Outbreak Detectives Embrace The Genome Era.

KEIM, Paul; AARESTRUP, Frank; SCHLUNDT, Jorgen

The article discusses the use of whole-genome sequencing of bacteria identify strains of bacteria and find the source of disease outbreaks. Genomes have helped scientists to study outbreaks of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Vibrio cholerae. At a meeting in Brussels, Belgium scientists proposed the development of a global system which would allow scientists to access genetic information for many microorganisms. Scientists from the Center for Genomic Epidemiology (CGE) including Jørgen Schlundt and Frank Aarestrup as well as epidemiologists and geneticists including Paul Keim discuss who could host the database, incentives for doctors who participate, and integrating genomic technology into health care.