Ep 15 Campylobacter genomics and epidemiology

Dr Ozan Gundogdu from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Dr Arnoud van Vliet from the University of Surrey join Andrew to chat about Campylobacter genomics and epidemiology. This was recorded at LSHTM. This episode of the Bioinformatics Lab podcast discusses Campylobacter genomics and epidemiology. Campylobacter is a major cause of foodborne illness, with over 200,000 cases annually in the UK traced mainly to poultry. While genomic databases hold a wealth of Campylobacter sequences, undiscovered diversity likely remains. Research shows connections between virulence factors and sequence types, aiding epidemiological inference. In the UK, poultry and cattle are primary reservoirs leading to human infection, with minimal direct transmission. Control measures like chlorine washing of poultry can reduce levels but are banned in the EU over animal welfare concerns. Experts argue collaboration along the entire food chain is needed, along with ongoing research, to combat a pathogen that has evolved over millions of years.