How Does Long Read Sequencing Improve Pathogen Surveillance?
Pathogen surveillance is a critical aspect of epidemiology, and long read sequencing enhances this process in several ways:
1. Complete Genome Assembly: Long read sequencing can produce complete and contiguous genome assemblies, which are crucial for understanding the full genetic makeup of pathogens. This is particularly important for identifying virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes.
2. Detection of Structural Variants: Long read sequencing excels at identifying structural variants such as insertions, deletions, and inversions, which can be challenging to detect with short read technologies. These variants can play significant roles in pathogen virulence and evolution.
3. Improved Phylogenetic Analysis: With longer reads, it is easier to generate high-quality phylogenetic trees that can accurately depict the evolutionary relationships between different strains of a pathogen. This information is vital for tracking the spread of infectious diseases.
