title: High-throughput bacterial genome sequencing: an embarrassment of choice, a world of opportunity.
abstract: Here, we take a snapshot of the high-throughput sequencing platforms, together with the relevant analytical tools, that are available to microbiologists in 2012, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these platforms in obtaining bacterial genome sequences. We also scan the horizon of future possibilities, speculating on how the availability of sequencing that is 'too cheap to metre' might change the face of microbiology forever.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham                 B15 2TT, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Loman
authors.forename: Chrystala
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Constantinidou
authors.forename: Jacqueline Z M
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Mihail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halachev
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sergeant
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Penn
authors.forename: Esther R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pallen
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D005827:Genetics, Microbial / Q000639:trends; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial