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Updated: Mar 16, 2026
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Isolation and Genome Analysis of Single Virions using 'Single Virus Genomics'
Published on: May 26, 2013
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Genomic Analysis of Viral Outbreaks
Shirlee Wohl1,2, Stephen F Schaffner1,2,3, Pardis C Sabeti1,2,3
1FAS Center for Systems Biology, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.
Annual Review of Virology
|August 9, 2016
Summary
Genomic analysis offers nucleotide-level insights into viral outbreaks, complementing traditional epidemiology. This review details sequencing and phylogenetic methods to understand disease origins and transmission dynamics for future outbreak responses.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Genomics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Viral disease outbreaks pose significant public health challenges.
- Traditional epidemiological methods can be enhanced by molecular data.
- Advancements in sequencing technology have made genomic analysis more accessible.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methods for utilizing genomic data in understanding viral disease outbreaks.
- To explain how viral sequencing and phylogenetic analysis can elucidate outbreak origins and transmission.
- To provide a resource for leveraging genomic information in future outbreak responses.
Main Methods:
- Viral sequencing techniques for pathogen characterization.
- Phylogenetic analysis to reconstruct evolutionary relationships.
- Transmission reconstruction to map disease spread.
- Evolutionary investigation of viral pathogens.
Main Results:
- Genomic analysis provides nucleotide-level resolution of outbreak pathogens.
- Methods described can answer questions about outbreak initiation and transmission.
- The review details current techniques in viral genomics for outbreak investigation.
Conclusions:
- Genomic data is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of viral disease outbreaks.
- The reviewed methods facilitate the investigation of pathogen origins and spread.
- This resource aims to improve responses to future viral disease outbreaks.
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