On sunspots, click science and molecular iconography

Tuberculosis
Igor Mokrousov

Abstract

CRISPR-spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR typing, SITVIT_WEB and MIRU-VNTRplus are the methods and online resources most widely used for Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotype family assignment and clustering analysis. They have been proven invaluable for molecular epidemiological studies of this important human pathogen in setting up the terminology and classification framework. However, they are inherently limited by insufficient knowledge of evolution of the targeted genome loci (especially, CRISPR). The situation is aggravated by the dogmatic, iconographic perception of these increasingly user-friendly online tools. Here, I present a critical essay on hot practical aspects related to the use of SITVIT_WEB and MIRU-VNTRplus, in particular, partly inadequate (sub)clade assignment due to imperfect decision rules, partly outdated methodological options offered to the users that permit to build scientifically unsound phylogenies from spoligotyping data. A confusing terminology, misclassification and false clustering are not abstract issues but make a scientific discussion meaningless, and I propose some courses for improvement.

Citations

Sep 24, 2020·Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz·Pavel TarlykovYerlan Ramankulov
Oct 17, 2019·Infection, Genetics and Evolution : Journal of Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics in Infectious Diseases·Husain PoonawalaSharon J Peacock

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

CRISPR (general)

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are DNA sequences in the genome that are recognized and cleaved by CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas). CRISPR-Cas system enables the editing of genes to create or correct mutations. Discover the latest research on CRISPR here.

CRISPR for Genome Editing

Genome editing technologies enable the editing of genes to create or correct mutations. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) are DNA sequences in the genome that are recognized and cleaved by CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas). Here is the latest research on the use of CRISPR-Cas system in gene editing.

CRISPR Ribonucleases Deactivation

CRISPR-Cas system enables the editing of genes to create or correct mutations. This feed focuses on mechanisms that underlie deactivation of CRISPR ribonucleases. Here is the latest research.