The genomes of more than 3,000 bacteria, including some of the
world’s most dangerous, have been sequenced by researchers at the
Wellcome Sanger Institute in collaboration with Pacific Biosciences
(PacBio). Infecting tens of millions of people worldwide every
year, these bacteria have been collected by the National Collection
of Type Cultures (NCTC) and include deadly strains of plague,
dysentery and cholera.
By decoding the DNA, researchers will be able to better
understand these diseases and how they become resistant to
antibiotics. The publicly available genomic maps could also lead to
the development of new diagnostic tests, vaccines or
treatments.
Set up in 1920, the NCTC is the longest established collection
of bacteria in the world. With more than 5,500 species of bacteria
so far, the NCTC is also one of the world’s largest collections of
clinically relevant bacteria. It is used extensively by researchers
who are comparing historical and modern strains to advance global
knowledge about the epidemiology, virulence, prevention and
treatment of infectious diseases.
Antibiotic resistance is a significant problem globally and the
collection includes some of the most important known drug-resistant
bacteria. These include tuberculosis, one of the top ten causes of
death worldwide, infecting 10.4 million and killing 1.7 million
people in 2016 alone*, and gonorrhoea, the sexually transmitted
disease that infects 78 million people a year** and is now becoming
extremely difficult to treat. The NCTC also contains samples of
methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is
resistant to multiple antibiotics and which can cause
life-threatening infections in hospitals.
The genetic study of these strains will help researchers to
understand the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, and to look for
any cracks in their armour to enable treatment.
All ‘type strains’ of bacteria in the collection, the first
strains that describe the species and are used to classify them,
were sequenced as part of this initiative. The genome sequences of
these highly valuable strains are fundamental for developing ways
to identify specific infections in people, including tests
diagnosing bacterial infections in the field to rapidly identify
the source of an outbreak and help contain infections.
Amongst the many historically important strains in the
collection are 16 deposited by penicillin discoverer Alexander
Fleming, including a sample taken from his own nose. Also notable
is the first bacteria to be deposited in the NCTC: A strain of
dysentery-causing Shigella flexneri that was isolated in 1915 from
a soldier in the trenches of World War 1***.
Dr Julian Parkhill from the Wellcome Sanger Institute said:
“Historical collections such at the NCTC are of enormous value in
understanding current pathogens. Knowing very accurately what
bacteria looked like before and during the introduction of
antibiotics and vaccines, and comparing them to current strains
from the same collection, shows us how they have responded to these
treatments. This in turn helps us develop new antibiotics and
vaccines. PacBio’s comprehensive DNA sequencing enables deep
genomic analyses, and we are happy to be partnering with them for
this important project.”
Jonas Korlach, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of PacBio,
said: “The high-quality genomic maps enabled by SMRT®
Sequencing allow an unprecedented understanding of these bacteria.
We are delighted to be chosen by institutions like Wellcome Sanger
to help create such essential resources for the scientific and
public health communities.”
Dr Julie Russell, Head of Culture Collections, which is operated
by the National Infection Service of Public Health England, said:
“This resource is a vital tool for public health and by sequencing
the bacteria, we have made the NCTC collection ready for the 21st
century so that the research community can track and understand the
bacteria. With this collection, we are providing tools for tracing
infections, and identifying outbreaks of resistant bacteria,
transforming public health in the UK.”
Going forward, all the bacterial species in the NCTC collection
will be sequenced as they are collected. Researchers can order
bacterial strains from the NCTC website at:
https://www.phe-culturecollections.org.uk/collections/nctc.aspx.
Full information about each strain, including the DNA sequences,
are available at EMBL-EBI:
https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ena/data/view/PRJEB6403.
Contact details:For Wellcome Trust Sanger
InstituteDr Samantha Wynne, Press Office, Hinxton,
Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK Tel +44
(0)1223 492368 Email press.office@sanger.ac.uk
For PacBio:Media: Nicole Litchfield Tel
+1.415.793.6468 Email
nicole@bioscribe.com
Investors: Trevin Rard Tel
+1.650.521.8450 Email ir@pacificbiosciences.com
Notes to editors:*WHO figures
http://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis**
WHO figures Each year, an estimated 78 million people are
infected with
gonorrhoea*.http://www.who.int/en/news-room/detail/07-07-2017-antibiotic-resistant-gonorrhoea-on-the-rise-new-drugs-needed
*** By sequencing a strain of dysentery-causing Shigella
flexneri that was isolated in 1915 from a soldier in the trenches
of World War 1 and comparing it to three other strains isolated in
1954, 1984 and 2002, researchers were able to determine an
evolutionary pattern of the disease and learn about its virulence
and antibiotic resistance.
https://www.sanger.ac.uk/news/view/2014-11-07-world-war-i-soldier-helps-in-fight-against-dysentery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-fbd9JpiMs
Funding: This project was supported by
Wellcome and Pacific Biosciences.
Selected websites:
The National Collection of Type CulturesNCTC is one of four
culture collections that constitute the Culture Collections of
Public Health England and has access to the wide-ranging expertise
of an internationally-renowned body of specialists in clinical,
food, water and environmental microbiology, genomics and
proteomics.
NCTC supplies reference bacterial cultures, including many type
strains, of medical, scientific and veterinary importance
worldwide. NCTC strains support academic, health, food and
veterinary institutions and are used in microbiology laboratories
in a range of different sectors and in research institutes
worldwide. Founded in 1920, NCTC is the longest-established
collection of its type anywhere in the world, and also serves as a
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) Microbial Resource Centre (MIRCEN). Find out more at
www.phe-culturecollections.org.uk/nctc or follow us on Twitter
@NCTC_3000
About Pacific Biosciences
Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (NASDAQ:PACB) offers
sequencing systems to help scientists resolve genetically complex
problems. Based on its novel Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT®)
technology, Pacific Biosciences’ products enable: de novo genome
assembly to finish genomes in order to more fully identify,
annotate and decipher genomic structures; full-length transcript
analysis to improve annotations in reference genomes, characterize
alternatively spliced isoforms in important gene families, and find
novel genes; targeted sequencing to more comprehensively
characterize genetic variations; and real-time kinetic information
for epigenome characterization. Pacific Biosciences’ technology
provides high accuracy, ultra-long reads, uniform coverage, and the
ability to simultaneously detect epigenetic changes. PacBio®
sequencing systems, including consumables and software, provide a
simple, fast, end-to-end workflow for SMRT Sequencing. More
information is available at www.pacb.com.
The Wellcome Sanger Institute
The Wellcome Sanger Institute is one of the world's leading
genome centres. Through its ability to conduct research at scale,
it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects
that are designed to influence and empower medical science
globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own
research programmes and through its leading role in international
consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments
for human disease. To celebrate its 25th year in 2018, the
Institute is sequencing 25 new genomes of species in the UK. Find
out more at www.sanger.ac.uk or
follow @sangerinstitute
Wellcome
Wellcome exists to improve health for everyone by helping great
ideas to thrive. We’re a global charitable foundation, both
politically and financially independent. We support scientists and
researchers, take on big problems, fuel imaginations and spark
debate. www.wellcome.ac.uk
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that are not historical are
forward-looking statements, including, among other things,
statements relating to the expected benefits of the collaboration
between Pacific Biosciences and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the
suitability of products or technologies for particular
applications, future availability, uses, quality or performance of,
or benefits of using, products or technologies, and other future
events. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements because they involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties, changes in circumstances and other factors that are,
in some cases, beyond Pacific Biosciences’ control and could cause
actual results to differ materially from the information expressed
or implied by forward-looking statements made in this press
release. Factors that could materially affect actual results can be
found in Pacific Biosciences’ most recent filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Pacific
Biosciences’ most recent reports on Forms 8-K, 10-K and 10-Q, and
include those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.” Pacific
Biosciences undertakes no obligation to revise or update
information in this press release to reflect events or
circumstances in the future, even if new information becomes
available.
Pacific Biosciences of C... (NASDAQ:PACB)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2024 to May 2024
Pacific Biosciences of C... (NASDAQ:PACB)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2023 to May 2024