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Review
. 2017 Jun 8;22(23):30544.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2017.22.23.30544.

PulseNet International: Vision for the implementation of whole genome sequencing (WGS) for global food-borne disease surveillance

Celine Nadon  1   2 , Ivo Van Walle  2   3 , Peter Gerner-Smidt  4 , Josefina Campos  5 , Isabel Chinen  5 , Jeniffer Concepcion-Acevedo  4 , Brent Gilpin  6 , Anthony M Smith  7 , Kai Man Kam  8 , Enrique Perez  9 , Eija Trees  4 , Kristy Kubota  10 , Johanna Takkinen  3 , Eva Møller Nielsen  11 , Heather Carleton  4 ; FWD-NEXT Expert Panel  12
Collaborators, Affiliations
Review

PulseNet International: Vision for the implementation of whole genome sequencing (WGS) for global food-borne disease surveillance

Celine Nadon et al. Euro Surveill. .

Abstract

PulseNet International is a global network dedicated to laboratory-based surveillance for food-borne diseases. The network comprises the national and regional laboratory networks of Africa, Asia Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, and the United States. The PulseNet International vision is the standardised use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) to identify and subtype food-borne bacterial pathogens worldwide, replacing traditional methods to strengthen preparedness and response, reduce global social and economic disease burden, and save lives. To meet the needs of real-time surveillance, the PulseNet International network will standardise subtyping via WGS using whole genome multilocus sequence typing (wgMLST), which delivers sufficiently high resolution and epidemiological concordance, plus unambiguous nomenclature for the purposes of surveillance. Standardised protocols, validation studies, quality control programmes, database and nomenclature development, and training should support the implementation and decentralisation of WGS. Ideally, WGS data collected for surveillance purposes should be publicly available, in real time where possible, respecting data protection policies. WGS data are suitable for surveillance and outbreak purposes and for answering scientific questions pertaining to source attribution, antimicrobial resistance, transmission patterns, and virulence, which will further enable the protection and improvement of public health with respect to food-borne disease.

Keywords: Foodborne infections; laboratory surveillance; molecular methods; public health policy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of PulseNet International participating countries, May 2017
Figure 2
Figure 2
Potential solutions for computing and storage in PulseNet International laboratories, May 2017
Figure 3
Figure 3
Allele and strain nomenclature
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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