Abstract
Efforts to describe and functionally categorize the amazing diversity of microbial life have long been hampered by our inability to cultivate most microorganisms in the laboratory. Recent technological advances in whole-genome amplification and cell sorting now permit insights into previously uncharacterized microorganisms, without prior cultivation. This month's Genome Watch reviews a selection of the initial attempts to exploit these important advances.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
-
Flow cytometry analysis of the microbiota associated with the midguts of vector mosquitoes
Parasites & Vectors Open Access 22 March 2016
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Pinard, R. et al. Assessment of whole genome amplification-induced bias through high-throughput, massively parallel whole genome sequencing. BMC Genomics 7, 216 (2006).
Lasken, R. S. Single-cell genomic sequencing using multiple displacement amplification. Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 10, 510–516 (2007).
Marcy, Y. et al. Nanoliter reactors improve multiple displacement amplification of genomes from single cells. PLoS Genet. 3, e155 (2007).
Zhang, K. et al. Sequencing genomes from single cells by polymerase cloning. Nature Biotechnol. 24, 680–686 (2006).
Raghunathan, A. et al. Genomic DNA amplification from a single bacterium. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71, 3342–3347 (2005).
Kvist, T. et al. Specific single-cell isolation and genomic amplification of uncultured microorganisms. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 74, 926–935 (2007).
Marcy, Y. et al. Dissecting biological “dark matter” with single-cell genetic analysis of rare and uncultivated TM7 microbes from the human mouth. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 104, 11889–11894 (2007).
Podar, M. et al. Targeted access to the genomes of low-abundance organisms in complex microbial communities. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73, 3205–3214 (2007).
Spits, C. et al. Whole-genome multiple displacement amplification from single cells Nature Protoc. 1, 1965–1970 (2006).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Related links
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Walker, A., Parkhill, J. Single-cell genomics. Nat Rev Microbiol 6, 176–177 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1862
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro1862
This article is cited by
-
Flow cytometry analysis of the microbiota associated with the midguts of vector mosquitoes
Parasites & Vectors (2016)
-
Twenty years of bacterial genome sequencing
Nature Reviews Microbiology (2015)
-
Genomic Mining for Novel FADH2-Dependent Halogenases in Marine Sponge-Associated Microbial Consortia
Marine Biotechnology (2013)
-
Singled out
Nature Reviews Microbiology (2011)
-
Genomics, metagenomics, and microbial oceanography—A sea of opportunities
Science China Earth Sciences (2011)