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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379184
Research Project: Integrated Disease Management of Exotic and Emerging Plant Diseases of Horticultural Crops

Location: Horticultural Crops Disease and Pest Management Research Unit

Title: Genetic processes facilitating pathogen emergence

Author
item Grunwald, Niklaus - Nik
item BROWN, C - University Of Georgia
item IP, HS - National Wildlife Health Center
item CHANG, JH - Oregon State University

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/31/2021
Publication Date: 1/20/2022
Citation: Grunwald, N.J., Brown, C., Ip, H., Chang, J. 2022. Genetic processes facilitating pathogen emergence. In: Cardwell, K.F., Bailey, K.L., editors. Tactical Sciences for Biosecurity in Animal and Plant Systems. Hershey, PA: IGI Global. p. 32-53. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-7935-0.ch002.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-7935-0.ch002

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The goal of biosecurity is to minimize the risk of introduction and transmission of infectious disease to people, animals, and plants. This is achieved by accurately identifying pathogens and instituting appropriate methods to prevent introduction, reemergence, and/or spread. However, disease is dynamic, and biosecurity needs to continually change to keep pace as pathogens evolve. Pathogens are constantly emerging and evolving. As described in this chapter, a basic understanding of evolution is central in considering how genetic changes and their associated phenotypes can alter the disease presentation of the pathogens. In addition, evolution leaves a trail of genetic information that can be leveraged to inform biosecurity because the spatiotemporal patterns of these past changes provide clues as to how the pathogen might be spreading. This chapter aims to provide insights into how various genetic alterations occur, the background on how these are informative for biosecurity, and illustrations of applications to real-world examples.