In bioinformatics, the EzTaxon database is a web-based tool for the identification of prokaryotes based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences. EzTaxon is an open access database that is produced and maintained by ChunLab, Inc.
The EzTaxon database contains sequences of type strains of prokaryotic species with validly published names. Although EzTaxon is mainly used for the routine identification of prokaryotic isolates, sequences from uncultured taxa were not included. Thus in 2012, EzTaxon was extended to include uncultured prokaryotes and the name of the database was changed to EzTaxon-e.
Naming convention
Taxa names included in EzTaxon-e represent groups of uncultured sequences found in public domain databases. The names included in EzTaxon-e have no standing in formal nomenclature but they were created to help in the comparison of microbial communities and diversity in nature.