YMS Series – WGS Analysis and Pathogens Research

On Wednesday, February 26, at 17:30 GMT+2 we will hear two talks on #WGS Analysis and #Pathogens Research:

Talk 1

Dr. Marius Surleac, "Decoding the Microbial Spectrum: Bioinformatic Approaches for Viruses, Bacteria and Fungi", National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Matei Bals" and The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest

Keywords: bioinformatics, sequencing, microbial, viruses, bacteria, fungi

Abstract: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized pathogen research by enabling rapid, high-throughput genome sequencing of viruses, bacteria and fungi. Bioinformatics plays a critical role in processing, analyzing and interpreting huge sequencing datasets, providing a foundation for comprehensive insights into pathogen evolution, epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance. These are key aspects that contribute to global public health and disease control. For viral bioinformatics, genome assembly, variant calling and phylogenetic analyses, among other approaches, are important in tracking outbreaks, identifying emerging strains, and understanding viral mutation rates. For bacterial sequencing bioinformatics, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is widely used for strain typing, resistance gene identification and outbreak surveillance. Comparative genomics and pan-genome analyses help elucidate bacterial adaptation mechanisms and other mechanisms that contribute to pathogenicity. Fungal bioinformatics faces unique challenges due to larger, more complex genomes, some of which carrying specific traits with yet unknown roles.

Resources:

• https://www.mariussurleac.com/about
• Gomolemo Magome et al. 2025, Frontiers in Microbiology
   

Talk 2

Liviu Rotaru, "Automated Analysis of Whole-Genome Sequencing Data for Pathogenic Bacteria", National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Matei Bals" and The Research Institute of the University of Bucharest

Link to details and registration -> https://rsbi.ro/evenimente/yms-series-wgs-analysis-and-pathogens-research/