- Email: [email protected]
Metagenomics and molecular diagnostics for emerging infectious diseases
Abstracts / International Journal of Infectious Diseases 53S (2016) 4–163
Achieving Quality Data; Collaborating in Creating Data Sharing Agreements; Building Trust; Understanding the Legal Context; and Monitoring and Evaluation. Each of these incorporates the ethical concepts most relevant to data sharing, namely: social beneficence, respect, justice and transparency. The findings from the Chatham House research will be discussed in the context of Digital Disease Detection and Big Data. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.067 13.003 Round Table Discussion: Data Sharing and Ethics of Big Data
have had the most success with reemerging viral diseases for which vaccines already exist such as yellow fever or polio where novel vaccine strategies can be employed to contain outbreaks. Also, there are some emerging viral infections such as avian influenza for which licensed antivirals are likely to have some efficacy. Many investigators are exploring re-purposing already licensed drugs for use in emerging viral infections and this has the potential to make a difference. With the increasing armamentarium of therapeutic agents targeting chronic viral infections such as hepatitis or HIV, there is the hope that some of these agents may be active against novel emerging viral infections. The use of high throughput screens and in silico models also promises to aid in the development of novel therapeutics.
V. Moorthy
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.070
World Health Organization, Geneva/CH
14.003
no abstract submitted by submitter http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.068 14.001 Metagenomics and molecular diagnostics for emerging infectious diseases E. Rubin Metabiota, San Francisco, CA/US The genomic revolution that began with the completion of the human genome program continues. The acceleration in DNA sequencing throughput and decrease in cost position us to increasingly consider unbiased metagenomics analysis as a diagnostic tool for emerging infectious disease. I will describe the trajectory of genomic technologies and their future application to the metagenomic based diagnosis of emerging infectious diseases. In addition, I will describe our analysis of metagenomic sequence data from environmental samples to identified infectious disease outbreaks in the past and to dramatically increase our knowledge of the Earth’s DNA virome. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.069
Communicating during outbreaks: What works, what doesn’t H. Branswell STAT, Boston, MA/US Emerging and re-emerging disease outbreaks are by their very nature times of high stakes and high stress, situations demanding clear and timely communications between health authorities and the public, through their surrogate, the media. Each outbreak has its unique characteristics and communications quandaries, whether that’s the efficient hospital spread of SARS and MERS, the fear factor of Ebola or the unexpected sexual transmission of Zika. However, fast-changing facts and the crush of interest from a multitude of media outlets makes keeping the public apprised a daunting task. In a rapidly transforming media universe, the ranks of specialist reporters upon whom public health officials have relied are dwindling. Conversely the power of social media – with its astounding reach and lack of filters – is surging. But with that power comes peril. Tweeter is like RNA viruses – lacks a correct function and can spin a story in unexpected and unfortunate directions. These evolving communications channels are creating both new opportunities and substantial challenges for those attempting to keep the public apprised of an ongoing outbreak.
14.002 Therapeutic considerations for emerging viral infections P.A. Tambyah National University Health System, Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine., Singapore/SG Emerging viral infections by definition present a huge challenge for the development of therapeutics and vaccines. Our track record in the development of novel therapeutics for emerging viral infections is not good. Part of the reason is related to the need to isolate the virus, define its laboratory safety level and develop practical cell culture and animal models to understand the behaviour of the virus before even considering the development of therapeutics. In the modern era of molecular diagnostics, many laboratories especially in low and middle income countries may not be equipped to do these. Laboratory safety is a major concern especially with completely novel infections as there have been laboratory acquired infections in the past most notably with SARS. Animal models can also be a challenge to develop as many viral infections to date do not have very good animal models that replicate human disease. We
25
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.071
Achieving Quality Data; Collaborating in Creating Data Sharing Agreements; Building Trust; Understanding the Legal Context; and Monitoring and Evaluation. Each of these incorporates the ethical concepts most relevant to data sharing, namely: social beneficence, respect, justice and transparency. The findings from the Chatham House research will be discussed in the context of Digital Disease Detection and Big Data. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.067 13.003 Round Table Discussion: Data Sharing and Ethics of Big Data
have had the most success with reemerging viral diseases for which vaccines already exist such as yellow fever or polio where novel vaccine strategies can be employed to contain outbreaks. Also, there are some emerging viral infections such as avian influenza for which licensed antivirals are likely to have some efficacy. Many investigators are exploring re-purposing already licensed drugs for use in emerging viral infections and this has the potential to make a difference. With the increasing armamentarium of therapeutic agents targeting chronic viral infections such as hepatitis or HIV, there is the hope that some of these agents may be active against novel emerging viral infections. The use of high throughput screens and in silico models also promises to aid in the development of novel therapeutics.
V. Moorthy
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.070
World Health Organization, Geneva/CH
14.003
no abstract submitted by submitter http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.068 14.001 Metagenomics and molecular diagnostics for emerging infectious diseases E. Rubin Metabiota, San Francisco, CA/US The genomic revolution that began with the completion of the human genome program continues. The acceleration in DNA sequencing throughput and decrease in cost position us to increasingly consider unbiased metagenomics analysis as a diagnostic tool for emerging infectious disease. I will describe the trajectory of genomic technologies and their future application to the metagenomic based diagnosis of emerging infectious diseases. In addition, I will describe our analysis of metagenomic sequence data from environmental samples to identified infectious disease outbreaks in the past and to dramatically increase our knowledge of the Earth’s DNA virome. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.069
Communicating during outbreaks: What works, what doesn’t H. Branswell STAT, Boston, MA/US Emerging and re-emerging disease outbreaks are by their very nature times of high stakes and high stress, situations demanding clear and timely communications between health authorities and the public, through their surrogate, the media. Each outbreak has its unique characteristics and communications quandaries, whether that’s the efficient hospital spread of SARS and MERS, the fear factor of Ebola or the unexpected sexual transmission of Zika. However, fast-changing facts and the crush of interest from a multitude of media outlets makes keeping the public apprised a daunting task. In a rapidly transforming media universe, the ranks of specialist reporters upon whom public health officials have relied are dwindling. Conversely the power of social media – with its astounding reach and lack of filters – is surging. But with that power comes peril. Tweeter is like RNA viruses – lacks a correct function and can spin a story in unexpected and unfortunate directions. These evolving communications channels are creating both new opportunities and substantial challenges for those attempting to keep the public apprised of an ongoing outbreak.
14.002 Therapeutic considerations for emerging viral infections P.A. Tambyah National University Health System, Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Medicine., Singapore/SG Emerging viral infections by definition present a huge challenge for the development of therapeutics and vaccines. Our track record in the development of novel therapeutics for emerging viral infections is not good. Part of the reason is related to the need to isolate the virus, define its laboratory safety level and develop practical cell culture and animal models to understand the behaviour of the virus before even considering the development of therapeutics. In the modern era of molecular diagnostics, many laboratories especially in low and middle income countries may not be equipped to do these. Laboratory safety is a major concern especially with completely novel infections as there have been laboratory acquired infections in the past most notably with SARS. Animal models can also be a challenge to develop as many viral infections to date do not have very good animal models that replicate human disease. We
25
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2016.11.071