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Park SY, Faraci G, Ward P, Lee HY. Utilizing cost-effective portable equipment to enhance COVID-19 variant tracking both on-site and at a large scale. J Clin Microbiol 2024; 62:e0155823. [PMID: 38415638 PMCID: PMC11005371 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01558-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite optimistic predictions on the eventual end of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), caution is necessary regarding the emergence of new variants to sustain a positive outlook and effectively address any potential future outbreaks. However, ongoing efforts to track COVID-19 variants are concentrated in developed countries and unique social practices and remote habitats of indigenous peoples present additional challenges. By combining small-sized equipment that is easily accessible and inexpensive, we performed SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) whole genome sequencing and measured the sample-to-answer time and accuracy of this portable variant tracking tool. Our portable design determined the variant of SARS-CoV-2 in an infected individual within 9 hours and 15 minutes without external power or internet connection, surpassing the speed of previous portable tools. It took only 16 minutes to complete sequencing run, whole genome assembly, and lineage determination using a single standalone laptop. We then demonstrated the capability to produce 289 SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences in a single portable sequencing run, representing a significant improvement over an existing throughput of 96 sequences per run. We verified the accuracy of portable sequencing by comparison with two other independent sequencing methods. We showed that our high-throughput data consistently represented the circulating variants in Los Angeles, United States, when compared with publicly available sequences. Our scheme is designed to be flexible, rapid, and accurate, making it a valuable tool for large-scale surveillance operations in low- and middle-income countries as well as targeted surveys for vulnerable populations in remote locations.IMPORTANCEThere have been significant efforts to track COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) variants, accumulating over 15 million SARS-CoV-2 sequences as of 2023. However, the distribution of global survey data is highly skewed, with nearly half of all countries having inadequate or low levels of genomic surveillance. In addition, indigenous peoples face more severe threats from COVID-19, due to their generally remote residence and unique social practices. Cost-effective portable sequencing tools have been used to investigate Ebola and Zika outbreaks. However, these tools have a sample-to-answer time of around 24 hours and require an internet connection for data transfer to an off-site cloud server. In our study, we rapidly determined COVID-19 variants using only small and inexpensive equipment, with a completion time of 9 hours and 15 minutes. Furthermore, we produced 289 near-full-length SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from a single portable Nanopore sequencing run, representing a threefold increase in throughput compared with existing Nanopore sequencing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Yong Park
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Gina Faraci
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pamela Ward
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ha Youn Lee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Park SY, Faraci G, Ganesh K, Dubé MP, Lee HY. Portable Nanopore sequencing solution for next-generation HIV drug resistance testing. J Clin Virol 2024; 171:105639. [PMID: 38219684 PMCID: PMC10947882 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2024.105639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tackling HIV drug resistance is one of major challenges for ending AIDS epidemic, but the elevated expense of cutting-edge genomics hampers the advancement of HIV genotype testing for clinical care. METHODS We developed a HIV genotype testing pipeline that centers on a cost-efficient portable Nanopore sequencer. Accuracy verification was conducted through comparison with parallel data obtained via fixed-site Pacbio sequencing. Our complete pol-gene sequencing strategy coupled with portable high-throughput sequencing was applied to identify drug resistance mutations across 58 samples sourced from the ART-treated Los Angeles General Medical Center Rand Schrader Clinic (LARSC) cohort (7 samples from 7 individuals) and the ART-naïve Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology (CHAVI) cohort (51 samples from 38 individuals). RESULTS A total of 472 HIV consensus sequences, each tagged with a unique molecular identifier, were produced from over 1.4 million bases acquired through portable Nanopore sequencing, which matched those obtained independently via Pacbio sequencing. With this desirable accuracy, we first documented the linkage of multidrug cross-resistance mutations across Integrase Strand Transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) and Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) from an individual failing a second-generation INSTI regimen. By producing more than 500 full-length HIV pol gene sequences in a single portable sequencing run, we detected Protease Inhibitor (PI), Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI), NNRTI and INSTI resistance mutations. All drug resistance mutations identified through portable sequencing were cross-validated using fixed-site Pacbio sequencing. CONCLUSIONS Our accurate and affordable HIV drug resistance testing solution is adaptable for both individual patient care and large-scale surveillance initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Yong Park
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Gina Faraci
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kevin Ganesh
- Los Angeles General Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Department of Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Michael P Dubé
- Department of Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ha Youn Lee
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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Liu D, Wang Z, Mao M, Zhang Z, Ding X, Zheng H, Li S, Zhang Z, Tian Z. Application of whole-genome tiling array at Shanghai port, China: An alternative method for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e29222. [PMID: 37964661 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, driven by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), highlights the critical role of genomic surveillance in tracking rapidly spreading viruses and their evolving lineages. The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 tiling array, a comprehensive tool capable of capturing the entire viral genome, has presented a promising avenue for variants. This study introduces the SARS-CoV-2 tiling array as a novel method for port inspection. Using next-generation sequencing as a benchmark, 35 positive samples underwent sequencing through both methodologies, including the Alpha variant (B.1.1.7), Delta variants (AY.120, AY.122, AY.23.1), and Omicron variants (BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.75, BA.4, BA.5, BE.1, BF.7, BN.1, BQ.1, XBB.1) within the sample set. The whole-genome tiling array demonstrated successful identification of various sublineages of SARS-CoV-2. The average sequencing coverage rates were 99.22% (96.82%-99.92%) for the whole-genome tiling array and 98.56% (92.81%-99.59%) for Illumina sequencing, respectively. The match rates of these two methods ranged from 92.81%-99.59%, with an average rate of 98.56%. Among the benefits of the whole-genome tiling array are its cost-effectiveness and equipment simplification, making it particularly suitable for identifying SARS-CoV-2 variants in the front-line inspection department. The aforementioned findings provide valuable insights into the surveillance of COVID-19 and present a pragmatic solution for improving quarantine measures at entry points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlei Liu
- Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, Shanghai Customs District PR China, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyi Wang
- Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, Shanghai Customs District PR China, Shanghai, China
| | - Mao Mao
- Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, Shanghai Customs District PR China, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilei Zhang
- Inspection and Quarantine Technology Communication Department, Shanghai Customs College, Shanghai, China
| | - Xun Ding
- Centrillion Technologies, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Huajun Zheng
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenwei Li
- Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, Shanghai Customs District PR China, Shanghai, China
| | - Zilong Zhang
- Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, Shanghai Customs District PR China, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengan Tian
- Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, Shanghai Customs District PR China, Shanghai, China
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Oehler JB, Wright H, Stark Z, Mallett AJ, Schmitz U. The application of long-read sequencing in clinical settings. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:73. [PMID: 37553611 PMCID: PMC10410870 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00522-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-read DNA sequencing technologies have been rapidly evolving in recent years, and their ability to assess large and complex regions of the genome makes them ideal for clinical applications in molecular diagnosis and therapy selection, thereby providing a valuable tool for precision medicine. In the third-generation sequencing duopoly, Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Pacific Biosciences work towards increasing the accuracy, throughput, and portability of long-read sequencing methods while trying to keep costs low. These trades have made long-read sequencing an attractive tool for use in research and clinical settings. This article provides an overview of current clinical applications and limitations of long-read sequencing and explores its potential for point-of-care testing and health care in remote settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine B Oehler
- Biomedical Sciences and Molecular Biology, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Helen Wright
- Nursing and Midwifery, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Zornitza Stark
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Australian Genomics, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andrew J Mallett
- College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- Department of Renal Medicine, Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ulf Schmitz
- Biomedical Sciences and Molecular Biology, College of Public Health, Medical & Vet Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
- Centre for Tropical Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia.
- Computational BioMedicine Lab Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine & Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia.
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Mastrorosa FK, Miller DE, Eichler EE. Applications of long-read sequencing to Mendelian genetics. Genome Med 2023; 15:42. [PMID: 37316925 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01194-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in clinical genetic testing, including the introduction of exome sequencing, have uncovered the molecular etiology for many rare and previously unsolved genetic disorders, yet more than half of individuals with a suspected genetic disorder remain unsolved after complete clinical evaluation. A precise genetic diagnosis may guide clinical treatment plans, allow families to make informed care decisions, and permit individuals to participate in N-of-1 trials; thus, there is high interest in developing new tools and techniques to increase the solve rate. Long-read sequencing (LRS) is a promising technology for both increasing the solve rate and decreasing the amount of time required to make a precise genetic diagnosis. Here, we summarize current LRS technologies, give examples of how they have been used to evaluate complex genetic variation and identify missing variants, and discuss future clinical applications of LRS. As costs continue to decrease, LRS will find additional utility in the clinical space fundamentally changing how pathological variants are discovered and eventually acting as a single-data source that can be interrogated multiple times for clinical service.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Danny E Miller
- Division of Genetic Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Evan E Eichler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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Yarita S, Morgan-Richards M, Trewick SA. Genotypic detection of barriers to rat dispersal: Rattus rattus behind a peninsula predator-proof fence. Biol Invasions 2023; 25:1723-1738. [PMID: 36777104 PMCID: PMC9900205 DOI: 10.1007/s10530-023-03004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Clear delimitation of management units is essential for effective management of invasive species. Analysis of population genetic structure of target species can improve identification and interpretation of natural and artificial barriers to dispersal. In Aotearoa New Zealand where the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) is a major threat to native biodiversity, effective suppression of pest numbers requires removal and limitation of reinvasion from outside the managed population. We contrasted population genetic structure in rat populations over a wide scale without known barriers, with structure over a fine scale with potential barriers to dispersal. MtDNA D-loop sequences and microsatellite genotypes resolved little genetic structure in southern North Island population samples of ship rat 100 km apart. In contrast, samples from major islands differed significantly for both mtDNA and nuclear markers. We also compared ship rats collected within a small peninsula reserve bounded by sea, suburbs and, more recently, a predator fence with rats in the surrounding forest. Here, mtDNA did not differ but genotypes from 14 nuclear loci were sufficient to distinguish the fenced population. This suggests that natural (sea) and artificial barriers (town, fence) are effectively limiting gene flow among ship rat populations over the short distance (~ 500 m) between the peninsula reserve and surrounding forest. The effectiveness of the fence alone is not clear given it is a recent feature and no historical samples exist; resampling population genetic diversity over time will improve understanding. Nonetheless, the current genetic isolation of the fenced rat population suggests that rat eradication is a sensible management option given that reinvasion appears to be limited and could probably be managed with a biosecurity programme. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10530-023-03004-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shogo Yarita
- grid.148374.d0000 0001 0696 9806Wildlife and Ecology, School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Mary Morgan-Richards
- grid.148374.d0000 0001 0696 9806Wildlife and Ecology, School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Steven A. Trewick
- grid.148374.d0000 0001 0696 9806Wildlife and Ecology, School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Maes M, Khokhar F, Wilkinson SAJ, Smith AD, Kovalenko G, Dougan G, Quick J, Loman NJ, Baker S, Curran MD, Skittrall JP, Houldcroft CJ. Multiplex MinION sequencing suggests enteric adenovirus F41 genetic diversity comparable to pre-COVID-19 era. Microb Genom 2023; 9:mgen000920. [PMID: 36748435 PMCID: PMC9973849 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Human adenovirus F41 causes acute gastroenteritis in children, and has recently been associated with an apparent increase in paediatric hepatitis of unknown aetiology in the UK, with further cases reported in multiple countries. Relatively little is known about the genetic diversity of adenovirus F41 in UK children; and it is unclear what, if any, impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on viral diversity in the UK. Methods that allow F41 to be sequenced from clinical samples without the need for viral culture are required to provide the genomic data to address these questions. Therefore, we evaluated an overlapping-amplicon method of sequencing adenovirus genomes from clinical samples using Oxford Nanopore technology. We applied this method to a small sample of adenovirus-species-F-positive extracts collected as part of standard care in the East of England region in January-May 2022. This method produced genomes with >75 % coverage in 13/22 samples and >50 % coverage in 19/22 samples. We identified two F41 lineages present in paediatric patients in the East of England in 2022. Where F41 genomes from paediatric hepatitis cases were available (n=2), these genomes fell within the diversity of F41 from the UK and continental Europe sequenced before and after the 2020-2021 phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our analyses suggest that overlapping amplicon sequencing is an appropriate method for generating F41 genomic data from high-virus-load clinical samples, and currently circulating F41 viral lineages were present in the UK and Europe before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mailis Maes
- Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fahad Khokhar
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Sam A. J. Wilkinson
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Andrew D. Smith
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Ganna Kovalenko
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Gordon Dougan
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Joshua Quick
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nicholas J. Loman
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Stephen Baker
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Department of Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Martin D. Curran
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jordan P. Skittrall
- Clinical Microbiology and Public Health Laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
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Borillo GA, Kagan RM, Marlowe EM. Rapid and Accurate Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Variants Using Real Time PCR Assays. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:894613. [PMID: 35619652 PMCID: PMC9127862 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.894613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Genomic surveillance efforts for SARS-CoV-2 are needed to understand the epidemiology of the COVID-19 pandemic. Viral variants may impact routine diagnostic testing, increase viral transmissibility, cause differences in disease severity, have decreased susceptibility to therapeutics, and/or confer the ability to evade host immunity. While viral whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has played a leading role in surveillance programs, many laboratories lack the expertise and resources for performing WGS. This study describes the performance of multiplexed real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays for identification of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Methods SARS-CoV-2 specimens were tested for spike-gene variants using a combination of allele-specific primer and allele-specific detection technology (PlexPrime® and PlexZyme®). Targeted detection of spike gene mutations by RT-PCR was compared to variant detection in positive specimens by WGS, including the recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Results A total of 398 SAR-CoV-2 RT-PCR positive and 39 negative specimens previously tested by WGS were re-tested by RT-PCR genotyping. PCR detection of spike gene mutations N501Y, E484K, and S982A correlated 100% with WGS for the 29 lineages represented, including Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), and Gamma (P.1). Incorporating the P681R spike gene mutation also allowed screening for the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant (B.1.617.2 and AY sublineages). Further sampling of 664 specimens that were screened by WGS between June and August 2021 and then re-tested by RT-PCR showed strong agreement for Delta variant positivity: 34.5% for WGS vs 32.9% for RT-PCR in June; 100% vs 97.8% in August. In a blinded panel of 16 Omicron and 16 Delta specimens, results of RT-PCR were 100% concordant with WGS results. Conclusions These data demonstrate that multiplexed real-time RT-PCR genotyping has strong agreement with WGS and may provide additional SARS-CoV-2 variant screening capabilities when WGS is unavailable or cost-prohibitive. RT-PCR genotyping assays may also supplement existing sequencing efforts while providing rapid results at or near the time of diagnosis to help guide patient management.
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Lambisia AW, Mohammed KS, Makori TO, Ndwiga L, Mburu MW, Morobe JM, Moraa EO, Musyoki J, Murunga N, Mwangi JN, Nokes DJ, Agoti CN, Ochola-Oyier LI, Githinji G. Optimization of the SARS-CoV-2 ARTIC Network V4 Primers and Whole Genome Sequencing Protocol. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:836728. [PMID: 35252269 PMCID: PMC8891481 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.836728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The ARTIC Network's primer set and amplicon-based protocol is one of the most widely used SARS-CoV-2 sequencing protocol. An update to the V3 primer set was released on 18th June 2021 to address amplicon drop-off observed among the Delta variant of concern. Here, we report on an in-house optimization of a modified version of the ARTIC Network V4 protocol that improves SARS-CoV-2 genome recovery in instances where the original V4 pooling strategy was characterized by amplicon drop-offs. METHODS We utilized a matched set of 43 clinical samples and serially diluted positive controls that were amplified by ARTIC V3, V4 and optimized V4 primers and sequenced using GridION from the Oxford Nanopore Technologies'. RESULTS We observed a 0.5% to 46% increase in genome recovery in 67% of the samples when using the original V4 pooling strategy compared to the V3 primers. Amplicon drop-offs at primer positions 23 and 90 were observed for all variants and positive controls. When using the optimized protocol, we observed a 60% improvement in genome recovery across all samples and an increase in the average depth in amplicon 23 and 90. Consequently, ≥95% of the genome was recovered in 72% (n = 31) of the samples. However, only 60-70% of the genomes could be recovered in samples that had <28% genome coverage with the ARTIC V3 primers. There was no statistically significant (p > 0.05) correlation between Ct value and genome recovery. CONCLUSION Utilizing the ARTIC V4 primers, while increasing the primer concentrations for amplicons with drop-offs or low average read-depth, greatly improves genome recovery of Alpha, Beta, Delta, Eta and non-VOC/non-VOI SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnold W. Lambisia
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Khadija S. Mohammed
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Timothy O. Makori
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Leonard Ndwiga
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Maureen W. Mburu
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - John M. Morobe
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Edidah O. Moraa
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Jennifer Musyoki
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Nickson Murunga
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Jane N. Mwangi
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
| | - D. James Nokes
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Charles N. Agoti
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Lynette Isabella Ochola-Oyier
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - George Githinji
- Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI)-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (KWTRP), Kilifi, Kenya
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Pwani University, Kilifi, Kenya
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Rosenthal SH, Gerasimova A, Ruiz-Vega R, Livingston K, Kagan RM, Liu Y, Anderson B, Owen R, Bernstein L, Smolgovsky A, Xu D, Chen R, Grupe A, Tanpaiboon P, Lacbawan F. Development and validation of a high throughput SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing workflow in a clinical laboratory. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2054. [PMID: 35136154 PMCID: PMC8826425 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06091-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring new mutations in SARS-CoV-2 provides crucial information for identifying diagnostic and therapeutic targets and important insights to achieve a more effective COVID-19 control strategy. Next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have been widely used for whole genome sequencing (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2. While various NGS methods have been reported, one chief limitation has been the complexity of the workflow, limiting the scalability. Here, we overcome this limitation by designing a laboratory workflow optimized for high-throughput studies. The workflow utilizes modified ARTIC network v3 primers for SARS-CoV-2 whole genome amplification. NGS libraries were prepared by a 2-step PCR method, similar to a previously reported tailed PCR method, with further optimizations to improve amplicon balance, to minimize amplicon dropout for viral genomes harboring primer-binding site mutation(s), and to integrate robotic liquid handlers. Validation studies demonstrated that the optimized workflow can process up to 2688 samples in a single sequencing run without compromising sensitivity and accuracy and with fewer amplicon dropout events compared to the standard ARTIC protocol. We additionally report results for over 65,000 SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences from clinical specimens collected in the United States between January and September of 2021, as part of an ongoing national genomics surveillance effort.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ron M Kagan
- Quest Diagnostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA.
| | - Yan Liu
- Quest Diagnostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA
| | - Ben Anderson
- Quest Diagnostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA
| | - Renius Owen
- Quest Diagnostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA
| | | | | | - Dong Xu
- Quest Diagnostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA
| | - Rebecca Chen
- Quest Diagnostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA
| | - Andrew Grupe
- Quest Diagnostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92675, USA
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