Metagenomic Sleuthing Treats Illness Like a Crime Scene

Pathogens move fast. You wake up one morning feeling ready to take on the world. On your way to work, you notice your throat's a bit scratchy, your forehead a bit warm. By lunch you've got a pounding headache and it hurts to breathe. Co-workers agree, you've got whatever's been going around. You end the day early, using the last of your strength to drag yourself to bed. Identifying the organism causing your misery can confound even trained physicians. When tests fail to reveal what ail