0
0
A global team of researchers is advocating for leveraging genomic surveillance as a crucial tool to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a pressing global issue that could potentially surpass the toll of deaths caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
AMR is already accountable for significant illness and fatalities worldwide, claiming around 1.27 million lives in 2019. Projections indicate that by 2050, this resistance could lead to as many as 10 million deaths annually.
Genomic surveillance played a pivotal role during the Covid-19 crisis, aiding in comprehending the evolution and transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Professor Sharon Peacock from the University of Cambridge in the UK highlighted, “Antibiotics have revolutionized our capacity to combat infections and reduce mortality over the past century. However, bacteria are progressively developing resistance, and with a limited supply of new antibiotics, we face the risk of regressing to an era where infections become untreatable.”
Peacock emphasized the power of genomic surveillance demonstrated during the Covid-19 pandemic, stemming from its expanding utility in practical scenarios like identifying outbreaks in hospitals, communities, and even in tracing foodborne outbreaks. She stressed the need to harness lessons from the pandemic’s bold and extensive genomic surveillance and apply them to address the intricate challenge of AMR.
The genome, encoded in DNA or RNA, comprises a sequence of nucleotides. Errors can emerge each time the genome replicates, such as interchanging A, C, G, and T nucleotides in DNA.
These alterations enable scientists to construct lineages or family trees illustrating the genome’s evolution and spread. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, this helped identify infection sources, detect “variants of concern,” and assess the efficacy of public health measures like lockdowns, travel restrictions, and vaccinations.
The potential for enhancing surveillance of AMR pathogens is considered even more substantial than for SARS-CoV-2. Genome data can identify and monitor outbreaks, predict effective antibiotic treatments, uncover resistance mechanisms like mutations and the acquisition of new DNA, and elucidate the transfer of resistance mechanisms between bacteria.
Professor Kate Baker of the University of Cambridge emphasized the imminent realization of genomics’ potential in tackling AMR but stressed the necessity for concerted efforts among scientific, public health, and political domains. She highlighted that AMR is an urgent issue requiring immediate attention, happening in the present rather than a distant future.
