Development of Phylodynamic Methods for Bacterial Pathogens

Phylodynamic methods have been essential to understand the interplay between the evolution and epidemiology of infectious diseases. To date, the field has centered on viruses. Bacterial pathogens are seldom analyzed under such phylodynamic frameworks, due to their complex genome evolution and, until recently, a paucity of whole-genome sequence data sets with rich associated metadata. We posit that the increasing availability of bacterial genomes and epidemiological data means that the field is now ripe to lay the foundations for applying phylodynamics to bacterial pathogens. The development of new methods that integrate more complex genomic and ecological data will help to inform public heath surveillance and control strategies for bacterial pathogens that represent serious threats to human health.

Automated summary

Phylodynamic methods have been crucial in understanding the evolution and epidemiology of infectious diseases, primarily focusing on viruses until recently. With the increasing availability of bacterial genomes and epidemiological data, there is now potential to apply phylodynamics to bacterial pathogens. Developing new methods to integrate complex genomic and ecological data will help inform public health surveillance and control strategies for serious threats to human health posed by bacterial pathogens.