Large-Scale Microbial Genomics and Host/Microbe Interactions

Whole genome sequencing is now being used to examine foodborne pathogen outbreaks in the food supply around the world. This approach and new role for whole genome sequencing to create large scale databases is possible due to the low cost of DNA sequencing and the rapid pace of sequence production. To increase the reliability of the comparisons between strains a collaborative project was stated to produce a reference genome database via the 100K Pathogen Genome Sequencing Project, a novel partnership between public, private, and government agencies is a mechanism to provide advanced tools for food safety for advanced large-scale genomic analysis that will advance food safety. Use of this database is also creating new opportunities to examine host/microbe interactions new infection systems that are discovering new metabolism, infection routes, and inflammation pathways when bacteria interact with stem cells. Association of bacteria with stem cells is providing new insights via RNAseq methods to find that known pathogens do not kill stem cells, but rather modulate their activity to become anti-inflammatory. Specific mechanisms and pathways impinged by bacterial association will be discussed in the context of population scale microbial genomics and host association.