AUTHOR=Yek Christina , Pacheco Andrea R. , Vanaerschot Manu , Bohl Jennifer A. , Fahsbender Elizabeth , Aranda-Díaz Andrés , Lay Sreyngim , Chea Sophana , Oum Meng Heng , Lon Chanthap , Tato Cristina M. , Manning Jessica E. TITLE=Metagenomic pathogen sequencing in resource-scarce settings: Lessons learned and the road ahead JOURNAL=Frontiers in Epidemiology VOLUME=2 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/epidemiology/articles/10.3389/fepid.2022.926695 DOI=10.3389/fepid.2022.926695 ISSN=2674-1199 ABSTRACT=

Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is the process of sequencing all genetic material in a biological sample. The technique is growing in popularity with myriad applications including outbreak investigation, biosurveillance, and pathogen detection in clinical samples. However, mNGS programs are costly to build and maintain, and additional obstacles faced by low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) may further widen global inequities in mNGS capacity. Over the past two decades, several important infectious disease outbreaks have highlighted the importance of establishing widespread sequencing capacity to support rapid disease detection and containment at the source. Using lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, LMICs can leverage current momentum to design and build sustainable mNGS programs, which would form part of a global surveillance network crucial to the elimination of infectious diseases.