AmpliFuse: an amplicon simulation tool with enhanced chimera generation for Illumina platforms

PCR-generated chimeric amplicons undermine the accuracy and reliability of subsequent amplicon-sequencing analyses. AmpliFuse, a Python-based tool, simulates realistic amplicon datasets through <i>in silico</i> PCR, chimera formation, and read simulation. By providing biologically relevant chimera-containing amplicon reads, AmpliFuse would facilitate benchmarking of chimera-detection algorithms and workflows, advancing microbiome and AMR research.