Whole genome sequencing: A new paradigm in the surveillance and control of human tuberculosis. Issue 2 (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hasnain, Seyed E.; O'Toole, Ronan F.; Grover, Sonam; Ehtesham, Nasreen Z.
• Is Part Of: Tuberculosis. Volume 95:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 91
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: 616.995
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2014.12.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1472-9792

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title id="sectitle0010">Summary</title> <sec> <p id="abspara0010">Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) is emerging as a very powerful tool for the management, outbreak analyses, surveillance and determining drug resistance of human infectious pathogens including <italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</italic> and MRSA. WGS can also discriminate relapse TB from re-infection and the resolution provided by WGS has no comparison to conventional technologies. With current cost coming down to &lt;£70 per bacterial genome, WGS has emerged as an alternative to all the existing technologies put together. We discuss the advantage and disadvantages of WGS and whether it can become a point of care tool in not just developed countries but also in developing countries which have a huge TB burden. The likely utility of WGS for other pathogens and also in characterizing holobionts is also discussed.</p> </sec> </abstract>