title: Whole-genome sequencing in outbreak analysis.
abstract: In addition to the ever-present concern of medical professionals about epidemics of infectious diseases, the relative ease of access and low cost of obtaining, producing, and disseminating pathogenic organisms or biological toxins mean that bioterrorism activity should also be considered when facing a disease outbreak. Utilization of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in outbreak analysis facilitates the rapid and accurate identification of virulence factors of the pathogen and can be used to identify the path of disease transmission within a population and provide information on the probable source. Molecular tools such as WGS are being refined and advanced at a rapid pace to provide robust and higher-resolution methods for identifying, comparing, and classifying pathogenic organisms. If these methods of pathogen characterization are properly applied, they will enable an improved public health response whether a disease outbreak was initiated by natural events or by accidental or deliberate human activity. The current application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology to microbial WGS and microbial forensics is reviewed.
authors: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA cg2p@virginia.edu.
authors: Carol A
authors: CA
authors: Gilchrist
authors: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors: Stephen D
authors: SD
authors: Turner
authors: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA School of Law, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors: Margaret F
authors: MF
authors: Riley
authors: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: Petri
authors: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
authors: Erik L
authors: EL
authors: Hewlett
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D064349:Genome, Microbial / Q000235:genetics*