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Last Posted: Apr 17, 2024
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Concerted efforts toward genomic surveillance of viral pathogens in immunocompromised individuals.
Matheus Filgueira Bezerra et al. Lancet Microbe 2024 4

From the article: "A recent study underscores the crucial need to closely monitor immunocompromised individuals with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infections for emerging variants and investigate their phenotypic implications. Sequencing the genomes of the viruses from these cases would marginally elevate the cost in the whole COVID-19 genomic surveillance effort, and many countries with universal health systems could effectively integrate the tracking of prolonged COVID-19 infections in people living with HIV into their primary care programmes. "

Suddenly, It Looks Like We’re in a Golden Age for Medicine We may be on the cusp of an era of astonishing innovation — the limits of which aren’t even clear yet.
DW Wells, New York Times. June 23, 2023

And although the very first person to receive Crispr gene therapy in the United States received it just four years ago, for sickle-cell disease, it has since been rolled out for testing on congenital blindness, heart disease, diabetes, cancer and H.I.V. So far only two applications for such treatments have been submitted to the F.D.A., but all told, some 400 million people worldwide are afflicted by one or more diseases arising from single-gene mutations that would be theoretically simple for Crispr to fix.

WHO Introduces Worldwide Pathogen Surveillance Network
E Harris, JAMA, June 20, 2023

A global collaboration, known as the International Pathogen Surveillance Network, will harness pathogen genomics to improve disease surveillance and identify and respond to disease-causing agents before they become pandemics or epidemics, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced. The Network will connect members of different countries to improve sample collection and analysis and facilitate public health decision-making, among other goals. Pathogen genomics—which involves analyzing the genomes of viruses, bacteria, and other contagions to understand their infectivity, deadliness, and transmission—has played a key role in the world’s ability to respond to diseases, from COVID-19 to HIV.


Disclaimer: Articles listed in the Public Health Genomics and Precision Health Knowledge Base are selected by the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics to provide current awareness of the literature and news. Inclusion in the update does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does it imply endorsement of the article's methods or findings. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinion, findings and conclusions expressed by the original authors of items included in the update, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the opinion or views of CDC or DHHS. References to publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.

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