Not your average library: inside ESR’s extraordinary disease reference lab

04 October 2024

Health research and innovation
Enteric Reference Lab
Enteric Reference Lab

Nestled inside an unassuming tan and white building in Upper Hutt lies New Zealand's most extraordinary library. But within its walls you won’t find books, magazines or DVDs. This one holds an entirely different kind of knowledge—one composed of tiny organisms.  

The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) Enteric and Leptospirosis Reference Laboratory is a treasure trove of germs that play a crucial role in safeguarding the country’s public health. From Bacillus to Yersinia, scientists meticulously catalogue and study the microscopic inhabitants that wreak havoc on our bodies, unlocking secrets to prevent outbreaks and protect communities. This remarkable facility is where the science of microbiology meets the mission of public safety, proving that sometimes, the most vital resources are found in the most unexpected places. 

The guts of all humans and animals are colonized by a massive number of enteric (meaning ‘intestinal’) microorganisms. The majority are harmless and even help to maintain healthy insides. But mixed in there can be nasty microorganisms (pathogens) that cause gastrointestinal diseases.   

An enteric reference lab is a specialised facility focused on the diagnosis, study and storage of these pathogens— including bacteria, viruses and parasites.  

We’ve probably all experienced them at some point in our lives. They’re the sort of bugs that lead to diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain. While they might be small, the impact of these pathogens can be significant, particularly for our most vulnerable populations, including babies, the elderly and people with health conditions. 

ESR’s Enteric Reference Lab receives samples from diagnostic laboratories all over New Zealand. By the time a sample reaches ESR, the cause of the disease has typically been determined. For example, it might be a harmful strain of E. coli from a cutting board that had raw meat on it, or Salmonella from a salad washed in contaminated water on a trip overseas. ESR’s scientists identify each pathogen to a very fine level, usually through whole genome sequencing, to link together the specific pathogens that originated from a common source.  

This information can then be used to identify disease outbreaks from contaminated food or other sick individuals before the disease starts to spread, as well as to find out if an infection was acquired through work. If a common pathogen is identified from returning travellers, it can help foreign governments with their disease surveillance.  

Sometimes an unwanted organism that can cause severe disease in humans and animals is identified, which can play a critical role in biosecurity. Each identified pathogen is securely stored allowing researchers to study previous outbreaks with modern techniques such as bioinformatics.  

Our collection dates back to 2000 and includes thousands of samples from each year, with isolates identified by ESR for the first time anywhere in the world. It contains samples from outbreaks that have made headlines, as well as those that never occurred because our surveillance systems detected them before anyone became ill. 

And that's the true value of ESR's pathogen library: its ability to connect the dots to prevent future illnesses.  

Learn more about ESR's health science

ESR’s team of public health professionals provide critical insights and expert advice to help prevent and reduce illness in Aotearoa.

Public health