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Can whole genome sequencing predict antimicrobial susceptibility? What are its current limitations? How close are we to incorporating WGS into routine clinical microbiology laboratories? Throughout the conversation, we explore the opportunities and challenges of implementing sequencing technologies, including bioinformatics, workflow, reimbursement, and the need for continued collaboration between microbiologists, infectious diseases specialists, pharmacists, and antimicrobial stewardship teams.

We also discuss how WGS may transform outbreak investigations, epidemiologic surveillance, and the future role of the clinical microbiologist as advanced diagnostics become increasingly integrated into patient care.

Whether you're a bench microbiologist, laboratory leader, infectious diseases professional, or student, this episode offers an exciting look at where clinical microbiology is headed and what whole genome sequencing can realistically tell us about antimicrobial resistance.

Recorded live at ASM Microbe 2026 in Washington, DC, this special episode marks the first live recording of Let's Talk Micro. Joining me are co-host Dr. Andrea Prinzi and guest Dr. Nathan Ledeboer for a discussion on the evolving role of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in clinical microbiology and antimicrobial resistance.

What Can Whole Genome Sequencing Realistically Tell Us About Resistance? The evolving role of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in clinical microbiology and antimicrobial resistance.

Why do some people age more healthily than others? The answer may come, in part, from our guts and the massive community of microbes living in them.

Aging and the Gut: The Microbiome's Second Act | ASM.org Why do some people age more healthily than others? The answer may come, in part, from our guts and the massive community of microbes living in them. 

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the world in many ways. One of the most exciting applications of artificial intelligence is in the area of drug discovery. Particularly the discovery of antimicrobial molecules that are in the environment or even hidden within our own body. Today, we discuss some of the uses of artificial intelligence in the discovery of antimicrobials with an outstanding expert in the field.

Topics discussed:

- How artificial intelligence can help the discovery of new antimicrobial moieties

- Antibiotic discovery and challenges to bring molecules to the clinic

- The implications for artificial intelligence and infectious diseases in particularly in the discovery of antibiotics.

Guest:
César de la Fuente, Ph.D., FRSB, Presidential Associate Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Director, Machine Biology Group.

AI and Antibiotic Discovery How is artificial intelligence revolutionizing the search for new antimicrobial molecules, where are these hidden compounds located in the environment or the human body, and in what way does this technology accelerate the discovery of solutions to combat microbial resistance?