Open AccessDiscovering disease-causing pathogens in resource-scarce Southeast Asia using a global metagenomic pathogen monitoring system
Author(s) -
Jennifer A. Bohl,
Sreyngim Lay,
Sophana Chea,
Vida Ahyong,
Daniel M. Parker,
Shan Gallagher,
Jonathan Fintzi,
Somnang Man,
Aiyana Ponce,
Sokunthea Sreng,
Dara Kong,
Fabiano Oliveira,
Katrina Kalantar,
Michelle Tan,
Liz Fahsbender,
Jonathan Sheu,
Norma Neff,
Angela M. Detweiler,
Christina Yek,
Sokna Ly,
Rathanak Sath,
Chea Huch,
Hok Kry,
Rithea Leang,
Rekol Huy,
Chanthap Lon,
Cristina M. Tato,
Joseph L. DeRisi,
Jessica E. Manning
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2115285119
Subject(s) - metagenomics , outbreak , biology , identification (biology) , resource (disambiguation) , pathogen , disease , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , virology , medicine , computer science , genetics , computer network , gene , pathology
Significance Metagenomic pathogen sequencing offers an unbiased approach to characterizing febrile illness. In resource-scarce settings with high biodiversity, it is critical to identify disease-causing pathogens in order to understand burden and to prioritize efforts for control. Here, metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) characterization of the pathogen landscape in Cambodia revealed diverse vector-borne and zoonotic pathogens irrespective of age and gender as risk factors. Identification of key pathogens led to changes in national program surveillance. This study is a “real world” example of the use of mNGS surveillance of febrile individuals, executed in-country, to identify outbreaks of vector-borne, zoonotic, and other emerging pathogens in a resource-scarce setting.