STI_metagenomics_from_Gential_Ulcer_Disease_patients_in_Zimbabwe_pilot

The aetiology of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is poorly understood in many settings (particularly in LMICs). As part of our ongoing work, we are planning largescale surveillance of STI samples using mixed metagenomic approaches. These approaches will allow simultaneous detection and (potentially) genomic epidemiology of infecting and coinfecting pathogens. As part of this work, we need to evaluate the performance of our existing multi-pathogen STI sequence capture array in a variety of sample types. The MAGUS study is a prospective aetiological survey of genital ulcer disease (GUD) currently underway in four African countries. In this initial pilot of 110 samples, we will perform multi-pathogen sequence capture to identify the underlying aetiological agents and evaluate the depth of sequencing coverage for infecting agents. This pilot project will serve as both an evaluation of the sequencing technology as well as potentially enabling novel insights into the aetiology of GUD in this understudied patient population, and could therefore act as the precursor to a larger expansion in our STI surveillance activities.