Environmental research and sequencing with nanopore technology
Nanopore technology delivers unique opportunities for environmental research — from portable, in-field sequencing and sample prep using MinION, Flongle, and VolTRAX devices, to high-throughput analysis of high sample numbers using GridION and PromethION. Critically, nanopore DNA and RNA sequencing delivers all data in real time, providing immediate access to actionable results. High yields combined with sample multiplexing provides highly cost-efficient analyses.
- Sequence at sample source using powerful and portable MinION sequencing devices
- Get immediate access to actionable results with real-time data streaming and analysis workflows
- Enhance genome and metagenome analysis using direct, long sequencing reads, with simultaneous detection of base modifications
- Streamline your research with 10-minute library prep (DNA)/105-minute (direct RNA)
- Prepare samples in the field or lab using the USB-powered VolTRAX device.
- Scale to your needs using Flongle, MinION, GridION, or PromethION
How will you use nanopore technology?
Environmental DNA (eDNA)
Microbiome analysis
Conservation and biodiversity
Plant and animal pathogens
Biodetection and biosurveillance
The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) can provide powerful insights into biodiversity, conservation, contamination, and potentially harmful pathogens. Nanopore sequencing enables real-time analysis of eDNA samples — providing immediate access to actionable results. Using nanopore sequencing, researchers have successfully analysed the microbial composition of fresh water, seawater, soil, permafrost, faecal matter, and many more sample types. In addition, eDNA has been used to identify the presence of vertebrate species in a range of environments.
- Accurately identify microorganisms and discriminate closely related species using long nanopore sequencing reads
- Sequence samples at source with fully portable MinION devices
- Get rapid insights using real-time data streaming and analysis workflows
- Design your optimal workflow with our online protocol builder
- Streamline your workflow with 10-min manual library prep or hands-free, portable prep with VolTRAX
‘Our method yielded over a thousand high quality, full-length draft virus genome sequences that could not be fully recovered using short read assembly approaches applied to the same samples’
Field-forward sequencing with Oxford Nanopore technology: a strategy to establish the upside-down mangrove jellyfish Cassiopea xamachana as a bioindicator
Microbial communities can have a profound effect on their environment, for example breaking down pollutants or generating by-products. In the same manner, environmental pressures such as climate change, can impact the constitution of microbial communities. As a result, microbiome analysis, which interrogates the genetic material of all microorganisms in a given community, can not only provide significant insights into the structure and function of microbial communities, but also, act as an environmental monitoring system.
- Analyse samples at source using powerful, portable MinION devices
- Get rapid access to results with 10-minute sample prep, real-time data streaming, and local- or cloud-based analysis pipelines
- Interrogate microbiomes using rapid metagenomic, 16S, and/or RNA sequencing workflows
- Generate complete, closed microbial genomes from metagenomics samples using long nanopore sequencing reads
- Differentiate between closely related species and resolve repetitive regions
‘Our analysis demonstrated that the MinION has the ability to provide rRNA operon sequence data of sufficient quality for characterising the microbiota of complex environmental samples and provided results that are reproducible, quantitative, and consistent’
MinION sequencing from the extreme to the everyday
Climate change, infectious disease, and a multitude of other factors are an increasing threat to biodiversity. Nanopore technology allows researchers to assess biodiversity within any given population or community, allowing greater understanding of environmental impacts and enhanced conservation and breeding efforts. Furthermore, long, direct nanopore sequencing reads provide significant advantages for comprehensive genomic analysis.
- Sequence samples at point of collection using MinION devices
- Generate results in real time — in the lab or field
- Comprehensively characterise genomes — including repeats, SNVs, SVs – using long and ultra-long sequencing reads
- Streamline your workflow with 10-minute sample prep
- Sensitive whole genome, targeted, and RNA sequencing approaches
- Scale to suit your needs — 1.8 Gb Flongle; 30 Gb MinION; 150 Gb GridION; 4,800/9,600 Gb PromethION P24/P48
‘…nanopore sequencing can be implemented in a remote tropical forest to quickly and accurately identify species using DNA barcoding, as we generated consensus sequences for species resolution with an accuracy of >99% in less than 24 hours after collecting specimens’
London Calling 2019: Shaili Johri
The rapid and accurate detection of plant and animal pathogens is vital to prevent their spread and reduce associated economic, environmental, and health impacts. Nanopore sequencing delivers results in real time, allowing immediate pathogen identification and supporting the rapid implementation of appropriate control measures. Nanopore technology is uniquely portable, enabling sample analysis at the point of collection, while long sequencing reads provide more detailed genomic characterisation and differentiation between closely related species.
- Sequence samples at point of collection using MinION devices
- Generate results in real time — in the lab or field
- Comprehensively characterise pathogen genomes — including repeats, SNVs, SVs — using long and ultra-long sequencing reads
- Streamline your workflow with 10-minute sample prep
- Sensitive whole genome, targeted, and RNA sequencing approaches
- Scale to suit your needs using Flongle, MinION, GridION, or PromethION P24/P48
‘…the first reads matching porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) and rotavirus a (RVA) were generated respectively after 7 and 24 seconds of sequencing’
London Calling 2019: Monica Kehoe
Monitoring the spread of infectious disease enables effective quarantine and containment in a human or veterinary setting, preventing zoonosis, endemics, and controlling antimicrobial resistance development. Nanopore sequencing enables in-field, real-time detection and identification of pathogens, with unbiased metagenomic approaches allowing differentiation of multiple species within a single sample.
- Identify and characterise pathogens in real time
- Sequence and analyse at sample source using portable MinION devices
- Utilise rapid, unbiased metagenomic workflows with 10-minute library prep
- Access local or cloud-based analysis pipelines
- Scale to suit your needs using Flongle, MinION, GridION, or PromethION P24/P48
‘MinION sequencing holds promise as a practical, front-line strategy for on-site pathogen characterization to speed the public health response during a biothreat emergency’
Matthew Keller: Deployable NGS for Influenza virus field surveillance and outbreak response
Which kit is best for you?
