Question

I recently obtained faecal samples from a patient with unusual symptoms. The patient had recently travelled to an island where there was no access to fresh water.  From these samples I isolated what I believe is a new bacteria species. How can I confirm that this is indeed a new bacteria species and, how do I go about reporting it to the scientific community?

Answer 1

You must do a lot of analysis and cross checkings before you claiming a new species of bacteria or any new organism.

1. Genomic DNA analysis

  whole-genome sequence analysis seems to be very costly. But DNA - DNA hybridization and BLAST analysis of 16s rDNA with related species should be done.

2. Morphological Analysis

3. Biochemical test

  Perform multiple biochemical tests to identify the species based on biochemical responses and pathways involved in their system. It will help to identify intermediate organic compounds and other carbohydrates involved in metabolism.

4. Chemotaxonomical test

  This involves the study of proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids, and peptides, etc...These molecules are highly engaged in natural selection and their anatomical features.

After completing these kinds of analytical studies, you should approach some cultural collection centers of bacterial data.

Eg: Korean culture center for microorganism (KCCM), China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC), etc.. to get the strains deposited in the catalog and to make available for the international scientific population.

Also, you should take care of the nomenclature of the strain-based on bacteriological code. The last step is the publication of new species in a reputed microbiology journal.