NGS Applications in Biodefense: Biosurveillance, Forensics, and Biothreat Diagnostics
This review evaluates next-generation sequencing technologies across three biodefense applications: biosurveillance for emerging pathogen detection, bioforensics for source attribution in outbreak investigations, and clinical diagnostics of biowarfare agents. The authors highlight NGS advantages over targeted PCR assays, including near-unlimited multiplexing without a priori pathogen knowledge. Key challenges discussed include analytical specificity limitations and the need for validated bioinformatics pipelines to meet evidentiary and clinical standards.
The original study
Next-Generation Sequencing for Biodefense: Biothreat Detection, Forensics, and the Clinic.
- Authors
- Minogue TD, Koehler JW, Stefan CP, Conrad TA
- Journal
- Clinical chemistry
- Type
- Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Review
- PMID
- 30352865
Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is revolutionizing a variety of molecular biology fields including bioforensics, biosurveillance, and infectious disease diagnostics. For pathogen detection, the ability to sequence all nucleic acids in a sample allows near limitless multiplexability, free from a priori knowledge regarding an etiologic agent as is typically required for targeted molecular assays such as real-time PCR. Furthermore, sequencing capabilities can generate in depth genomic information, allowing detailed molecular epidemiological studies and bioforensics analysis, which is critical for source agent identification in a biothreat outbreak. However, lack of analytical specificity, inherent to NGS, presents challenges for regulated applications such as clinical diagnostics and molecular attribution. CONTENT: Here, we discuss NGS applications in the context of preparedness and biothreat readiness. Specifically, we investigate current and future applications of NGS technologies to affect the fields of biosurveillance, bioforensics, and clinical diagnostics with specific focus on biodefense. SUMMARY: Overall, there are many advantages to the implementation of NGS for preparedness and readiness against biowarfare agents, from forensics to diagnostics. However, appropriate caveats must be associated with any technology. This includes NGS. While NGS is not the panacea replacing all molecular techniques, it will greatly enhance the ability to detect, characterize, and diagnose biowarfare agents, thus providing an excellent addition to the biodefense toolbox of biosurveillance, bioforensics, and biothreat diagnosis.