Canadian Journal of Microbiology A Review of the Taxonomy, Genetics and Biology of the Genus Escherichia and the Type Species Escherichia coli Journal: Canadian Journal of Microbiology Manuscript ID cjm-2020-0508.R1 Manuscript Type: Review Date Submitted by the 13-Feb-2021 Author: Complete List of Authors: Yu, Daniel ; University of Alberta School of Public Health, Room 357 South Academic Bldg, University of Alberta Banting, Graham; University of Alberta School of Public Health, Room 357 South Academic Bldg, University of Alberta Neumann, DraftNorman; University of Alberta School of Public Health, Room 357 South Academic Bldg, University of Alberta; Keyword: Escherichia coli, taxonomy, host specificity, ecotype, genetics Is the invited manuscript for consideration in a Special Not applicable (regular submission) Issue? : © The Author(s) or their Institution(s) Page 1 of 67 Canadian Journal of Microbiology A Review of the Taxonomy, Genetics and Biology of the Genus Escherichia and the Type Species Escherichia coli Daniel Yu1, Graham Banting1, and Norman F. Neumann1* 1School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G IC9 Draft * Corresponding Author: Dr. Norman F. Neumann Professor and Vice Dean School of Public Health Room 3-381 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. T6G 1C9 Email:
[email protected] 1 © The Author(s) or their Institution(s) Canadian Journal of Microbiology Page 2 of 67 ABSTRACT Historically, bacteriologists have relied heavily on biochemical and structural phenotypes for bacterial taxonomic classification. However, advances in comparative genomics has led to greater insights into the remarkable genetic diversity within the microbial world, and even within well-accepted species such as Escherichia coli.