Sequencing costs for bacterial genomes dropped to $10, helping to cope with global pandemics

The Global Federation of Scientists, led by the U.

At the time of the new crown pneumonia pandemic, it is becoming more and more important for each country to have the capability of rapid whole-genome sequencing (WGS)

In the past decade, whole-genome sequencing has completely changed people's understanding of microbial epidemics

However, genome sequencing of most microorganisms is still expensive, and the main cost comes from sample transportation and DNA library construction

Professor Neil Hall, co-corresponding author and director of the Ullham Institute, said: "It has been 26 years since the first bacterial genome was sequenced

He believes that the field of pathogen genome analysis also needs to be "popularized

10,000 Salmonella genomes

This large-scale genome sequencing project is led by the global 10,000 Salmonella Genome Research Consortium (10KSG)

The goal of 10KSG is to make it easier to obtain genome data in low- and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where the mortality rate of Salmonella is particularly high

The innovative WGS method developed this time aims to simplify the large-scale collection and genome sequencing of bacteria

Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed a sample logistics pipeline to transport heat-inactivated bacterial isolates from all over the world to the UK at room temperature

In general, after library construction, DNA sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis are completed, the total cost of reagents for each bacterial genome is less than US$10 (approximately £7.

Jay Hinton, Professor of Microbial Pathology at the University of Liverpool, said: “In low- and middle-income countries, one of the biggest challenges facing public health personnel is how to obtain the most advanced technology

Dr.

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Perez-Sepulveda, BM, Heavens, D.