Abstract
Changes in the Earth’s climate and weather continue to impact the planet’s ecosystems, including the interface of infectious disease agents with their hosts and vectors. Environmental disasters, natural and human-made activities raise risk factors that indirectly facilitate infectious disease outbreaks. Subsequently, changes in habitat, displaced populations, and environmental stresses that affect the survival of species are amplified over time. The recurrence and spread of vector-borne (e.g., mosquito, tick, aphid) human, animal, and plant pathogens to new geographic locations are also influenced by climate change. The distribution and range of humans, agricultural animals and plants, wildlife and native plants, as well as vectors, parasites, and microbes that cause neglected diseases of the tropics as well as other global regions are also impacted. In addition, genomic sequencing can now be applied to detect signatures of infectious pathogens as they move into new regions. Molecular detection assays complement metagenomic sequencing to help us understand the microbial community found within the microbiomes of hosts and vectors, and help us uncover mechanistic relationships between climate variability and pathogen transmission. Our understanding of, and responses to, such complex dynamics and their impacts can be enhanced through effective, multi-sectoral One Health engagement coupled with applications of both traditional and novel technologies. Concerted efforts are needed to further harness and leverage technology that can identify and track these impacts of climate changes in order to mitigate and adapt to their effects.
Highlights
As part of a panel discussion at the 2019 Sequencing, Finishing, and Analysis for the Future (SFAF) conference (21–23 May, 2019, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA), we explored the importance of using genomic sequencing in a One Health context to study climate change impacts on natural and managed ecosystems and their infectious diseases (Figure 1)
We summarize key discussion topics in which the application of genomic sequencing technologies can enhance our understanding of climate change and infectious diseases using a One Health approach
The topics included an array of scientific applications including current sequencing tools, genomics and environment, science of signatures and conservation genomics, plant ecosystems, a research case study, and outcomes of human behavior such as data and material sharing
Summary
As part of a panel discussion at the 2019 Sequencing, Finishing, and Analysis for the Future (SFAF) conference (21–23 May, 2019, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA), we explored the importance of using genomic sequencing in a One Health context to study climate change impacts on natural and managed ecosystems and their infectious diseases (Figure 1). Socio-economic, and political factors are considered together, climate change and its impacts can be thought of as “threat multipliers” [8,9] Addressing these challenges through a holistic One Health approach recognizes and integrates perspectives related to animals, humans, and environment [8]. Key to the environmental aspect of the One Health concept is the importance of plant systems, which provide food and fiber and support the economy, contributing to socio-economic and political stability [3,10] Both agricultural and environmental change are inextricably linked to climate change and, like higher vertebrate species, microbial pathogens will either adapt or not. Public-private partnerships will help to galvanize national government level activity with those of industry and civil society
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