To improve the quality of analysis of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 genomic sequence, and to ensure the development and widespread availability of genetic tools to analyze Pseudomonas gene function, this Pseudomonas aeruginosa community annotation project (PseudoCAP) was initiated to enlist the expertise of volunteer Pseudomonas scientists in annotating the genome sequence. Annotations provided by the Pseudomonas scientists were subjected to peer review and used to aid the final genome annotation that was published. All participants in this project for the publication of the genome sequence have been acknowledged in the genome paper (see the August 31st 2000 issue of Nature for both the genome paper and a letter briefly describing this project and a proposed annotation approach for future genome projects). This P. aeruginosa genome sequencing project was undertaken by the University of Washington Genome Center and PathoGenesis Corporation (now part of Chiron), with the financial assistance of the U.S. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and PathoGenesis. The initial phase of the PseudoCAP project was funded by the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, French Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Association Française de Lutte contre la Mucoviscidose or AFLM), and German Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Mukoviszidose e.V.)

Though the genome is now complete, this project is now continuing and playing the lead role in coordinating the continual update of annotations to the genome and making other corrections. The pseudomonas.com website has been transferred to PseudoCAP, to centralize updates, expand the websites versatility, and forge integrated links with other sites such as the P. aeruginosa genome database at Queensland. This project is being co-ordinated by Dr. Bob Hancock and Dr. Fiona Brinkman, in co-operation with members of PathoGenesis/Chiron Corporation. Funds for this new phase of the project have been gratefully provided by the U.S. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Researchers interested in participating in this next phase of PseudoCAP, including supplying proposed annotation updates, should contact Fiona Brinkman (fbrink@pathogenomics.bc.ca).
 
 

Thanks to Cells Alive! for the picture of P. aeruginosa