The Revolutionizing Prospects Of Next Generation DNA Sequencing Of Microorganisms For Microbiological And AMR Identification And Characterization-The GMI Singapore Sequencing Statement

Abstract

Revolutionizing Next of Microorganisms for Identification and Characterization-the GMI Sequencing Abstract A cascade of technological DNA sequencing advancements has decreased the cost of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) very fast. At the same time, the enormous potential of WGS in the surveillance of microorganisms and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is increasingly realized. One Health Solutions-based on cross-sectoral typing and source attribution are increasingly spreading in relation to foodborne disease and AMR prevention. Collaboration for disease prevention between human, veterinary and food sectors is already instituted in some countries and has in some cases resulted in significant reduction in foodborne disease risk, as well as AMR risk. The success of One Health risk mitigation is to a large part based on the potential to link relevant microbiological data from different sectors (animal, food and human) as the basis for science-based decision support to reduce the risk of foodborne diseases and AMR. Such linkage is only possible if the methodologies used, or at least the outcome microbiological characterizations, are comparable. While this has been a major problem in the past, novel DNA sequencing methodologies are now providing promising new potential. The case is made for the potential to develop a global, equitable system of whole microbial genome databases to aggregate, share, mine and use microbiological genomic data, to address global food safety and public health challenges and most importantly to reduce foodborne and infectious disease burden.