Characterization of NCDC Strain Repository by Next Gen Sequencing (NGS)
Abstract
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has been assisting country of Georgia National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) Genome Center Facility at the R. G. Lugar Center for Public Heath Research in developing Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and analytic capabilities. As the infrastructure is being established and personnel trained, LANL and NCDC-Lugar Center propose to develop scientific collaborations that utilize the capabilities at both institutes to address the global threat of weapons for mass destruction (WMD), focusing on biothreat agent detection and characterization. NCDC (formerly known as the Anti-Plague Center) holds extensive collections of pathogen strains from past several decades. We will determine the whole genome sequences of a subset of these collections, correlating genomic information with previous phenotypic and provenance data for functional characterization. Samples collected from both recent and historical local outbreaks as well as disparate geographic regions within Georgia will be compared to determine geographic and temporal profiles. Established correlation will help surveillance efforts and tracking of the most likely source of infection of future outbreaks, and contribute to a more global picture of novel pathogen movement across borders. We plan to leverage other US Government funded projects in Georgia in this joint NCDC-LANL effort, wherein tasks will be performed by NCDC and LANL staff at each site respectively with close coordination, and data analysis and interpretation will be carried out jointly. This project will rigorously exercise the genomic capabilities at NCDC, and will enhance and improve these capabilities. New laboratory sequencing techniques will be continuously introduced by LANL to NCDC to produce high quality genomic sequencing information. New assembly and analysis techniques will be provided by LANL. NCDC staff, as well as students involved in the project, will be trained to use these techniques with the data generated by the project.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 26, 2016
- Source ID
- HDTRA11510062
Entities
People
- Gvantsa Chanturia
Organizations
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- National Center for Disease Control and Public Health