New database improves microbe identification accuracy

Researchers have created a new, improved nucleotide database to enhance the accuracy of identifying microorganisms, crucial for fields like medicine and environmental science. This database addresses errors and inconsistencies in existing resources. The new database, optimized for the Centrifuge tool, filters out contaminants and updates content, leading to more reliable identification of DNA sequences. This improvement reduces false positives, which can lead to incorrect conclusions about the presence of pathogens. The project highlights the need for regularly updated databases to keep pace with the growth of genomic data. The team is working on further improvements and plans to expand the methodology to other classification engines and specialized databases.