Microbial genome analysis and comparisons: Web-based protocols and resources.

Fully annotated genome sequences of many microorganisms are publicly available as a resource. However, in-depth analysis of these genomes using specialized tools is required to derive meaningful information. We describe here the utility of three powerful publicly available genome databases and analysis tools. Protocols outlined here are particularly useful for performing pairwise genome comparisons between closely related microorganisms to identify similarities and unique features, for example to identify genes specific to a pathogenic strain of Escherichia coli compared to a nonpathogenic strain.