Pathogen genomics has revolutionised our understanding of infectious disease. From a situation where the sequencing and annotation of a bacterial genome was a major technical feat costing € millions, we can now cheaply sequence hundreds of bacterial genomes in a matter of days. From being limited to sequencing pure cultures, we can now determine the genetic make-up of entire microbial populations. The challenge now is to maximise the use and usability of this data to the full.
Research groups within the Pathogen Genomics subtheme are exploring topics such as pathogen molecular epidemiology, tracking the dispersal of pathogens and identifying their source; identifying how the microbiome modulates the host; and defining the evolution of pathogens and the rise of antimicrobial resistance. The development of novel computational approaches to interrogate genomics data will also facilitate integration of multi-omics data sets and spatial/temporal epidemiological metadata.
The COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for novel approaches to control emerging and existing pathogens, and to understand how pathogens modulate host immunity. A PhD in Pathogen Genomics will train you to address the current and future challenges of infectious disease.
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