Hiding in Plain Sight: Mining Bacterial Species Records for Phenotypic Trait Information

Abstract

Cultivation in the laboratory is key for understanding the phenotypic characteristics, growth requirements, metabolism, and environmental preferences of bacteria. However, oftentimes, phenotypic information is not easily accessible. Here, we compiled phenotypic and environmental tolerance information for >5,000 bacterial strains described in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM). We demonstrate how this database can be used to link bacterial taxonomy, phylogeny, or specific genes to measured phenotypic traits and environmental preferences. The phenotypic database can be freely accessed ( https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.4272392 ), and we have included instructions for researchers interested in adding new entries or curating existing ones.