Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is
a laboratory technique which is revolutionizing public health and more
specifically the control and prevention of foodborne diseases. WGS is useful
for understanding foodborne diseases through enhancing routine surveillance,
outbreak detection, outbreak response and for source identification using a One
Health approach, given its potential to change how we detect and monitor
microbial hazards in the food chain, as well as how we assess, investigate and
manage food safety risks.
It is anticipated that this new technology will help reducing the burden of foodborne diseases, given its advantages over previous low-resolution typing and detection methods. The World Health Organization (WHO) will launch on 6 July 2023 the guidance document, “Whole genome sequencing as a tool to strengthen foodborne disease surveillance and response”, which outlines the capacities that need to be in place before WGS can be useful for foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response; options for implementing WGS; and how to integrate WGS within existing systems.
This webinar will showcase the upcoming publication, and describe real-life experiences utilizing this technology.
The session is part of WHO’s Health Talks on Food Safety hosted by the Food Safety Community of Practice on the occasion of celebrating World Food Safety Day.
Moderator
Ms Yuki Minato, Technical Officer, Monitoring Nutrition and Food Safety, WHO Department of Nutrition and Food Safety
Speakers
- Dr Kirsty Hope, Manager, Foodborne and Waterborne Diseases and One Health Branch, Health Protection New South Wales, Australia
- Dr Eric Brown, Director, Division of Microbiology, Office of Regulatory Science, Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, United States Food & Drug Administration, United States of America
- Dr Mustafizur Rahman, Senior Scientist and Head of the Genomics Centre and Virology Laboratory, ICDDR Bangladesh
- Dr Josefina Campos, Director of the National Genomics and Bioinformatics Center at ANLIS Malbrán, Argentina
- Dr Vaseeharan Sathiyamoorthy, Senior Advisor, Department of Research for Health, Science Division, WHO headquarters, Switzerland
Speaker biographies: https://sway.office.com/tdEbhvqVXFFmQbKN?ref=Link
Agenda (CEST)
| 13:00 – 13:05 | Opening and introduction – Ms Yuki Minato |
| 13:05 – 13:20 | The WHO guidance document “Whole genome sequencing as a tool to strengthen foodborne disease surveillance and response” – Dr Kirsty Hope |
| 13:20 – 13:30 | How whole genome sequencing has transformed FDA’s microbiological food safety program: Important highlights from the GenomeTrakr WGS Network – Dr Eric Brown |
| 13:30 – 13:40 | Whole genome sequencing of foodborne pathogens in Bangladesh: Opportunities and challenges – Dr Mustafizur Rahman |
| 13:40 – 13:50 | Genomic surveillance of foodborne pathogens: changing the paradigm after COVID-19 in Argentina – Dr Josefina Campos |
| 13:50 – 14:00 | WHO guiding principles for pathogen genome data sharing – Dr Vaseeharan Sathiyamoorthy |
| 14:00 – 14:08 | Questions and answers |
| 14:08 - 14:10 | Closing |