Current publications of taxonomic work typically focus on cultured organisms and are often limited in their ecological context. Recent advances in sequencing technologies, metagenomics and genome-based taxonomies, have led to an explosion in the discovery of novel, largely uncultured microbial diversity that is either unnamed or known only through alphanumeric placeholder names. This represents a massive naming challenge, and provisional Candidatus names, long used for such taxa, lack formal standing and consistency, especially without designated nomenclatural types, often leading to confusion and misclassification.
To address this, the SeqCode—Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes Described from Sequence Data—was introduced. Supported by the ISME Society, SeqCode enables the formal naming of uncultured taxa based on genomic data, with over 1,000 names validated as of 2 September 2025. It ensures minimum standards and avoids redundant synonyms by recognizing ICNP-valid names. Recently, ICNP introduced Section 10 to regulate uncultured taxa with provisional “pro-status” names, moving toward alignment with SeqCode.
ISME Communications encourages genome-based taxonomic studies, methodological innovations, and nomenclatural proposals. Authors are urged to validate new names via the SeqCode Registry or ICNP and deposit strains when available. Our goal is to support best practices and clear communication, vital in an era of massive genomic data. We invite all researchers—especially early-career scientists—to contribute to this evolving field and help unify taxonomy and nomenclature across the microbial world.
Read the full editorial titled ‘Expanding ISME Communications to taxonomy and nomenclature‘ on the Oxford University Press website.