[Infectious diseases in the genomic era]

Area of Science:

• Genomics and Infectious Disease Research
• Microbiology and Epidemiology

Context:

• The advent of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies marks a significant shift, ushering in a "genomic era" for research and infectious disease surveillance.
• NGS is increasingly adopted in developed nations for clinical diagnostics, epidemiology, and microbiology, with progressive introduction in developing countries.
• Current NGS technologies offer whole-genome sequencing of bacterial and viral strains at approximately $100 USD, representing a substantial cost saving over older methods.

Purpose:

• To review recent publications on the application of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in critical areas of infectious disease research and public health.
• To highlight the utility of WGS in tracking foodborne outbreaks, building national genomic databases, investigating hospital-acquired infections, and aiding clinical diagnosis.

Summary:

• This review focuses on the practical applications of WGS, emphasizing its role in identifying and controlling outbreaks caused by pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
• It also covers the establishment of genomic databases for governmental use, the investigation of nosocomial infections, and the integration of WGS into clinical diagnostic workflows.
• The accessibility of WGS at a low cost facilitates its widespread adoption and utilization in diverse settings.

Impact:

• The genomic era, driven by NGS, provides powerful tools for understanding and combating infectious diseases.
• Leveraging the massive datasets generated by WGS can lead to improved public health outcomes for both humans and animals.
• WGS empowers researchers and public health officials with unprecedented genomic insights for disease prevention and control.