Abstract: A diagnostic analysis method and system is provided for identifying a microorganism from a genome sequence. Partially or fully assembled microbial genomes or short reads from whole-genome sequencing of microbial genomes are processed into a 4 MB Boolean array while preserving 1% of the genomic information in a way that allows for rapid comparison of a query genome to a large reference database. This represents a critical savings in storage space and speed by which large reference libraries can be queried.

Abstract: A diagnostic analysis method and system is provided for identifying a microorganism from a genome sequence. Partially or fully assembled microbial genomes or short reads from whole-genome sequencing of microbial genomes are processed into a 4 MB Boolean array while preserving 1% of the genomic information in a way that allows for rapid comparison of a query genome to a large reference database. This represents a critical savings in storage space and speed by which large reference libraries can be queried.

Abstract: The present invention relates to streptavidin proteins and peptides having a altered physical properties such as an increased stability or increased or decreased affinity for binding biotin. The invention also relates to methods for the detection, identification, separation and isolation of targets using streptavidin proteins or peptides. Streptavidin with increased or reduced affinity allows for the use of the streptavidin-biotin coupling systems for detection and isolation systems wherein it is necessary to remove of one or the other of the binding partners. Such systems are useful for the purification of functional proteins and viable cells. The invention also relates to nucleic acids which encode these streptavidin proteins and peptides and to recombinant cells such as bacteria, yeast and mammalian cells which contain these nucleic acids.