Taylor Priest

Many of the most abundant and widespread bacteria in the oceans are known by alpha-numerical identifiers, such as NS5. In most cases, these names were designated more than a decade or two ago to describe a group of 16S rRNA gene sequences that formed a monophyletic branch on the phylogenetic tree. The NS5 was one such assignment. They have since been identified in samples spanning all corners of the world’s oceans and described as indicator species for coastal waters and amongst the most abundant groups. We set out to phylogenetically and ecologically characterise this group, ultimately leading to four new genera being named…