There are
many researchers in the field of pathogen genomics. Pathogen genomics, also
known as Pathogenomics, is the utilization gene sequencing and phenotyping in order
to understand microbe diversity and interactions. Pathogenomics can tell us
many things such as, pathogen variations, virulence and transmission factors,
as well as evolutionary features of pathogenicity. A key researcher in
Pathogenomics is Dr. Julian Parkhill.
 |
| Dr. Julian Parkhill |
Who is he?
Dr. Julian
Parkhill is modern day scientist and the head of Pathogenomics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in
Cambridge, UK. Parkhill received his PhD from the University of Bristol in
1991. He specialized in research of bacterial resistance to mercury and copper.
Approach
to Research
Parkhill’s
research team at the takes a “broad and deep” approach to their analysis of
pathogen genomes. By “broad,” it is meant that they analyze a wide variety of
human and animal pathogens. They take this approach because it allows them to
study the wide variety of both human and animal pathogens in order to study the
wide variety of mechanisms used to both infect a host and cause disease. This
study technique allows researchers to compare and contrast specific characteristics
at the core of pathogens allowing them to analyze functions responsible for
interaction to specific hosts.
The “deep” aspect refers to the numerous characteristics associated with very closely related strains in a given species, or group of species. Bacteria have many different characteristics, which allows them to be so versatile and come in so many different varieties. Examining in such detail allows Parkhill’s team to draw inferences on questions such as: How or why do pathogens select certain hosts? How have they evolved? Does variation correspond with virulence? These aspects also play certain roles in transmission and treatment or drug resistance of pathogens ("Dr. Julian Parkhill," 2014).
Impact on Pertussis Research
From 2013
to 2014, Parkhill led a handful of scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger
Institute in Cambridge, UK. Together they pulled a few hundred samples of Bordetella pertussis, the bacterium
that
causes pertussis, and worked to create an evolutionary phylogeny, or family
tree, of the bacteria. From the study, they concluded that the pertussis
bacteria actually evolved relatively recently. They were surprised to discover
that the ancestor of modern-day pertussis emerged spontaneously in the 15th
or 16th century. It was noted
that the distinctive cough was first encountered in a Korean medical text in the
15th century. The first actually documented epidemic was in 1578 in
Paris, before these events there is no trace of the disease having existed. Parkhill
et al. (2014) also found that the human virulent seems to have evolved from the
mutation of a closely related bacterium found in dogs, rabbits, and many other animals.
The analysis also suggests pertussis, remained hidden for thousands of years
before it burst out as a full-fledged human disease (2). Most importantly
conclude from the study was the ability of the bacterium to evolve which is why
the current vaccines are not working as well as they used to. I mentioned the pertactin
lacking strains in my previous post and this is one factor attributed to the
current outbreak. Fortunately, pertussis does not mutate as fast other
diseases, such as the flu, which makes it a little easier to control and create
vaccines to combat it. This research was vital in terms of gene sequencing and pointed to more effective vaccinations for newer strains as well us shocking, unknown evolutionary history of a deadly disease.
 |
| Evolutionary Tree created by Parkhill et al |
For some reason it would not let me embed the video on the page, but the link to a short, 1 minute video, outlining the human genome, is below. The video is done by Julian Parkhill.
References
Collins, J. (2010, April 27) Genome Explained [Video File]. Retrieved from YouTube.com
Dr.
Julian Parkhill. (2013, September 23). Retrieved November 19, 2014, from https://www.sanger.ac.uk/research/faculty/jparkhill
Harris,
R. (2014, April 25). Family Tree Of Pertussis Traced, Could Lead To Better
Vaccine. Retrieved November 19, 2014, from http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/04/25/306845814/family-tree-of-pertussis-worked-out-could-prompt-better-vaccine
Julian,
P. (2014, April 23). Impact of Whooping Cough Vaccination: Comprehensive Study
Shows Effect of Vaccination on Spread of Bordetella pertussis. Retrieved
November 19, 2014, from
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140423095206.htm
There are many things in this world that make sense to me. BUt when it comes to DNA and stuff that has to do with the cells in our body I become completely lost. What this man has done for us is greatly appreciated by all. I hope to one day figure out what any of this means because i get confused just when I hear somebody talk about genomes.
ReplyDeleteBut how do you study cells and diseases like that? Is it just a microscope? It looks like you would need some very advanced equipment and toxic chemicals in order to be able to study in this field.
DeleteMost of the time electron microscopes are used to see bacteria because they are much smaller than usual cells. Of course, electron microscopes are pretty costly. As for chemicals, bacteria come to color when they exist in colonies. Dyes can also be used, but this would only be needed when observing individual specimens. Hope that helped.
DeleteI like how the title is attention getting, but I'm not really sure how it relates to the article :o.
ReplyDeleteOther than that is pretty solid, it's interesting they can trace diseases back 600 years when we were still unsure how diseases worked back then.
Randy,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! The first thing that I really liked about this post was the way it is structured. It is very easy to follow as you have divided it into subheadings and different parts. This makes it easy and fun to read without giving it a dull boring look.
Another thing I liked was that you have chosen a current researcher, this makes it more interesting as the researcher is still continuing to develop new discoveries.
Dr. Parkhill's work is actually sort of similar to the researcher I chose to write about, Robert Koch. Both worked on both human and animal species while dealing with different diseases and pathogens and involves work with bacteria. I was really amazed to see the family tree of bacteria that you included. Looking forward to read your next post!
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