Leading infectious disease researchers and pharmaceutical scientists comprehensively review the latest genomic technologies and their application to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The authors' cross-disciplinary approach, with expertise acquired from studying disease-causing viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, reveals how sequence information from diverse pathogens has uncovered novel targets for drug discovery, antigenic determinants for vaccine development, as well as diagnostic tools. The authors also discuss the application of DNA micoarrays and the impact of genome sequencing comparisons on the discovery and choices of novel drug targets. The result is a better understanding how genomic information can reveal the fundamentals of microbial pathogenesis and how organisms interact with their host environment.

This book provides a timely and thorough snapshot into the emerging and fast evolving area of applied genomics of foodborne pathogens. Driven by the drastic advance of whole genome shot gun sequencing (WGS) technologies, genomics applications are becoming increasingly valuable and even essential in studying, surveying and controlling foodborne microbial pathogens. The vast opportunities brought by this trend are often at odds with the lack of bioinformatics know-how among food safety and public health professionals, since such expertise is not part of a typical food microbiology curriculum and skill set. Further complicating the challenge is the large and ever evolving body of bioinformatics tools that can obfuscate newcomers to this area. Although reviews, tutorials and books are not in short supply in the fields of bioinformatics and genomics, until now there has not been a comprehensive and customized source of information designed for and accessible to microbiologists interested in applying cutting-edge genomics in food safety and public health research. This book fills this void with a well-selected collection of topics, case studies, and bioinformatics tools contributed by experts at the forefront of foodborne pathogen genomics research.

Foodborne illnesses caused by various bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens lead to a high number of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. and throughout the world. Recent advances in microbial genomics have significantly improved our understanding of the physiology, evolution, ecology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of different foodborne pathogens. This book focuses on the genomics of foodborne bacterial pathogens. It begins with a brief overview of the recent advances in microbial genomics and the impact of genomics on food safety research. Then, eight chapters follow that elaborate some in-depth reviews on the genomics of several common foodborne bacterial pathogens including Bacillus, Campylobacter, Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Listeria, Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Vibrio. Finally, the last four chapters focus on some current genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic technologies and their applications in studying the epidemiology, evolution, and pathogenesis of foodborne bacterial pathogens. Genomics of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens can be used as a reference by scientists and professionals in academia, government, and industry who are interested in understanding microbial genomics and using genomics tools to study foodborne bacterial pathogens. This book can also be used as a textbook for instructors and professors who teach food microbiology or microbial genomics-related courses at the post-graduate level.

Within the last 30 years, the genomes of thousands of organisms, from viruses, to bacteria, to humans, have been sequenced or partially sequenced and deposited in databases freely accessible to scientists around the world. This information is accelerating scientists' ability to fight disease and make other medical advances, but policymakers must consider the possibility that the information could also be used for destructive purposes in acts of bioterrorism or war. Based in part on views from working biological scientists, the report concludes that current policies that allow scientists and the public unrestricted access to genome data on microbial pathogens should not be changed. Because access improves our ability to fight both bioterrorism and naturally occurring infectious diseases, security against bioterrorism is better served by policies that facilitate, not limit, the free flow of this information.

Genomic Surveillance and Pandemic Preparedness offers practical, in-depth instruction in where, how, and why genomic surveillance may be applied. Drawing heavily from the learnings during the COVID-19 pandemic, this book covers different aspects of microbes with a focus on viral genome sequencing and analysis, implementation and inference of genomic surveillance, and global data sharing best practices for future pandemic preparedness. Here, more than a dozen international authors consider host and pathogen genome interaction, population-level prevalence, individual disease susceptibility and gene protection, pathogen mutation evolutionary dynamics, RNA modulation of infection, pathogen diversity, and the role of coinfections and comorbidities in disease severity. A wide range of examples, from bacterial pathogens to fungal and viral infections, with an emphasis on recent COVID-19 analysis, are discussed. Finally, the authors provide step-by-step instruction in experimental and computational approaches for genomic surveillance, including nucleic acid isolation, sequencing library preparation, functional sequencing analysis, and bioinformatics pipelines. Throughout this book, importance is placed on inference—moving from genomic sequencing to meaningful genomic surveillance that bolsters pandemic preparedness. Highlights different aspects of genomic surveillance, from theory to implementation to inferences Covers a broad range of infectious diseases, with emphasis on recent COVID-19 studies Shares methods and approaches for sequencing-based pathogen detection, diagnostics, and surveillance Facilitates international collaboration in drug and vaccine development

Genetics and Evolution of Infectious Diseases, Third Edition discusses the evolving field of infectious diseases and their continued impact on the health of populations, especially in resource-limited areas of the world where they must confront the dual burden of death and disability due to infectious and chronic illnesses. Although substantial gains have been made in public health interventions for the treatment, prevention, and control of infectious diseases, in recent decades the world has witnessed the emergence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing antimicrobial resistance, and the emergence of many new bacterial, fungal, parasitic, and viral pathogens. Fully updated and revised, this new edition presents the consequences of such diseases, the evolution of infectious diseases, the genetics of host-pathogen relationship, and the control and prevention strategies that are, or can be, developed. This book offers valuable information to biomedical researchers, clinicians, public health practitioners, decisions-makers, and students and postgraduates studying infectious diseases, microbiology, medicine, and public health that is relevant to the control and prevention of neglected and emerging worldwide diseases. Takes an integrated approach to infectious diseases Provides the latest developments in the field of infectious diseases Focuses on the contribution of evolutionary and genomic studies for the study and control of transmissible diseases Includes updated and revised contributions from leading authorities, along with six new chapters