Whole genome sequencing: a new paradigm in the surveillance and control of human tuberculosis

Abstract

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 Mycobacterium tuberculosis 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 <£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.