Pathogen Genomic Epidemiology: Tracking Mutations and Transmission

Genomic data has revolutionized how we track and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Understanding how pathogens mutate and spread is essential for modern public health analysis. This course equips you with the fundamental technical knowledge to interpret genomic patterns, analyze pathogen mutations, and understand how phylogenetic trees map disease transmission. You will gain a solid conceptual foundation in genomic epidemiology without needing a background in advanced bioinformatics. What you'll learn: - Understand the core concepts of DNA and RNA mutations and how they accumulate in pathogens. - Analyze pathogen genomic data formats like FASTA and FASTQ to identify genetic variations. - Interpret phylogenetic trees to reconstruct transmission chains and identify outbreak origins. - Explore how modern tracking systems integrate genomic sequences with traditional epidemiological data. - Apply basic variant calling principles to distinguish true mutations from sequencing errors. The course starts with basic terminology and foundational genetics before moving into sequencing data formats, mutation dynamics, and phylogenetic analysis. You will progress through written explanations, real-world case studies, and conceptual exercises designed to solidify your understanding of genomic tracking. This course is designed for beginner public health professionals, biology students, and researchers looking to understand the technical side of genomic epidemiology. No prior programming or bioinformatics experience is required. Start reading today to unlock the power of genomic data in tracking infectious diseases.