全基因組測序技術通過對致病菌DNA化學構成的測序，揭示致病菌的基因指紋。例如近來它被用于鑒定3月份的一起李斯特菌疫情，將軟奶酪中的致病菌與李斯特菌的基因指紋進行比對，進而做出判定。

 

    據了解，近年來美國FDA廣泛采用全基因組測序技術鑒別食源性致病菌，包括鑒別污染食物并引發(fā)疫情微生物的屬性和源頭。

 

    部分原文報道如下：

 

    Whole genome sequencing （WGS） is an advanced technology that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is increasingly using to better understand foodborne pathogens, including identifying the nature and source of microbes that contaminate food and cause outbreaks of illness.

 

    WGS essentially reveals the genetic fingerprint of a pathogen, by sequencing the chemical building blocks that make up its DNA. For example, it was recently used to help match samples of soft cheese to the genetic fingerprint of Listeria monocytogenes involved in a deadly foodborne illness outbreak in early March.