Context: Genome surveillance offers essential insights for devising early response strategies, identifying emerging strains, and monitoring animal species. As a result, advanced genomic technologies like Metagenome sequencing are becoming a fundamental tool against future pathogens, enabling countries to be better prepared and respond effectively.
What is Genome sequencing?
- Genome sequencing is the process of determining the complete DNA sequence of an organism’s genome.
- The genome is the entire set of genetic material or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that carries the instructions necessary for the growth, development, functioning, and reproduction of an organism. It contains the information required to build and maintain an organism, including all its traits and characteristics.
- Genome sequencing involves deciphering the order of nucleotide bases (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, and Guanine) along a DNA strand.
- The DNA sequence is composed of a long string of these four bases, and the order in which they appear encodes the genetic information.
- Genome sequencing provides insights into an organism’s genetic makeup, helping scientists understand the genes, regulatory regions, and other functional elements that contribute to its biology.
Metagenomics vs Microbiology:
- Metagenomics is a field of molecular biology that involves studying genetic material (DNA or RNA) collected from environmental samples containing a mixture of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, and other microbes.
- Unlike traditional genomics which focuses on the DNA of a single organism, metagenomics aims to analyse the genetic diversity and functional potential of entire microbial communities present in a given environment.
- Microbiology is the broader field that studies individual microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and archaea. It relies on techniques to isolate and grow these microorganisms in controlled conditions in a laboratory for study in detail.
Metagenomics is revolutionising pathogen surveillance:
- Metagenome sequencing technology (metagenomics) has revolutionised pathogen surveillance.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, this method rapidly identified the virus by directly analysing genetic material from patient samples, without the need for traditional microbiology techniques.
- This approach, which can be used without prior knowledge of the infectious agent, led to a surge in genome sequencing, making SARS-CoV-2 one of the most sequenced organisms in history.
- Metagenomics changed how pathogens are identified, giving rise to technologies like the CovidSeq assay and global genome surveillance efforts like GISAID. This approach has also influenced public health policies based on genomic data.
- Countries like India established genome-sequencing programs for SARS-CoV-2, setting a model for using advanced genomic techniques in pathogen surveillance.
- The global deployment of genome sequencing infrastructure due to the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled rapid genomic surveillance of pathogens, aiding in early detection and response.
- Applications: Metagenomics has applications in environmental science (studying microbial communities in various ecosystems), bioremediation (using microbes to clean up pollutants), understanding the human microbiome (the collection of microbes in and on the human body), and discovering novel genes and enzymes with potential applications in medicine and industry.
