophia David; Margaret M. C. Lam; Radosław Izdebski; Virginie Passet; Carla Rodrigues; Martin Rethoret-Pasty; Audrey Combary; Solène Cottis; Martin CJ Maiden; David Aanensen; Kathryn E. Holt; Alexis Criscuolo; Sylvain Brisse

doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.3003781

Key Points

The goal is to propose a stable multilevel strain taxonomy system that aids in the epidemiological surveillance of bacterial pathogens.
Discussion of the Life Identification Number (LIN) method based on core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST).
Exploration of LIN codes and their implementation in practical scenarios.
Analysis of challenges of classification instability and connection to classical MLST identifiers.
LIN method provides a stable system applicable to most bacterial pathogens, enhancing strain definitions.
Improved epidemiological tracking of bacterial infections likely through the adoption of LIN codes.

Implication

Essay discusses a method for standardized bacterial strain surveillance using core genome multilocus sequence typing.

Abstract

Unified strain taxonomies are needed for the epidemiological surveillance of bacterial pathogens and international communication in microbiological research. Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) holds great promise for standardized high-resolution strain genotyping. However, this approach faces challenges including classification instability and disconnection of new nomenclature from widely adopted classical MLST identifiers. This Essay discusses the cgMLST-based Life Identification Number (LIN) method, recently proposed as a stable multilevel strain taxonomy system applicable to most bacterial pathogens, covering how LIN codes are implemented and used in practice for precise strain definitions and epidemiological tracking.

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Cite This Study

Palma et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a23bb9a71a5da9775e770c1 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3003781

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Life Identification Numbers: A strain nomenclature approach to aid epidemiological surveillance of bacterial pathogens

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

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Cite This Study

Life Identification Numbers: A strain nomenclature approach to aid epidemiological surveillance of bacterial pathogens

Key Points

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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