The portable MinION offers long read, real-time DNA/RNA sequencing for environmental research whether in the field or lab.
How is the MinION being used in environmental research?
- Metagenomic analysis of complex environmental samples e.g. samples collected from soil, water, regions of environmental interest such as the Arctic or Antartica, animal droppings and plants
- Species identification and molecular evolution with environmental impact e.g. discovery or identification of new nitrogen-fixing bacteria
- Species taxonomy and relative abundance studies e.g. WIMP or 16S rRNA, CO1, and ITS
- Full portability: DNA/RNA analysis in remote locations access to species that cannot be cultured in a lab or samples that cannot be transported e.g. in the jungle, on a river bed, at a local clinic in a rural area
Nanopore sequencing on the MinION gives you:
Real-time data, rapid results
Nanopore sequencing data starts streaming immediately, rather than being delivered in bulk at the end of a 'run'. Real-time data streaming allows immediate analysis of the data, enabling users to perform assembly and mapping / alignment quickly, even during the experiment. Rapid identification of organisms in the sample is also possible - users recently reported identifying bacteria and markers of antimicrobial resistance within 5-10 minutes. The dedicated workflow 'WIMP Bacteria, Virus and Fungi' gives real-time species identification and characterisation.
Publications on rapid identification
Simple workflow
Preparation of sequencing libraries from genomic DNA is simple and takes about ten minutes with the latest kit. Oxford Nanopore is developing new devices to simplify this further.
Real-time data analysis means you can make your workflow more efficient. You can stop sequencing when an answer has been reached and move on to the next experiment.
Publications on simple workflow
Portability
The MinION weighs under 100g and can fit in a pocket. It is powered by the USB on a laptop and is uniquely transportable into the field. The MinION has been used for scientific analyses in remote destinations including plant sequencing in a remote National Park, Zika analysis in a laboratory on a bus and species ID in a jungle in Tanzania.
New, simplified library preparation only requires standard lab materials. Oxford Nanopore is also preparing to release automated sample and library preparation devices to simplify the workflow further.
Publications on transportable labs
Efficient genome assembly with long reads
The Oxford Nanopore system processes the library strands of DNA that are presented to it, regardless of their length. Users can choose long reads of kilobases to ultra-long reads of hundreds of kilobases, simplifying the data analysis workflow.
Publications on long readsHow are others using the MinION in environmental research?
View these publications and movies to find out more.
What's in my pot (WIMP)
'What's in my pot' (WIMP) is a workflow that enables MinION users to identify pathogens, fungi, viruses or archaea in complex samples in real time.
Analysis begins as soon as sequence data starts being streamed (a few seconds after the experiment starts). Each read of streamed sequence data is compared against a database of microbial species, and an identification is made. At the same time, WIMP plots and updates a taxonomic tree of all microorganisms found in the sample
There are various workflows and techniques that have been developed by members of the nanopore community to perform or enhance assembly and species identification that can be explored in the publications area and within the nanopore community
How do I get started?
You can start using MinION straight away.
For a $1,000 fee you receive a MinION and starter pack of flow cells and kits. You also get access to a thriving online community of MinION users.