The Convergence of High-Consequence Livestock and Human Pathogen Research and Development: A Paradox of Zoonotic Disease

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that zoonotic diseases transmitted from animals to humans account for 75 percent of new and emerging infectious diseases. Globally, high-consequence pathogens that impact livestock and have the potential for human transmission create research paradoxes and operational challenges for the high-containment laboratories that conduct work with them. These specialized facilities are required for conducting all phases of research on high-consequence pathogens (basic, applied, and translational) with an emphasis on both the generation of fundamental knowledge and product development. To achieve this research mission, a highly-trained workforce is required and flexible operational methods are needed. In addition, working with certain pathogens requires compliance with regulations such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Select Agent regulations, which adds to the operational burden. The vast experience from the existing studies at Plum Island Animal Disease Center, other U.S. laboratories, and those in Europe and Australia with biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) facilities designed for large animals, clearly demonstrates the valuable contribution this capability brings to the efforts to detect, prepare, prevent and respond to livestock and potential zoonotic threats. To raise awareness of these challenges, which include biosafety and biosecurity issues, we held a workshop at the 2018 American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Biothreats conference to further discuss the topic with invited experts and audience participants. The workshop covered the subjects of research funding and metrics, economic sustainment of drug and vaccine development pipelines, workforce turnover, and the challenges of maintaining operational readiness of high containment laboratories.

Achieving Health Security and Threat Reduction through Sharing Sequence Data

“…Examples of interactive discussions such as panels, roundtables, and workshops that take place at scientific conferences are most effective when they juxtapose peer leaders with audiences to share new findings, discuss, and publish lessons learned together [4]. At the Sequencing, Finishing and Analysis for the Future (SFAF) conference held from 22 to 24 May 2018 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, the audience learned of the work of the three major US assistance programs that focus on countering biological threats.…”

High-throughput sequencing technologies in the detection of livestock pathogens, diagnosis, and zoonotic surveillance

“…Emerging infectious diseases have significantly risen in recent years owing to rising globalization, intensifying agriculture, urbanization, and climatic changes. Over the last few decades, emerging infectious diseases, such as avian influenza, African swine fever, foot and mouth disease, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, have been associated with domestic and companion animals, and have caused major losses to livestock rearing communities, in addition to posing significant threats to human and animal health [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] . Therefore, zoonotic pathogens should be considered key components of the global health system.…”

First Movers in Molecular Detection: Case Comparison on Harnessing Research and Development, Industry, and Entrepreneurship

“…Pathogenic microbes are often categorized into Risk Groups 1–4 according to their “capability to cause disease in a susceptible human or animal host, virulence as measured by severity of the disease and the availability of effective preventative measures and treatments” ( 5 ). Risk Group 3 and 4 pathogens that infect animals, humans, and plants may also be classified as biological threat agents (biothreats) due to the potential for nefarious use ( 6 , 7 ). Designing molecular detection methods such as qPCR and reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR) relies on an a priori knowledge of the biological agent of interest such as the sequence of the DNA or RNA, respectively ( 8 , 9 ).…”