Machine learning interprets genome sequences to map possible microbial symbionts

Summary

Nature Biotechnology, Published online: 02 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41587-026-03212-2 A machine-learning framework called symclatron uses genome sequencing content to predict whether uncultivated bacteria and archaea live independently or in close association with hosts. Applied to a global genome collection, it suggests that host-dependent microbes are widespread across Earth’s biomes and microbial phyla.