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Timeline: community work
The Community continues to publish critical analyses of the transmission and biology of novel pathogens, such as the monkeypox virus and SARS-CoV-2, as well as enduring diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, influenza, polio and many more. You can also follow these at our twitter feed @nanopore
Learn more about pathogen surveillance with nanopore sequencing
December 22
RSV is an important cause of infant hospitalisation, with vaccines likely to enter clinical use soon. Genomic surveillance is currently limited. We developed a genome amplification scheme that can drop into existing SARS-CoV-2 sequencing protocols https://t.co/aiy2uiCHoM
— Martin McHugh (@mchugh_martin) December 22, 2022
December 12
Members of the team are in Oman 🇴🇲 training researchers in direct detection and nanopore sequencing (DDNS) for rapid #polio outbreak detection.
— MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (@MRC_Outbreak) December 12, 2022
Images: @AlexShaw_AS pic.twitter.com/6qkWiTokxT
December 12
Training in direct detection and nanopore sequencing (DDNS) for rapid #polio outbreak detection underway with the Central Public Health Laboratories in Oman. @OmaniMOH @VaccineEpi @NIBSC_MHRA @MRC_Outreak @polionanopore pic.twitter.com/mBHkgZ8QwY
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShaw_AS) December 12, 2022
December 5
Genomics Capacity Building Training by @inrb_kinshasa @labgenpath for Central Public Health Laboratories (CPHL) of Uganda focused on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) sequencing, from 5th to 9th December, 2022 using @nanopore. This training is financed by @AfricaPGI @AfricaCDC pic.twitter.com/nMW6kodfNY
— Pathogen Genomic Lab - INRB (@labgenpath) December 5, 2022
December 2
Fresh from the @nanopore oven: Transcriptomic architecture and dynamics of mpox gene expression. First steps of our collaboration with many great colleagues @LabRuzek @JiHoloubek @TthGborEndre1 @ZLanszki @BrigittaZana led by @BoldogkoiZsolt 👏🏻⬇️ https://t.co/dt6rFq3DUc
— Gabor Kemenesi (@GaborKemenesi) December 2, 2022
November 23
Our participation as @for_genome for the sequencing SARS CoV-2 genome through Nanopore technology in the workshop "Técnicas moleculares, clásicas y bioinformáticas aplicadas al estudio de SARS CoV-2" organized by
— Alexis Gaete (@AlexisGaete11) November 23, 2022
@pelaofunk @Programa_CYTED @opsoms pic.twitter.com/tKaWqEjuLr
November 18
Got to see the infamous Mobile Influenza Analysis display at the CDC!
— Aaron Pomerantz, PhD (@AaronPomerantz) November 18, 2022
The approach can fully sequence viral genomes in the field with @nanopore, which saves time, and provides real-time information about outbreaks. pic.twitter.com/HYAFKoaSoH
November 11
The @acegid team is at the Seychelles Public Health Laboratory (SPHL), Maine, #Seychelles to train SPHL scientists on SARS-COV-2 Genomic Sequencing and Bioinformatics using @nanopore MinION.
— ACEGID (@acegid) November 11, 2022
Proud of our collaboration with @WHOAFRO & @MoH_Seychelles#capacitybuilding #genomics pic.twitter.com/XswwubfIY2
October 21
#WaterEditorialChoice Key #SARS-CoV-2 Mutations of Alpha, Gamma, and Eta Variants Detected in Urban Wastewaters in Italy by Long-Read Amplicon Sequencing Based on #Nanopore Technology
— Lisa Yang (@LisaYang0207) October 21, 2022
View the full article at https://t.co/lamNd1fycD #mdpiwater via @Water_MDPI pic.twitter.com/lejd4qNrgT
October 21
#WaterEditorialChoice Key #SARS-CoV-2 Mutations of Alpha, Gamma, and Eta Variants Detected in Urban Wastewaters in Italy by Long-Read Amplicon Sequencing Based on #Nanopore Technology
— Lisa Yang (@LisaYang0207) October 21, 2022
View the full article at https://t.co/lamNd1fycD #mdpiwater via @Water_MDPI pic.twitter.com/lejd4qNrgT
October 20
poreCov-An Easy to Use, Fast, and Robust Workflow for SARS-CoV-2 Genome Reconstruction via Nanopore Sequencing https://t.co/cGzJGat0ij
— Fjletona (@fjletona) October 20, 2022
October 13
In Oregon members participated in an Ion S5 analysis training and toured the @OHAOregon BSL-3 lab to observe biosafety and TB testing/workflows; in Wyoming, the group focused on Oxford Nanopore technology and discussed One Health at the @UWyonews Wyoming State Veterinary Lab. 3/4 pic.twitter.com/CjLwf29Bzu
— APHL (@APHL) October 13, 2022
October 13
Novel method deploys nanopore tweezers to facilitate inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 helicase at single-nucleotide resolution https://t.co/SNP3nPHSVt @biorxivpreprint @UW @RockefellerUniv #SARSCoV2 #COVID19 #NanoporeTweezers pic.twitter.com/msDXdMAQwu
— News Medical (@NewsMedical) October 13, 2022
September 21
Tracking SARS-COV-2 variants using Nanopore sequencing in Ukraine in 2021 https://t.co/dmzWtP1Lu2 pic.twitter.com/cZkUTihaDp
— LUKMAN AFOLABI (@saintlukman) September 21, 2022
September 16
Almost half of all SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in Africa performed w Oxford Nanopore technology (ONT), relatively low-cost, better adapted to modest laboratory infrastructures, and key for rapid scale-up.
— Victoria Fan (@FanVictoria) September 16, 2022
September 3
New Research: A high scale SARS-CoV-2 profiling by its whole-genome sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Technology in Kazakhstan: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the worldwide pandemic, COVID-19. The original… https://t.co/uzUzpePbCN #Genetics
— Frontiers in Genetics (@FrontGenetics) September 3, 2022
August 31
Read more about which fields of research were dominant in our response to Covid-19, in our Covid-19 Research Response Report: https://t.co/iukMARe7m0
— MBIE Science (@MBIEsci) August 31, 2022
?: Number of COVID-19-related research publications by field of research in Aotearoa New Zealand – Jan '20 to April '22 pic.twitter.com/rsNhhWHjqp
August 22
Training SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing using GridION for 3 users from Indonesia #BTKLPP #Yogyakarta#Batam #Ambon ? @nanopore #CDC Thailand pic.twitter.com/W0ZHlUi8qf
— Tip (@Thidathipw) August 22, 2022
August 19
Genomic epidemiology of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Brazil | Nature Microbiology - great paper and use of COVIDSeq for high throughout genomic surveillance (and Nanopore in peripheral sites). https://t.co/MX7fJw6hMP
— Michael Oberholzer, PhD (@michioberholzer) August 19, 2022
August 14
Joined a mission to Zimbabwe ?? as part of the "German Epidemic Preparedness Team" #SEEG w/ @rki_de & @BNITM_de, building capacity in @nanopore seq & bioinf for SARS-CoV-2. It was a great experience and I also learned a lot. Thanks for the opportunity and now keep on the seq! ;) pic.twitter.com/n9qwXRFXYf
— Martin Hölzer (@martinhoelzer) August 14, 2022
August 11
New lab up and running. @IDEELlabs (Bailey lab @BrownUniversity & Juliano lab @UNC) collaborating to @nanopore sequence malaria artemisinin drug resistance mutations at @INES_Ruhengeri to understand spread in rwanda and neighboring countries(@HEALAfrica @deusishe @MbararaUST) pic.twitter.com/4PzGcM0W0H
— Bailey Lab (@baileylabomics) August 11, 2022
August 10
Participants currently loading the libraries unto the nanopore minion to start sequencing @NetworkArtic @UnivofGh #SARS-CoV-2 Sequencing pic.twitter.com/OFG0rRO33t
— WACCBIP (@WACCBIP_UG) August 10, 2022
August 4
More practical bioinformatics with Prof. Rambaut, Dr. Maloney and Dr. @AineToole and Lab sessions with Rhys Izuagbe, Yazmine Goodfellow and Ganna Kovalenko @nanopore @NetworkArtic @UnivofGh #SARS-CoV-2 #Bioinformatics pic.twitter.com/Gqn6xa9vRj
— WACCBIP (@WACCBIP_UG) August 4, 2022
July 23
We continued with bioinformatics today with sessions on:
— ACEGID (@acegid) July 23, 2022
??EPI2ME platforms for SARS-CoV-2 analysis @nanopore
??Terra @TerraBioApp platform analysis of short read sequencing data @illumina
??Lineage assignment using pangolin and @nextstrain's NextClade#capacitybuilding pic.twitter.com/tjNdi1zDIH
July 23
Reconstructing SARS-CoV-2 genomes via @nanopore data? We're constantly developing `poreCov` which comes w/ up-to-date pangolin & nextclade support, mixed infection detection, qc reports...
— Martin Hölzer (@martinhoelzer) July 23, 2022
Latest release: https://t.co/moNz9XC3RM
Thx all devs especially @gcloudChris et al!
July 6
Matt Parker and team used nanopore sequencing to investigate altered subgenomic RNA abundance to provide a unique insight into SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7/Alpha variant infections
Our paper on sgRNA profiling of #SARSCov2 @nanopore @NetworkArtic genomes using periscope showing lineage specific changes is finally out! We find a striking increase in sgRNA abundance in B.1.1.7 infections and a potential sgRNA for ORF9b! ? https://t.co/Hb1EsEB543 short ?1/3
— Matthew Parker (@bioinfomatt) July 6, 2022
July 4
30 #nanopore RUNS and 500 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced in node Cordoba @intaCIAP for @ProyectoPAIS4 !! ??????with @nathimarquez1 & @humbertodebat pic.twitter.com/R7PDHhNQ8S
— Franco Fernandez (@FrancoFer1982) July 4, 2022
June 24
Nanopore sequencing of a monkeypox virus strain isolated from a pustular lesion in the Central African Republichttps://t.co/VkNPPYgFe0
— Roland Baker 2.0 (@RolandBakerIII) June 24, 2022
June 16
Training SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing using the midnight protocol in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
Training SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing by @nanopore #midnight protocol (by @freed_nikki and team) Vietnam NIH, US-CDC Vietnam, @APHL, Combodia-NIH organized by Thailand-US CDC pic.twitter.com/H2brlCHE5y
— Tip (@Thidathipw) June 16, 2022
June 10
Albert Vilella summarises the SARS-CoV-2 research of Mads Albertsen's team in Denmark as well as many others.
This comment touches upon viral surveillance and highly deployable #NGS technologies which is something I have followed for a bit as of late, mainly from the @sangerinstitute experience but also the experiences in other locations such as Birmingham (UK) and Denmark: https://t.co/zjSyk2j5Oi
— Albert Vilella (@AlbertVilella) June 10, 2022
June 9
Ingra Morales Claro and team have identified the first genome sequence of the monkeypox virus from from Brazil, using the MinION device.
June 8
A publication by Knyazev et al.,2022 demonstrated that over 12% of SARS-CoV-2 genomic data at GISAID was generated by the Nanopore Community.
By Dec 2021, 80.5% of SARS-CoV-2 genomic data at GISAID was generated by Illumina sequencers, 12.5% by Oxford Nanopore, 3.9% by PacBio & 3.3% by all others. NCBI GenBank contains 91.04% genomic data sequenced by @illumina, 8.1% by @nanopore & 0.86% all others. Knyazev et al.,2022 pic.twitter.com/XosvM2i3vc
— DR. GATIMU MUCHAI (@GatimuMuchai) June 8, 2022
June 6
The Institute for Endemic Diseases, Sudan is using nanopore sequencing to investigate the difference in antimicrobial resistance genes found in isolates from COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID patients.
We're starting to analyse our @nanopore #sequencing data now and the early results look interesting. In Sudan, it looks like there might be a shift in the types of #AMR genes found in isolates from #COVID19 patients compared to non-COVID patients. Watch this space!
— COVID AMR project (@AmrCovid) June 6, 2022
June 3
Leo poon and team used real-time, nanopore sequencing to investigate sewage samples to enhance sewage surveillance and detect COVID-19 VOCs.
Use of sewage samples to detect quarantine hotels with COVID-19 patients carrying VOCs.@zhangt1968 @Xiaoqin72262756 @YuDENG0702
— Leo Poon (@world_epidemic) June 3, 2022
Real-time allelic assays of SARS-CoV-2 variants to enhance sewage surv... https://t.co/lpu97Q8fA1
June 2
Anton and his team used the midnight protocol to investigate SARS-CoV-2 clinical research samples. They also developed a rapid workflow that decreased the sample to answer time by 40%, increasing throughput and lab flexibility.
Boosting @nanopore SARS-CoV-2 sequencing with #NextGenPCR , decreasing PCR from 3H+to less than 30 min
— Anton? (@AOUBIO) June 2, 2022
Today we performed the first experiments on clinical samples at @amsterdamumc
Thanks @Viroloog and @Flahless1 for this collaboration?
1/2#midnight#surveillance #SARSCoV2 pic.twitter.com/fCt2IRYmIC
June 1
The first genome of the Monkeypox virus from Slovenia was characterised using GridION and Adaptive sampling.
May 31
USAID RISE India, in partnership with SLBSGMC, organised workshops in India on "Genome Sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Sequencer" to improve genomic epidemiology to better understand the evolution and mutation of the SARS-COV2 virus in the region and to improve control measures.
Understanding the evolution and mutation of the SARS-COV2 virus is critical to containing the spread of #COVID19. #RISE in partnership with SLBSGMC, Mandi is organizing a workshop on "Genome Sequencing using Oxford Nanopore Sequencer" for lab personnel. @usaid_india @Jhpiego pic.twitter.com/eAOMEH2bxO
— USAID RISE INDIA (@usaidriseindia) May 31, 2022
May 30
Tony Wawina-Bokalanga and team share their research paper using nanopore sequencing for co-identification of Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants in 2 geographically unrelated samples.
Our paper: "Genomic evidence of co-identification w/ Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants
— Tony Wawina (@tonywawinab) May 30, 2022
in 2 geographically unrelated patients" published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases" @nanopore @ISID_org @MaesPiet https://t.co/P6jJH1mvj3
27 May
Researchers from King's College London used nanopore sequencing to characterise the first Monkeypox genome identified in United Kingdom.
26 May
Bas Oude Munnink and team characterised the first genome sequence of the monkeypox virus from the Netherlands.
25 May
The first French draft genome of the Monkeypox virus was identified using the MinION Mk1C device by the teams at CHU de Toulouse and IHAP.
We obtained the first French draft genome of Monkeypox virus in partnership with @CHUdeToulouse. We applied an Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing method directly on the clinical material as already done before by our team for the sequencing of an avipoxvirus. pic.twitter.com/SPTzjOY1Oh
— IHAP (@UMR_IHAP) May 26, 2022
23 May
A Second Belgian case of the Monkeypox virus, linked to the outbreak in Portugal, was identified by Piet Maes and team, using the MinION device.
New Belgian monkeypox genome nanopore sequenced at 116x coverage by @MaesPiet et al. Some extra genomic regions resolved that were missing in the other 2022 assemblies, some of which could be functionally important. @nextstrain @GenSpectrum @guspalpogeng https://t.co/gyliXhwAxs
— Tom Wenseleers (@TWenseleers) May 24, 2022
21 May
The first U.S draft genome of the Monkeypox virus was published.
20 May
First Belgian case linked to the outbreak in Portugal, was sequenced using the SISPA approach for untargeted metagenomics on the MinION device.
(1/3) Virological: 98.9% of Monkeypox genome at an average depth of 18.9x constructed using Oxford Nanopore’s minION - using only the protein coding regions - Belgium genome identical 2018 UK & related to Nigeria outbreak (Mauldin et al 2020) https://t.co/RbTAa71hz3
— Roland Baker 2.0 (@RolandBakerIII) May 20, 2022
19 May
The First draft Monkeypox virus genome produced using MinION from a lab in Portugal via metagenomics and the rapid kit.
First draft genome sequence of Monkeypox virus associated with the suspected multi-country outbreak, May 2022 (confirmed case in Portugal).
— Vítor Borges (@borges__vitor) May 19, 2022
See our post in @virological_org https://t.co/LclkvjDO3g
Further sequencing and analysis ongoing.
9 May
Miles Carroll, Deputy Director, Public Health England, discusses using nanopore sequencing and genomic epidemiology to track viruses such as SARS-CoV-2; the role of portable realtime sequencing during the 2013-2016 & current Ebola outbreaks; & how we can deal with future pathogenic threats.
Episode with Miles Carroll from @Carroll_Lab_Ox discussing emerging #viruses and how modern genomics tools like @nanopore sequencing can help us to track them ??https://t.co/C9p64cCBBz pic.twitter.com/oVqqnKb3L0
— HOLOBIONT (@HOLOBIONT_) May 9, 2022
8 May
Institut National de Recherche Biomédicale (INRB) supported African countries in the implementation of nanopore sequencing for genomic monitoring of pathogens such as SAR-CoV-2.
The @labgenpath received two team members from the National Public Health Laboratory of the Republic of Congo from April 27 to May 7 for training in the genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. This training was funded by @WHOAFRO
— Pathogen Genomic Lab - INRB (@labgenpath) May 8, 2022
Supported by @AfricaPGI with a midnight kit. pic.twitter.com/E2NvSGhL2d
22 April
NEW EPISODE Science in Context?
— MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (@MRC_Outbreak) April 22, 2022
This week @SabineLvE speaks with @AlexShaw_AS
➡️Methodology for rapid identification #poliovirus in stool samples
➡️Recent visit with colleagues @labgenpath in DRC
@imperialcollege @VaccineEpi @AlistairMB @UKRI_News @The_MRC @Imperial_Jameel pic.twitter.com/vTHiRJajGH
20 April
Houriiyah Tegally and her team are using genomic sequencing to map the evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa.
Incredibly honoured to finally share this work!
— Houriiyah Tegally ?? (@houzhou) April 20, 2022
The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance.
100,000 genomes, 400 collaborators and the best tag team with @EduanWilkinson to achieve this.
A thread ?https://t.co/MZAfUGO0Gl
8 April
And #SARSCoV2 @NetworkArtic is running on the @nanopore MinION in our lab @uaanchorage by Ralf Dagdag, Sage Robine, and super undergraduate researchers @AlaskaINBRE @UAABioSciences pic.twitter.com/CmkfY5jeHp
— Bortz Virology Group???? (@BortzGroup) April 8, 2022
22 March
The @labgenpath of @inrb_kinshasa received on March 21, a team of biologists, bioinformaticians and virologists from Imperial college of London, UNMC and National Institute for Biological Standards and Control for 10 days of work on various issues around the new polio vaccine. pic.twitter.com/XxOrjORPtI
— Pathogen Genomic Lab - INRB (@labgenpath) March 22, 2022
Finally, our paper on SARS-CoV-2 variant shifting (using @nanopore and @NetworkArtic ) is out on @thePeerJ ?. A collaborative effort by the @science_BRIN genomic surveillance team led by Sugiyono Saputra, including @Nuryanaissa @andri_wardiana @syam_iry @Junoari @rubynciel https://t.co/grk6T6F7Yi
— Anggia Prasetyoputri (@APrasetyoputri) March 22, 2022
22 March
The @labgenpath of @inrb_kinshasa received on March 21, a team of biologists, bioinformaticians and virologists from Imperial college of London, UNMC and National Institute for Biological Standards and Control for 10 days of work on various issues around the new polio vaccine. pic.twitter.com/XxOrjORPtI
— Pathogen Genomic Lab - INRB (@labgenpath) March 22, 2022
21 March
31 days post-training, Rwandan??scientists @RBCRwanda have generated 113 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences (64 on @nanopore MinION & 49 on @illumina Miseq)
— ACEGID (@acegid) March 21, 2022
Kudos to the team for the hard work! pic.twitter.com/xhoTsSGYnv
12 March
Find out how middle and high school students in Hawaii have been using nanopore sequencing to track COVID-19. The students are part of the Aina Informatics Network which aims to lay the foundation for the next generation of skilled biotechnology workers.
Find out how middle & high school students in Hawaii have been using #nanopore sequencing to track #COVID19. The students are part of the Aina Informatics Network which aims to lay the foundation for the next generation of skilled bio-technology workers: https://t.co/4jJ3VfDNNq
— Oxford Nanopore (@nanopore) March 12, 2022
9 March
The Association of Public Health Laboratories completed training of SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing using the Midnight Kit at the Kenyan National Public Health Lab.
@APHL completed training with @MOH_Kenya and @leonadoking at the Kenyan National Public Health Lab - Genomic and Molecular Surveillance Unit on the #Midnight #SARSCoV2 protocol. Amazing collaboration and reagent support from @nanopore and @AaronPomerantz. #FirstSC2RunDone ???? pic.twitter.com/jEs6EeAwVX
— Noah Hull, PhD, MPH (@NoahHull_PhD) March 9, 2022
2 March
The Open Cell London team set up a rapid SARS-CoV-2 genome surveillance lab in Jersey, using shipping containers and MinIONs. They were able to sequence in near real-time, demonstrating the feasibility of providing policy makers with near real-time findings.
Sharing a ? about our latest publication? https://t.co/0P9cpgLavR pic.twitter.com/fRgiHodOLW
— Thomas Meany (@tomopencell) March 2, 2022
26 February
Using nanopore sequencing and Artic workflow to improve SAR-CoV-2 surveillance in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad.
One day after a quick #NGS briefing theory by the DRC team, The Chadian #LabTeam loads it first #Artic run of #SARSCOV2 with @nanopore @PlacideMbala @lokilo_emmanuel @Eddy_Lusamaki_K @AmuriAziza @SwissIonChannel @MTamfum @FranciscaMuyem1 @OMSRDCONGO @AfricaCDC pic.twitter.com/W7J7pGLDWz
— Jean Claude Makangara (@jcmakson) February 25, 2022
28 January
Researchers in Indonesia share how the implementation of nanopore sequencing helped enable a rapid & significant increase (500%) of national #SARSCoV2 #WGS performance. They also discuss 'potentially valuable lessons for other low-/middle-income countries'.
25 January
At G42 Healthcare’s Biogenix Labs were certified to carry out rapid SARS-CoV-2 sequencing as a service using nanopore technology —providing the fastest, high accuracy sequencing with system flexibility.
UAE lab Biogenix Lab has received certification to use Oxford Nanopore technology in sequencing #COVID19 virus. Dr Sally Mahmoud explains the importance of sequencing the virus to control transmission and identify new variants. #DubaiEyeonOne @DubaiEye1038FM @tomurquhart pic.twitter.com/C5tyA3gC4b
— Dubai One (@DubaiOneTV) January 26, 2022
6 January
Nanopore sequencing has been used to identify the first case of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Vietnam. The individual was tested as they entered the country via an international flight, highlighting the value of screening.
17 December
A same-day test by @GSTTnhs with Quadram, @KingsCollegeLon, @nanopore, and @ViapathUK researchers has cut the time taken to identify secondary infections in intensive care COVID-19 patients from four days to within 24 hours.
— Quadram Institute (@TheQuadram) December 17, 2021
Read more ➡️ https://t.co/oaU0Et31fu @NIHRresearch pic.twitter.com/MNlgc2uboD
16 December
Introducing InterARTIC: an interactive web application for whole-genome nanopore sequencing analysis of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. James Ferguson and the team at The Garvin Institute have developed a point and click way to run the ARTIC pipelines which is easy to set up and works on most devices. Access here.
15 December
Nanopore RNA sequencing has been used to measure 'differential host gene expression, transcript polyadenylation, & isoform usage' of cell lines infected in vitro by SARS-CoV-2, providing important insight into the host immune responses.
14 December
After confirming the first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Kerala, Dr Radhakrishnan and team are sequencing more than 30 samples at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Thiruvananthapuram. Find out more.
7 December
First Omicron genome sequenced in Bermuda, using MinION Mk1C.
? out there ? now! #Bermuda ?? can officially do @nanopore at MDL thanks to @mason_lab support ??
— Dr Carika Weldon, MRSB, FIBMS (@CarikaElshae) December 7, 2021
Have a look at the first official #Omicron case in Bermuda sequencing this weekend. Keeping our island safe 1 nanopore at a time ? pic.twitter.com/LkkpVldH7g
7 December
Rapid Omicron analysis using nanopore technology and Midnight protocol in Amsterdam.
Rapid variant analysis in Amsterdam followed by sequencing using midnight protocol (@freed_nikki) and @nanopore sequencing. Immediate sharing of sequences via @gisaid. Credits to entire team at @GGDAmsterdam and @amsterdamumc @jankeschinkel @Viroloog. https://t.co/j88UHj6N8S
— Matthijs Welkers (@Flahless1) December 7, 2021
6 December
Team in Thailand detect the first case of Omicron using the MinION Mk1C and super accuracy base-calling model.
Thailand has detected its first case of Omicron. We sequenced the genome using #Midnight protocol, @Nanopore Mk1C, #Super accuracy base-calling model. The genome will be available on GISAID soon. - Thailand MOPH-U.S. CDC. @NoahHull_PhD @piroonj
— Tip (@Thidathipw) December 6, 2021
5 December
Diyanath Ranasinghe and team assessed the ability of nanopore sequencing to detect SNPs associated with SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. They also compared the sensitivity, accuracy and cost-effectiveness in comparison to alternative sequencing approaches. They found that [nanopore sequencing] achieved higher coverage with a lower number of reads, generated less ambiguous bases and was significantly cheaper [than alternative approaches].
2 December
First SARS-Cov-2 Omicron variant sequenced in France, using nanopore technology.
Congrats to @Biogroup_Labo and @LifeAndSoft for the first #omicron #covid19 genome in France on @nanopore GridION. Decentralised, fast turn around time, affordable. @FrancoisBerdou https://t.co/pV9ZOrVTZQ
— Olivier (@olivierlucas29) December 2, 2021
2 December
First Omicron variant in the US detected by a team led by Charles Chiu at UCSF, using nanopore technology, in just 5 hours.
I am receiving ?'s re: timing of sequencing of the #OmicronVariant
— Charles Chiu (@cychiu98) December 2, 2021
Nov 30
4:00 PM e-mail from @SF_DPH, @ColorGenomics
6:00 PM sample in lab
8:00 PM TaqPath qRT-PCR spike gene dropout
11:00 PM initial 200k+ reads on @nanopore confirms @Omicron
2:00 AM >90% of genome assembled
1 December
This year's Nanopore Community Meeting online saw a number of fantastic talks covering the use of real-time nanopore sequencing for analysis of SARS-CoV-2 — from establishing distributed surveillance networks, to monitoring wastewater air samples. All of the talks are now available to watch on demand.
28 November
In combination with PCRs specific for heavily mutated sites in the spike gene; nanopore-based full-length genome sequencing identified the first four COVID-19 patients in Germany to be infected with omicron
Read the story of the detection of the first four #sarscov2 #omicron cases (along with one case in Hessen) by #vpcr and #nanopore sequecing in Germany in late November 2021 published yesterday with @SpringerNature in #MMIM ?? https://t.co/fYHBCQ15XN
— Chris_toe_fur (@Christoefur11) January 22, 2022
27 November
Nikki Freed issues advice on nanopore sequencing of the Omicron variant, using the Midnight protocol she developed with Olin Silander.
If you are sequencing Omicron (B.1.1.529) COVID genomes with the “Midnight” panel (e.g. using @nanopore) it looks like there might be one region that is dropping out, based on the sequences submitted to GISAID (N=68). Potential quick fix ? (work with @osilander) pic.twitter.com/gUJFBN4IPU
— Nikki Freed (@freed_nikki) November 27, 2021
17 November
A team from Guys & St Thomas’ and The Quadram Institute have developed a same-day workflow using nanopore technology which successfully identifies secondary infections in COVID-19 in hours, rather than days. Read more.
10 November
Distributed surveillance network established in the Philippines following delivery of GridION and Mk1Cs, and extensive training from an international group of nanopore users.
I really can't emphasise enough how much hard work and perseverance went into making this possible! A really huge thanks to everyone in @RITMPH involved, the hugely supportive @nanopore team (particularly SE Asia office). It was REALLY REALLY hard!!! https://t.co/mq6636DzOj
— Kirstyn Brunker (@kirstynbrunker) November 10, 2021
7 October
The National Institute for Medical Research, Tanga, in Tanzania, get up and running with MinION Mk1C for SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequencing.
Delighted with our first sequencing run with the MinION device! #nanopore#ONT#COVID-19#ARTIC network pic.twitter.com/JdqbZHQHeT
— NIMR-TangaCentre (@NIMRTanga) October 7, 2021
22 September
Peinetti et al. report a method for direct detection and differentiation of infectious from noninfectious human adenovirus and SARS-CoV-2, as well as from other virus types, without any sample pretreatment. Read the publication.
28 August
There are over 100 known types of RNA base modification, the most frequent being N6-methyladenosine (m6A), which has been implicated in SARS-CoV-2 immune response evasion. As most SARS-CoV-2 sequencing is performed on reverse transcribed cDNA, which removes base modification information, researchers in Brazil utlised nanopore direct RNA sequencing to study m6A residues. They identified 15 methylated positions across the regions studied. 'The Nanopore technology offers a unique opportunity for the study of viral epitranscriptomics'. Read the pre-print
20 August
According to researchers at Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, while the genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been extensively studied, there is a paucity of studies investigating changes in virus and host transcriptome expression during the course of infection. In this pre-print, the team describe the deployment of direct RNA and direct cDNA sequencing on the MinION device to study virus and host transcriptome at sixteen timepoints, ranging from 1 to 96 hours post infection. Read the pre-print
20 August
In this pre-print, researchers investigated the adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein in mustelids (mink and ferret), which could act as reservoirs for the emergence of new variants of concern. Read the pre-print
28 July
VRDL Patiala that has tested 2.7 million covid samples so far..pleasure to enable SARS Co V2 sequencing with #Midnightprotocol on #Nanopore. Thank you #DrRupinderGill ! Amazing work! pic.twitter.com/hl23UAKsT6
— Sudha Rao (@sudharao3) July 28, 2021
15 July
We conducted our first
— @HerpeZ (@HerpeZ4) July 15, 2021
SARS-CoV-2 sequencing run back in Zambia using @nanopore with Mk1C and MinION flowcell. In the photo our Research assistant @Kwitaka_M and Franklyn postdoc at the University of Lincoln learning procedure from Scientific coordinator @JohnTembo1982 pic.twitter.com/xJ9eH2Gqrn
21 June
Allergy Immunology and Cell Biology Unit (AICBU) ramp up the capacity of sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 genomes with nanopore sequencing technology. @nanopore https://t.co/2412ZEQ0v4
— Chandima Jeewandara (@chandi2012) June 21, 2021
2 June
Look at my fantastic colleagues! Proud to have been part of over 500,000 COVID-19 genomes sequenced by @CovidGenomicsUK
— Dr Sophie (she/they) (@InfraRedRum) June 2, 2021
Appropriately, I'm celebrating with a super quick turnaround on my first @nanopore run, as we respond to unfolding events in the UK pandemic response #COVID19 https://t.co/Jj9ixTp8ri
30 May
Recent research had suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 genome could integrate into the DNA of infected cells through hijacking the host LINE-1 retrotransposition machinery, which would have significant clinical implications. In this pre-print led by researchers at the University of Queensland, Australia, long-read nanopore sequencing was shown to provide reliable resolution of viral insertions as shown for hepatitis B virus; however, no insertions were observed for SARS-CoV-2 infected cells, contradicting the earlier study. The authors conclude that 'such events [SARs-CoV-2 integration] in vivo are highly unlikely to drive later oncogenesis or explain post-recovery detection of the virus'. Read the pre-print
21 May
This year's London Calling online saw a number of fantastic talks covering the use of real-time nanopore sequencing for analysis of SARS-CoV-2 — from genomic epidemiology to host response. All of the talks are now available to watch on demand. Watch talks
21 May
I was thrilled to see how our work towards decentralising SARS-COV-2 sequencing in West Africa is being recognised. This was mentioned by @GSanghea CEO of @nanopore during his opening remark at 2021 #nanoporeconf. Kudos to the Genomic team!! pic.twitter.com/fELs9R6GSk
— Abdoulie Kanteh (@AbdoulieKanteh) May 21, 2021
14 May
Today we have decommissioned our old @nanopore GridION X5, what a life she had. On the verge of replacement in March 2020 she was called back into service and delivered 360 #SARCoV2 runs, over 9800 samples for @CovidGenomicsUK. I hope retirement is kind. pic.twitter.com/K6gmCRrpwb
— Matthew Parker (@bioinfomatt) May 14, 2021
12 May
“Every positive SARS-CoV2 genome must be sequence”. Am proud to be part of this initiative. It is a pleasure to see NIMR sequence their own samples using @nanopore technology. https://t.co/6xwBvTcBhV
— Abdoulie Kanteh (@AbdoulieKanteh) May 12, 2021
10 May
Preprint of our easy-to-use SARS-CoV-2 reconstruction workflow via @nanopore is out. A lot of care went into concise and clear summary reports, especially for big sequencing batches. For German users: Quality assessed by @rki_de recommendations, results are DESH upload prepared. https://t.co/5kP9Uam7wT pic.twitter.com/OVeGTdR1an
— Christian Brandt (@gcloudChris) May 10, 2021
5 May
Oxford Nanopore has released updated kits and protocols to support rapid, scalable, and low-cost sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. The new Midnight protocol utilises rapid barcoding to offer fast turnaround times, less hands-on time, and low cost per sample. Find out more
5 May
We're back!!! After 2 months of upload pause of SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Denmark, we resumed upload yesterday. We still sequence 90%+ of all positive samples in Denmark, with a median turnaround of 5 days and now again with weekly upload to @GISAID. See https://t.co/vCsgmHDWk0 pic.twitter.com/piOwYExVKP
— Mads Albertsen (@MadsAlbertsen85) May 5, 2021
29 April
Wyoming Public Health Laboratory team at the @CDCgov Integrated Foodborne Outbreak Response and Management (#InFORM) meeting on the scale-up of NGS for SARS-CoV-2 using the @nanopore GridION platform. An awesome workhorse for the @NetworkArtic Protocols. #SARSCoV2 pic.twitter.com/GHFcHDmBjL
— Noah Hull, PhD, MPH (@NoahHull_PhD) April 29, 2021
23 April
Introducing InterARTIC, an interactive web app for the analysis of viral WGS data from @nanopore devices. With no bioinformatics expertise, analyse WGS experiments & reconstruct consensus genome sequences from individual isolates of viruses, e.g SARS-CoV-2https://t.co/blwxfirKY2 pic.twitter.com/rZEhJb5Kz4
— James Ferguson (@Psy_Fer_) April 23, 2021
21 April
Using murine-adapted SARS-CoV-2, researchers at the University of Iowa identified that elevated levels of the eicosanoid prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and the phospholipase PLA2G2D contributed to poor outcomes in aged mice. Middle-aged mice lacking expression of the PGD2 receptor DP1 or PLA2G2D were protected from severe disease — demonstrating that this pathway may offer a useful target for therapeutic intervention. Read the preprint
9 April
Using @nanopore MinION, we sequenced whole genomes of SARS-CoV-2 from sewage samples in Kathmandu Nepal as part of our genomic surveillance of circulating virus strains. Here is our preprinthttps://t.co/fYHXTTgWfL https://t.co/K0sys0o70r
— Prajwol Manandhar (@prajwolf) April 9, 2021
31 March
Wastewater-based epidemiology has been proposed as an addition to disease-based surveillance because SARS-CoV-2 virus is shed in the feces of approximately 40% of infected persons. In this study, researchers use nanopore and short-read sequencing technology to monitor the diversity of SARS-CoV-2 at the community level accross multiple wastewater sites in the Netherlands and Belgium — distinguishing clades and identifying novel mutations. Read more
29 March
The response from the genomics community to the COVID-19 pandemic has been a phenomenal and continued effort. Oxford Nanopore Technologies has been privileged to support scientists in more than 85 countries in this work. Watch our video to hear more about their vital research.
26 March
I'm really excited to see that our rapid, easier, lower-cost protocol for SARS-CoV2 genome sequencing is on the @nanopore site and is now in a **96 well format!!**("midnight" 1200 bp primer set with the new rapid kit RBK110.96 barcodes). Designed with @osilander and @m_vlkova. pic.twitter.com/1VUC6xONm5
— Nikki Freed (@freed_nikki) March 26, 2021
26 March
Since COVID-19 hit the UK in March, we've been at the forefront of genomic sequencing – sequencing over 18,000 samples.
— Quadram Institute (@TheQuadram) March 26, 2021
Our new photo essay explores the collective effort of the Quadram, @NorwichResearch, @NNUH, @NHSuk, @CovidGenomicsUK, and @PHE_uk: https://t.co/nJUrKVhvDx
26 March
While B.1.1.7 is now dominating in Denmark (90% in week 11), we also observe more variants of concern/interest.
— Mads Albertsen (@MadsAlbertsen85) March 26, 2021
The past 3 weeks we have generated 8198 genomes (approx. 70% of all positive cases):
24 x B.1.351
6 x P.1
210 x B.1.525
see: https://t.co/vCsgmHDWk0 pic.twitter.com/b7wlOuvYPp
22 March
Researchers in Ecuador sequenced 119 positive SARS-Cov-2 samples taken from all 24 provinces of the country to identify the circulating lineages. Their findings suggest that there were at least 20 independent introductions of the virus to Ecuador. Of the recently identified variants of concern (i.e. B.1.1.7, P.1, and B1.351) which show increased transmissibility, only B1.1.7 was detected (in three samples from the same province). ‘The current pandemic is unlikely to be the last, and it is, therefore, essential to improve the response capacity of our public health systems and to implement and strengthen continuous scientific research programs.’ Read pre-print.
18 March
Sequencing capacity is vital for detection of new variants, but is limited in some parts of the world. Listen to this webinar from Kahlil Corazo, during which he discussed bringing affordable sequencing to the Philippines to improve genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2. Watch the webinar.
17 March
Report from COG-UK identifies recombinant SARS-CoV-2 genomes resulting from co-infection of different virus lineages in the same individual. The authors suggest that such recombinant genomes are expected and will have no immediate implications for the trajectory of the pandemic. ‘We predict that recombination between distinct lineages will be commonly detected wherever intensive genome sequencing is undertaken.’ Read report.
10 March
Oxford Nanopore releases ARTIC + Nextclade EPI2ME analysis - offering a simple, streamlined workflow for analysing SARS-CoV-2 genomes, including consensus sequence generation and variant visualisation. Find out more in the Nanopore Community
5 March
Following the observation by researchers in the Netherlands of reciprocal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between human and mink, researchers in Poland have now also identified a mink-to-human transmission event. According to the team, the variant had been circulating in the mink population for at least three months prior to human transmission. ‘Our results confirm the need for country-scale epizootiological monitoring and careful analysis of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.’ View the article.
5 March
OTD last year, scientists at the @UofGlasgow @CVRinfo sequenced the #SARS_CoV_2 virus from Scotland’s first #COVID19 case, just 24hrs after it was reported.
— UofG MVLS (@UofGMVLS) March 3, 2021
Rapid sequencing has remained vital, and researchers at the CVR are at the heart of the pandemic response?? @The_MRC https://t.co/p6Q64F0Mos
5 March
A drop in the ocean, but happy to contribute European Nucleotide Archive ten #SARSCoV2 @nanopore #PromethION sequences from #Naples #Italy work of Federica Di Maggio at @Ceinge and @GDamaggio @flavia_villani More sequences coming but still too few? pic.twitter.com/3jn0UvRsE0
— Enza Colonna (@v_colonna) March 5, 2021
3 March
The New York Times reports on how the SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant, first identified in Brazil in December 2020, is behind a second wave of infections in Brazil and elsewhere. Initial evidence suggests that not only does this variant have increased transmissibility but also that it can reinfect people who had previously been infected with non-P.1 lineages. View the article.
3 March
Using whole genome sequencing data from 4,400 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples, researchers at the University of Sheffield describe how subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) expression is significantly increased in the highly transmisible B.1.1.7 variant. According to the team 'These findings provide a unique insight into the biology of B.1.1.7 and support monitoring of sgRNA profiles in sequence data to evaluate emerging potential variants of concern'. Read paper.
Very excited to tell you all about our new PRE-PRINT https://t.co/ifBaXucWK0 - Altered subgenomic RNA expression profiles in B.1.1.7 #SARSCoV2 using @nanopore & @NetworkArtic genomic seq data. This builds on our previous work describing sgRNA detection using this data 1/10 pic.twitter.com/YRV1PV2kMe
— Matthew Parker (@bioinfomatt) March 3, 2021
3 March
PhD student @HannahTriv tells us about her role delivering rapid whole genome sequencing of COVID-19 samples, and how this is helping to improve understanding of Covid-19 and inform public health interventions. ➡️https://t.co/raxeAa0abV #livunicovid #teamlivuni pic.twitter.com/zUNfWiSMRR
— University of Liverpool (@LivUni) March 3, 2021
3 March
OTD last year, scientists at the @UofGlasgow @CVRinfo sequenced the #SARS_CoV_2 virus from Scotland’s first #COVID19 case, just 24hrs after it was reported.
— UofG MVLS (@UofGMVLS) March 3, 2021
Rapid sequencing has remained vital, and researchers at the CVR are at the heart of the pandemic response?? @The_MRC https://t.co/p6Q64F0Mos
26 February
At Akershus University Hospital, Norway, several clusters of possible intra-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission were identified based on routine contact tracing. Using ARTIC whole genome sequencing of 46 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples on the GridION device, researchers were able to confirm two and refute one proposed healthcare-associated transmission events. In addition, another transmission event not identified using traditional epidemiological data was potentially observed. 'Using nanopore sequencing in real-time surveillance and outbreak investigation would help with better identification and demarcation of outbreaks and limit further spread by aiding the implementation of targeted measures'. Read the paper.
18 February
Researchers in Germany deployed an integrated system of genomic surveillance in the city of Düsseldorf. Analysis of 320 SARS-CoV-2 genomes together with epidemiological data allowed the confirmation of four hospital-associated outbreak clusters, enabling the implementation of improved infection control procedures. Furthermore, five other candidate community clusters were confirmed, as well as a previously unsuspected transmission event. Their real-time nanopore sequencing workflow enabled a sample-to-answer turnaround time of <30 hours. Read the paper.
Preprint out now: "Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 genetic structure and infection clusters in a large German city based on integrated genomic surveillance, outbreak analysis, and contact tracing". Brief summary below. https://t.co/la3P4fO6hY
— Alexander Dilthey (@AlexDilthey) February 20, 2021
18 February
Watch how Veolia are deploying nanopore sequencing to identify SARS-CoV-2 variants in wastewater, supporting the identification of variants of concern across a wide geographical area to inform localised surge testing and disease control. Watch video (English subtitles).
@IPMC_sophia sequencing platform is tracking #sars-cov2 genomic evolution in wastewater with @nanopore https://t.co/Yq0Fv0yt7w
— Fran çois (@FrancoisBerdou) February 18, 2021
16 February
New briefing paper discusses how researchers around the world are using real-time nanopore sequencing technology to help manage infectious disease outbreaks, including COVID-19. Read more.
Genomic epidemiology — powered by rapid, accessible sequencing technology — supports the precise tracking of pathogen evolution, providing detailed insights to inform decision making & management of future outbreaks. Read more: https://t.co/qM46ygfgHx #COVID19 #SARSCoV2 pic.twitter.com/9GYDJ3p2i1
— Oxford Nanopore (@nanopore) February 16, 2021
11 February
In Denmark B.1.1.7 is now at 27% in week 5 (initial data, 169/623 genomes). Development for the past weeks: 2, 4, 7, 13, 20, 27%.
— Mads Albertsen (@MadsAlbertsen85) February 11, 2021
In week 4 we have sequenced 85.4% of all positive qPCR samples in DK (3082/3610) and 65.9% have a genome (2380/3610). See https://t.co/ZKwm579Zxr
11 February
The public health labs in Alaska have teamed up with University labs run by Eric Bortz & Devin Drown to improve sequencing capacity, time to result & detection of new variants of #SARSCoV2 in Alaska. Read more.
Alaska has built as team of scientists to hunt for new, more-contagious variants of the coronavirus. The state is already doing more that other states to track variants, but it aims to do even better. Here's how. https://t.co/YEX17RQNa6
— Alaska Public Media News (@AKpublicnews) February 11, 2021
9 February
Researchers at Southern Illinois University describe a complete set of optimised SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing protocols based on the ARTIC methodology - from viral RNA extraction to analysis. The entire workflow is performed in a 96-well plate format and has been validated on over 1,000 samples from the US state of Illinois. Read more.
8 February
During infection there are several variants in the race for dominance. With #ngs technology we identified a natural attenuated #SARS_CoV_2 variant. @nanopore #sequencing unfortunately no success of isolation -> we did in silico analysis https://t.co/xNrtaP1IbZ
— Gabor Kemenesi (@GaborKemenesi) February 8, 2021
6 February
Very proud of my team @JackDorman10, @iliciub1, Nicole Perry working tirelessly on #SARSCoV2 genome sequencing for variant surveillance and community transmission - Indiana. @PurdueBiolSci @nanopore @NetworkArtic pic.twitter.com/hKoRlLmSqN
— Giovanna Carpi (@giocarpi) February 6, 2021
31 January
Researchers at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust successfully sequence SARS-CoV-2, reducing their reliance on laboratories in South Africa.
...& proud of the sequencing work that has resulted from this WT COVID grant which will inform the Malawian Governments COVID response. Led by @catanscombe & @KGBscience @LivUni_IVES @MlwTrust @WTCGHR @benjamesmorton pic.twitter.com/q5tHJyNhUV
— Jen Cornick (@micro_jen) January 31, 2021
30 January
Researchers in Malta describe the results of sequencing local SARS-CoV-2 genomes using the ARTIC protocol, assigning them to the B1 lineage. 'Rapid sequencing is important for surveillance of circulating viral strains and for prompt contact tracing'.
29 January
Researchers in China identify a deletion in SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein 1 (NSP1) associated with lower viral load, enrichment with non-severe traits, and lower serum IFN-β levels in the serum of infected patients, potentially supporting molecular diagnostics and drug design. Read more.
28 January
Introducing CoVariants.org — a one-stop location to track SARS-CoV-2 mutations & variants that scientists are keeping an eye on.
?The new and improved https://t.co/wVE7ucgcg6 is here! ?
— Dr Emma Hodcroft (@firefoxx66) January 28, 2021
We're hoping to make this a one-stop location to track not only the 'headline' variants, but many different #SARSCoV2 mutations & variants that scientists are keeping an eye on.
Let's take a tour of the site!
1/12 pic.twitter.com/S1PAlWcm5t
22 January
CADDE teams in Brazil share their sample preparation workflow for SARS-CoV-2 sequencing on GridION
Check out @drajaquegoes @_severomari @IngraClaro @flah_salles @candido_darlan preparing @nanopore libraries for real-time sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 @caddeProject??
— CADDE Project (@CaddeProject) January 22, 2021
And don't forget to read the @WHO guidelines on SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing:
▶️ https://t.co/4BlCepFp6H pic.twitter.com/S4e3AH20qz
21 January
Teams from the University of Amsterdam publish vaccine development research for a two-component spike nanoparticle vaccine, where rapid SARS-CoV-2 sequencing is used to assess the potential emergence of viral escape variants in vaccinated versus control subjects.
19 January
The database GISAID now includes more than 80,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes for which nanopore sequencing has been used, from more than 70 countries.
18 January
Genomic surveillance can lead to early identification of novel viral variants and inform pandemic response. Using nanopore sequencing with the ARTIC whole genome protocol, investigators at Southern Illinois University identify a new SARS-CoV-2 variant (20C-US), which they believe to have been circulating uncharacterised in the US for many months. 'This study underscores the need for greater genomic surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, especially at the regional level where novel variants will first emerge.' Read more.
12 January
Nuno Faria and the CADDE team publish a report on a new emerging SARS-CoV-2 lineage, P.1, in Manaus, an area with previously high COVID infections in Brazil.
12 January
Teams in Ecuador report finding the first case of the B117 lineage of SARS-CoV-2.
.@INSPI_ECUADOR después de confirmar la presencia de la nueva variante Británica de #SARSCoV2 en el país, continúa trabajando articuladamente con @Salud_Ec en la Secuenciación Genómica de muestras de personas que se encuentran en el cerco epidemiológico levantado por el MSP pic.twitter.com/Agn1wRdlWg
— INSPI ECUADOR (@INSPI_ECUADOR) January 12, 2021
8 January
World Health Organisation report provides detailed recommendations on implementation of systems to use sequence data of SARS-CoV-2 for maximum impact on human health.
6 January
Researchers in Mindanao in the Philippines are starting their SARS-CoV-2 sequencing journey after a collaboration with AccessibleGenomics.org
It has finally arrived here in PGC MINDANAO!?
— Philippine Genome Center Mindanao (@pgcmindanao) January 6, 2021
The portable genetic sequencer from Oxford Nanopore Technologies for the FIRST EVER on-site SEQUENCING of SARS-CoV-2 in Mindanao! ?
In partnership with https://t.co/HhHChBL3Fp and through funding from Just One Giant Lab#SARSCOV2 pic.twitter.com/jKlLR4mQ8L
3 January, 2021
Teams in the Caribbean countries of Trinidad & Tobago and Jamaica have been collaborating on local rapid sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, and recently confirmed the presence of the B117 lineage in Jamaica
Our project @IMPACT_UWI established local capacity for @nanopore sequencing to enhance Caribbean public health efforts against COVID-19. Less than 2 wks after generating our 1st sequences, we responded to the call from @CARPHA1 and confirmed B.1.1.7 in Jamaica. Well done team!
— Christine Carrington (@CVFCarrington) January 3, 2021
2 January
Teams in Wyoming describe the establishment of 'near real time genomic epidemiology' with <24 hour turnaround from positive sample to sequence; this service will be used to understand the emergence of new lineages
First few SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequencing runs off the @ClearLabsInc @nanopore platform these past few days. This now brings near-real-time sequencing (on epidemiology request) to Wyoming #covid19seq #covid. From testing positive to having WGS, 24 hours. #lookingforB117
— Noah Hull, PhD, MPH (@NoahHull_PhD) January 2, 2021
31 December 2020
The CADDE project in Brazil reports the first identification of the B117 lineage of SARS-CoV-2, in two samples that tested positive less than 36 hours beforehand. One case has no history of travel outside Brazil; the authors recommend increasing genomic surveillance of the virus to understand the extent of community transmission of the lineage. Read the report here.
29 December
Teams at McGill University, L'Institut national de santé publique du Québec and Canadian Centre for Computational Genomics (C3G) confirm a suspected case of the B117 lineage in Quebec.
Using nanopore sequencing, our team, in collaboration with @mcgillgenome & @inspq were able to confirm the B.1.1.7 lineage for 1 suspected case in Quebec. We are continuing to work hard with public health authorities the tools they require to shape policy and help us stay safe. https://t.co/B0mF3GWHDm
— C3G (@C3Genomics) December 29, 2020
Teams in Uganda release a report of the genomic characteristics of the country's COVID-19 infections.
New SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Uganda now in @GISAID Big effort from many including: @BugembeLule @MRC_Uganda @cphluganda @UVRIug. Support from @wellcometrust @The_MRC @nanopore and others. Short Report in @virological_org https://t.co/iCVxtaSBEQ pic.twitter.com/vZddPekrbg
— Matthew Cotten (@mlcotten13) December 29, 2020
23 December
Approaching Christmas, many labs are striving to characterise their SARS-CoV-2 samples, and in particular the new B117 variant. Follow progress in Denmark, Norwich, Liege.
So proud of the @aauengineering team! Skipping holidays and rocking 3738 SARS-CoV-2 samples in 3 days! Finishing a 13-hour day with 22 @nanopore flowcells with 1958 samples! Providing @SSI_dk and the DK government with a real-time overview of B.1.1.7 in Denmark! pic.twitter.com/jIMbr8wDc6
— Mads Albertsen (@MadsAlbertsen85) December 23, 2020
14 December
The COG-UK network posts a comprehensive article on the new B117 variant of SARS-CoV-2
11 December
The WSJ reports on the use of nanopore sequencing to rapidly understand a COVID-19 outbreak within the Baltimore Ravens.
9 December
Using 157 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples and synthetic RNA controls, researchers in Australia reported that, using nanopore sequencing, '…highly accurate consensus-level sequence determination was achieved, with single nucleotide variants (SNVs) detected at >99% sensitivity and >99% precision…'. Read more
Our article on the accuracy of @nanopore sequencing for SARS-CoV-2 genomics is out now (spoiler alert: it's very accurate). Great effort from @thiruni1 @jil_hammond @Psy_Fer_ @Row_Bull and many others :) https://t.co/eeZkKUr5u8
— Genomic Technologies Group (@GenTechGp) December 9, 2020
3 December
A preprint from teams led by Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital, London, describes the use of nanopore metagenomic sequencing to rapidly characterise co-infections in ICU patients with COVID-19, including drug resistance of bacterial infections.
3 December
Over 2,500 delegates joined leading scientists from around the world to hear the latest research presented at the Nanopore Community Meeting 2020 online. A number of talks covered the extensive use of nanopore technology for genomic epidemiology of COVID-19, including:
Áine O'Toole: SARS-CoV-2 outbreak investigation: from sample to response in a dayMatthew Parker: Periscope: sub-genomic RNA identification in SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing data
Kahili Corazo's talk at the Nanopore Community Meeting outlines Project Accessible Genomics; watch for an overview of genomic epidemiology in a low resource setting in the Philippines
View all talks
29 November
Nanopore sequencing using the ARTIC protocol was performed on SARS-CoV-2 samples from 22 individuals enrolled in a clinical trial in India, investigating the potential benefits of convalescent plasma therapy (CPT). All individuals were shown to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 clade 20A. Results of the wider study revealed significant benefits of CPT in individuals under the age of 67 with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Read more
20 November
Researchers in the US utilised metagenomic nanopore sequencing to study the microbiome and potential co-infections in 50 individuals with suspected COVID-19. Possible bacterial or viral co-infections were observed for 12.5% of SARS-CoV-2 positive sample. In addition, a decrease in microbial diversity was found among COVID-19 confirmed individuals. The researchers commented: ‘This work illustrates the utility of mNGS for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, for diagnosing co-infections without viral target enrichment or amplification, and for the analysis of the respiratory microbiome.’ Read more
16 November
A study from the Quadram Institute, UK notes that large scale sequencing of the virus can allow detailed epidemiology and enable local outbreak management, including insights from food samples. Read more
Paper describing our coronavirus sequencing work. More genomes sequenced @QIB than most countries in the world! Data used to understand outbreaks in factories and care homes in the region with help from @PHE_uk, Test and Trace and @NNUH. Huge team effort. https://t.co/nxy3K6NA5K
— justin ogrady (@Justin_OGrady) October 1, 2020
18 November
New SARS-CoV-2 genome personal-best by the lab-team @aauengineering. Running 17 (!) @nanopore MinIONs in parallel (1000+ samples). The bioinformatic-team looks a little scared of the volume of data influx... Great work by @SSI_dk and DK hospitals to keep sample-flow up! pic.twitter.com/LAUnvv81la
— Mads Albertsen (@MadsAlbertsen85) November 18, 2020
10 November
Research has shown that SARS-CoV-2 can infect a variety of animals (e.g. non-human primates, cats, ferrets, hamsters). Published in Science, this paper presents an in-depth analysis of 16 SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in mink farms in the Netherlands. Results indicated that the virus was introduced from humans to mink and subsequently evolved. Sixty eight percent of tested mink farm residents and employees had evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, some individuals were infected with strains with an animal sequence signature, providing evidence of animal-to-human transmission. Read more
Do you want to know more about the SARSCoV2 outbreak in the Dutch mink farm and how @nanopore could help, check out the seminar on Virus hunting ! https://t.co/V35jsx11HR
— Frederieke Koller (@FrederiekeF) November 10, 2020
5 November
Following previous studies showing enhanced fitness of SARS-CoV-2 exibiting the D614G spike (S) protein variant, this new study provides similar findings for the N439K variant in the S protein receptor binding motif (RBM). Furthermore, the researchers observed that the N439K mutation resulted in immune escape from a panel of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, ‘highlighting the need for ongoing molecular surveillance to guide development and usage of vaccines and therapeutics’. Nanopore sequencing supported the phylogenetic analysis, revealing the N439K variant to have arisen independently multiple times and twice forming significant lineages. Read more
2 November
We passed a sad milestone of sequencing 10.000 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples in DK and are currently sequencing 1000+ pr. week to track how the pandemic unfolds in DK. You can dive into the danish data here https://t.co/0gnHfXRoDH and soon on GISAID again @aauengineering @SSI_dk
— Mads Albertsen (@MadsAlbertsen85) November 2, 2020
27 October
Nanopore sequencing used to support study confirming enhanced fitness of the SARS-CoV-2 D614G substitution in the spike (S) protein. This substitution, which occurred early in the COVID-19 pandemic, rapidly became the dominant variant. This pre-print reveals how the D614G variant confers enhanced binding to the human ACE2 receptor (facilitating virus internalisation), increased replication in respiratory cells, and increased transmissibility – providing an explanation for its global predominance. Read more
26 October
Researchers in The Gambia published data for the first SARS-CoV-2 cases in the country. Phylogenetic analysis revealed three strains of European origin (UK and Spain) and two strains of Asian origin (Japan). Both nanopore sequencing and traditional short-read sequencing technologies were used in combination with the ARTIC protocol, providing results in 20 hours and 3 days after sample receipt, respectively. According to the researchers, ‘The nanopore platform with its flexibility for number of samples per run, and the generation of data in real-time and at a reasonable cost makes it most suitable for outbreaks’. Furthermore, long nanopore sequencing reads ‘…can help with the understanding of the linkage between SNPs within individual virions’. Read more
14 October
Although single nucleotide polymorphisms and point mutations occur during the replication of coronaviruses, one of the biggest drivers in genetic change is recombination. In this study, researchers utilised long nanopore sequencing reads to identify deletions in a number of SARS-CoV-2 genomes from clinical research samples. The researchers argue that the facility of long reads to identify recombination events is an essential requirement for genomic epidemiology, supporting potential contract tracing, assessing the suitability of diagnostic assays, and providing confidence in vaccine efficacy. Read more
13 October
Washington post article outlines how the insights provided by genomic epidemiology, including through the application of nanopore sequencing, are informing public health and policy response to COVID-19.
Great to see our work on rapid sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 to investigate healthcare-associated #COVID @CUH_NHS featured in the @washingtonpost today @Cambridge_Uni @Cambridge_COGUK @CovidGenomicsUK https://t.co/7siCByKPZz
— estee (@EsteeTorok) October 13, 2020
13 October
Co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and another respiratory virus is a global health concern. In this study, nanopore sequencing was used to analyse differential gene expression between mice infected with either SARS-CoV-2, influenza A virus, or both. In the case of co-infections, the mice exhibited downregulation of several genes specific to airway epithelial cells, likely indicating increased lung epithelial cell damage. Interestingly, co-infection also resulted in significantly lower levels of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA at day 6, indicating that IAV interferes with the SARS-CoV-2 infection at this timepoint. Read more
9 October
The LamPORE assay is now CE marked for in vitro diagnostic use for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, using the GridION device. Read more
7 October
Researchers in Kenya utilised nanopore technology to generate 274 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from samples collected early in the Kenyan pandemic. Phylogenetic analysis identified 8 global lineages and at least 76 independent introductions into the country. The team concluded that border screening and early surveillance efforts, combined with contact tracing and quarantining of identified cases, successfully prevented the majority of potential introductions. Read more
25 September
Independent evaluation study demonstrates that LamPORE provides equivalent accuracy to current gold-standard SARS-CoV-2 tests, paving the way for regulatory approval of the assay. Read more
17 September
The genomic surveillance of S and N proteins during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic can be useful for developing vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostic tests. In this study, researchers analysed the genomes of 43 South American SARS-CoV-2 virus samples, revealing that genomes with conserved position D614 were almost completely replaced by genomes with the G614 substitution between March to April 2020. Read more
01 September
SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks associated with 16 mink farms in the Netherlands were investigated using nanopore sequencing. Results indicate that the virus was introduced to mink from humans and has since evolved. Subsequent transmission from mink to humans was identified, with 68% of tested farm workers and/or their contacts shown to be infected. Read more
04 September
ARTIC network pre-print describes enhanced SARS-CoV-2 genome coverage, improved demultiplexing, 1-hour reduction in hands on time, and reagents costs of ~£10 ($13) per sample — further supporting ongoing population-scale sequencing. Read more
28 August
First SARS-CoV-2 genomes from Botswana being sequenced on MinION.
TIBA Botswana running Nanopore sequencing of Botswana’s first SARS-CoV-2 genomes. #NIHGglobalhealth @TibaPartnership pic.twitter.com/xz2dynIo7I
— TibaB (@TibaB8) August 28, 2020
25 August
Nanopore sequencing supports study of 210 SARS-CoV-2 samples from the state of Telangana, India. The dominant sample clade was identified as 10B; however, mutational analysis revealed genomic variants unique to the Telangana samples. The authors suggest the data will support informed public health decisions and knowledge on host immune evasion, with implications in vaccine development. Read more
25 August
Kai-Wang To et al used MinION with ARTIC whole genome sequencing methodology to perform rapid whole genome sequencing of samples collected during two episodes of COVID-19 in a patient — the first resulting in hospitalisation and the second asymptomatic, identified through routine travel screening. The data suggest that the second episode was caused by re-infection as opposed to persistent viral shedding. Read more
20 August
Nanopore sequencing technology was used to support the generation of 649 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from New Zealand. Despite its remoteness, the viruses imported into New Zealand represented nearly all of the genomic diversity sequenced from the global virus population. The data also helped to quantify the effectiveness of public health interventions, which, for the largest cluster, were shown to reduce the reproductive number from 7 to 0.2 within the first week of lockdown. According to the authors ‘these results demonstrate the utility of genomic pathogen surveillance to inform public health and disease mitigation’. Read more
11 August
Oxford Nanopore share preprint describing the LamPORE method for rapid, accurate, and highly scalable molecular screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Read the paper
We’re delighted to share this preprint describing the LamPORE method. The @nanopore team and external collaborators have been pushing innovation to the max these last few months developing LamPORE — a new assay for detection of #SARSCoV2. https://t.co/hlWHT1M3kg [1/2] pic.twitter.com/CsWf99wEni
— Oxford Nanopore (@nanopore) August 11, 2020
28 July
The SARS-CoV-2 S glycoprotein is a leading vaccine targeted. In this study, researchers identified a 24-nucleotide deletion in over half of SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein transcripts from cultured cells. These findings emphasise the importance of monitoring viral genome sequence during the growth of viral stocks. Read more
23 July
Science publication describes the use of nanopore technology in conjunction with the ARTIC whole genome sequencing methodology to analyse 427 Brazilian SARS-CoV-2 genomes. The results indicated over 100 international introductions of the pathogen. The virus was shown to be well-established prior to the implementation of travel bans and non-pharmaceutical interventions, suggesting more rigorous measures may be required to further control virus spread. Read more
A team of scientists from @UniofOxford, @FMUSPoficial and more has determined the transmission rates and out-of-country origins of predominant #SARSCoV2 strains in #Brazil. Current interventions remain insufficient to control transmission there, they say: https://t.co/AysIrtVc3R pic.twitter.com/W4LBJckXeS
— Science Magazine (@ScienceMagazine) July 23, 2020
21 July
Using direct RNA sequencing on the MinION, researchers in Germany demonstrated consistent RNA modification patterns across three SARS-CoV-2 isolates. These results suggest that base modifications may represent a possible target for drug interventions. Read the pre-print.
Direct RNAseq of SARS-CoV-2 with @nanopore in human lung epithelial cells with 3 replicates. Consistent RNA modification patterns of SARS-CoV-2 that are conserved during progression of the current pandemic. Preprint: https://t.co/gRVEP2Gibv
— Milad Miladi (@MiladMiladi_) July 21, 2020
14 July
In a publication in the Lancet, researchers in Cambridge, UK, implemented a rapid nanopore sequencing workflow to investigate suspected healthcare-associated COVID-19 cases. The assay, which delivered sample-to-sequence in under 12 hours, was applied to 1,000 samples collected from hospitals across the East of England. The results allowed identification of hospital-acquired transmission and substantial transmission in healthcare-associated community settings — supporting the implementation of enhanced infection control measures. Read more
1 July
Nanopore sequencing used for first report into genetic diversity of Moroccan SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Sixty-one mutations were observed in the samples compared with the reference sample. Phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple introductions with no specific strain currently dominating. Read more
24 June
MedRiv pre-print describes use of ARTIC nanopore sequencing protocol to identify a SNP in SARS-CoV-2 genome that negatively impacts qRT-PCR testing. Analysis of GISAID data reveals same mutation has arisen independently multiple times.
23 June
Researchers use nanopore technology in conjunction with the ARTIC whole genome sequencing methodology to analyse 427 Brazilian SARS-CoV-2 genomes. The results indicated over 100 international introductions of the pathogen. The virus was shown to be well-established prior to the implementation of travel bans and non-pharmaceutical interventions, suggesting more rigorous measures may be required to further control virus spread. Read more
18 June
Nanopore sequencing used to investigate genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the multiple introductions and the existence of a major SARS-CoV-2 B1.1 lineage associated with widespread community transmission. Read more
18 June
At London Calling 2020, experts in epidemiology came together from across the world to discuss the sequencing-based response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the Kenya, China, the UK and the US. Read more here.
9 June
G42 announce population-scale LamPORE SARS-CoV-2 testing workflow in UAE — capable of processing hundreds of thousands of samples daily.
5 June
Twenty Ugandan SARS-CoV-2 genomes generated using nanopore sequencing added to GISAID.
Researchers @MRC_Uganda @UVRIug, @MinofHealthUG & partners have generated the first SARS-CoV-2 full genomes using Nanopore sequencing.
— MRC Uganda (@MRC_Uganda) June 5, 2020
Data from twenty viral genomes are now available in @GISAID https://t.co/g9SymNSKTs
#COVID19 @The_MRC @LSHTM @DFID_UK @mlcotten13 pic.twitter.com/ummzknAlvA
2 June
Over 100 Kenyan SARS-CoV-2 genomes are now available on GISAID. Results reveal that early cases came from multiple introductions to the country from Europe and Asia.
We show that early SARS-CoV-2 cases came frm multiple importations into the country from Europe and Asia. Our current WGS data provides evidence for multiple (~10) circulating 'dynamic' lineages in Kenya. https://t.co/QP6OglOizO #KomeshaCorona #COVID19KE
— George Githinji (@george_l) June 2, 2020
22 May
Oxford Nanopore Technologies announces advanced development of LamPORE, for rapid, highly scalable, low-cost COVID-19 detection. LamPORE is designed to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in a saliva, swab or environmental samples. It is the first assay developed by Oxford Nanopore with the intention of future diagnostic use.
19 May
In Australia, researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have been sequencing SARS-CoV-2 samples on Nanopore's high-throughput sequencer PromethION, achieving 100X coverage in just 20 minutes.
Get over over 100x coverage for your #SARS_CoV_2 samples with @nanopore in ~20min with this one neat trick! Flongle and MinION users will hate you. All bow before the PromethION supremacy!
— James Ferguson (@Psy_Fer_) May 19, 2020
2.5kb amplicons, rapid barcoding kit.
Also, daaaaaamn RAMPART v1.2 is good pic.twitter.com/U5D7n26okx
15 May
In a study published in The Lancet, a team of researchers investigated a COVID-19 outbreak in Bavaria, Germany. Combing epidemiology informaton, genomic data generated from a MinION device was used to understand transmission events and parameters that are relevant for successful containment.
15 May
A group of scientists in Canada led by Dr. Martin Smith have been ramping up their efforts to sequence SARS-CoV-2 genomes on MinION Mk1C. So far, 28 whole genome sequences have been made available on GISAID, with more to come. Read more about how Mk 1C has being used in the field.
14 May
Scientists in Sheffield hit the incredible milestone of 1000 COVID-19 nanopore genomes in just over 8 weeks.
Today we hit the incredible milestone of 1000 #COVID19 @nanopore genomes. A little over 8 weeks ago we had done 2. @SheffieldBRC @FloreyInstitute @SheffieldHosp @SheffieldMBB @SheffieldAPS @shefcompsci @Thushan_deSilva pic.twitter.com/5APDHviYAx
— Sheffield Bioinformatics Core (@SheffBioinfCore) May 14, 2020
11 May
To better understand the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Minas Gerais (MG), the second most populous state in southeast Brazil, a team of scientists sequenced 40 complete genomes using Nanopore's MinION device. Combing with the existing epidemiological data from 3 states, these findings highlight the need for real-time and continued genomic surveillance strategies to prepare against the epidemic spread of emerging viral pathogens. Read the pre-print here.
4 May
At UCL, 458 SARS-CoV-2 genomes have been submitted to COVID-19 Genomic Consortium UK using nanopore sequencing. Find out more from the pre-print here.
458 genomes #SARSCoV2 submitted to #COGUK using 2kb amplicons and @nanopore sequencing. Public release today through @CovidGenomicsUK
— uclpgu (@uclpgu) May 4, 2020
Protocols now online at https://t.co/FAk7am4zLp https://t.co/EzA87Cjj37
Preprint https://t.co/ilbu5yZH45@uclgenomics @PaolaResende1
3 May
A team of researchers published a study describing the sequencing of 320 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from COVID-19 patients in metropolitan Houston, Texas, on Oxford Nanopore's GridION device. "This study represents analysis of the largest sample of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences to date from patients in the southern United States, The data provide a critical resource for assessing virus evolution, the origin of new outbreaks, and the effect of host immune response".
1 May
Scientists led by ErasmusMC combined epidemiological data with whole genome sequencing (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples from using nanopore sequencing, to perform an in-depth analysis of sources and modes of transmission of SARS -CoV-2 in healthcare worker and patients. Read the pre-print here.
1 May
For the past 6 weeks, scientists at Cambridge COVID-19 genomic lab have been sequencing SARS-CoV-2 genomes on GridION sequencer. So far, they have sequenced 1000 genomes for Covid-19 Genomics Consortium UK.
We have been hard at work at @CamPathology for the past 6 weeks using the SARS-CoV-2 protocols developed by @NetworkArtic to sequence coronavirus genomes on the @nanopore GridION! As of last week we have sequenced 1000 genomes for @CovidGenomicsUK!
— Cambridge COVID-19 Genomics Lab (@Cambridge_COGUK) May 1, 2020
30 April
First COVID-19 samples sequenced on a MinION Mk1C
This week, a team at Fuyang City CDC in China became the first to sequence COVID-19 samples using MinION Mk1C. They sequenced nine samples using MinION Mk1C and have been sequencing SARS-CoV-2 genomes using the ARTIC protocol on MinION since the outbreak began, helping to inform the public health response.
The MinION Mk1C combines the real-time, rapid, portable sequencing of MinION and Flongle with real-time, powerful GPU based computing and a high resolution screen, in one portable device. The device became available to early access users at the start of the year and following success from this group, more MinION Mk1C’s are now making their way into the field. Find out more about Mk1C here.
30 April
Spike protein of SASE-CoV-2 plays an important role both in viral infectivity and as an antibody target. Researches at the University of Sheffield, UK develped a spike mutation pipeline that has the potential to reveal the emergence of a more transmissible form of SARS-CoV-2. In this paper, long-read nanopore whole genome sequencing was used for the detection and sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from clinical samples
30 April
In this pre-print, a team of researchers in Düsseldorf, Germany carried out a genomic epidemiology investigation for "Heinsberg Outbreak" -- Germany's first large-scale SARS-CoV-2 outbreak from nearby city, Düsseldorf (70km away). Whole-genome sequencing of 55 SARS-CoV-2 isolates were sequenced using the ARTIC protocol and nanopore technology, informing public health containment and contact tracing efforts.
29 April
Scientists join forces to form the Irish Coronavirus Sequencing Consortium – they’ll use nanopore technology to track viral epidemiology.
Delighted to be part of the Irish Coronavirus Sequencing Consortium @MaynoothUni led by @pauldcotter and Fiona Crispie using @nanopore to tack viral epidemiology https://t.co/etcZ7KFM7u
— Fiona Walsh (@FionaWalsh14) April 29, 2020
25 April
A study led by ErasmusMC and CDC in the Netherlands published a pre-print , describing the first three weeks of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in the Netherlands,The timely generation of whole genome sequences using nanopore technology combined with epidemiological investigations facilitated early decision making in an attempt to control local transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Netherlands.
25 April
A new pre-print on bioRxiv described nsp14-ExoN as a key determinant for both high fidelity CoV replication and recombination. Long-read direct RNA sequencing on the Oxfod Nanopore Technologies MinION platform was used to sequence complete RNA molecules.
24 April
In a new paper published by Public Health–Seattle and King County (PHSKC) and the CDC at Atlanta on NEJM, researchers identified residents in a skilled nursing home with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection used combined methods including rRT-PCR and Nanopore MinION sequencing to conduct further investigation for the prevalence and transmission in the facility.
23 April
Using ARTIC procotol on MinION sequencer, scientists completed the first batch of 328 Danish COVID-19 genomes. Sequences are now available on GISAID.
22 April
The first SARS-CoV-2 sequence is completed in The Gambia using ARTIC protocol on Nanopore MinION device. Genome sequence is now available on GISAID.
20 April
As part of the UK COVID-19 consortium, researchers at UCL are running nanopore sequencing at full capacity, generating 192 SARS-CoV-2 genomes in 6 hours.
Running @nanopore sequencing at full capacity #COGUKLondon ?? 192 #SARSCoV2 genomes in 6 hours monitoring by #articRAMPART @uclpgu @uclgenomics #COVID19 #COGUK #gridION #MinION pic.twitter.com/2qpTYBPADu
— Paola Resende (@PaolaResende1) April 20, 2020
16 April
The first complete SARS-CoV-2 sequence in Montreal using ARTIC protocol on Nanopore MinION device.
Premier génome de #SARS_COV_2 québécois!
— The Smith Laboratory (@TheRealSmithLab) April 16, 2020
On teste le protocole de séquençage en temps réel @NetworkArtic sur un échantillon contrôle en parallèle avec @McGillGenome. 162,000 lectures d'ADN après 1h sur une puce @nanopore #MinION réutilisée, avec 95% du génome couvert >200x pic.twitter.com/HPEVh8hQgX
14 April
Nearly 600 SARS-CoV-2 sequences have been uploaded by UK COVID-19 Consortium onto GISAID, with many other users scaling up nanopore sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
9 April
~900 scientists from 50 countries worldwide joined two webinars to learn how to use nanopore sequencing in COVID-19. You can find more information about the webinars here.
9 April
In Virginia, scientists at the Department of General Services’ (DGS) Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) are among the first to use Oxford Nanopore's portable MinION sequencer to decode Virginian OCVID-19 samples that contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which will help health officials better understand and track the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic - how the virus is changing and how it is being transmitted. Read NBC news report here.
6 April
141 new Belgian SARS2-CoV strains were released by the team at KU Leuven today on GISAID, sequenced with nanopore technology using Artic protocol.
4 April
In this new study, Guangdong provincial CDC in China combined genetic and epidemiological data to investigate the genetic diversity, evolution, and epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Guangdong Province. The team generated virus genome sequences from 53 COVID-19 patients in Guangdong by a combination of metagenomic sequencing and multiplex PCR amplification followed by nanopore sequencing on a MinION device. Guangdong is the most populated province in China and had the highest confirmed cases in China outside of Hubei Province.
3 April
Using Oxford Nanopore's GridION device, scientists at UCL have been running a sequencing pipeline for COVID-19, from extraction to Nanopore sequencing. This is part of the UK's major new alliance to map the spread of coronavirus.
2 April
A collaborative research team led by Guangdong Provincial CDC published a pre-print for the identification of a common deletion in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. In this paper, direct cDNA sequencing in Nanopore platform was used as part of the multiple sequencing methods for whole genome sequencing and the validation of variants.
1 April
Nanopore sequencing technology is now used by researchers in 30 countries around the world for SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in COVID-19 patient samples. We are supporting users in more than 40 countries to get started.
31 March
43 new SARS-CoV-2 genomes have been sequenced by the University of Liège, Belgium on nanopore MinION using ARTIC protocol. Sequences are now available on Nextstrain.
30 March
Scientists in Singapore sequence the first nanopore SARS-CoV-2 genome on MinION -- from RNA to SARS-CoV-2 sequence in 7 hours.
OK, it took us much longer than expected but finally running the first COVID-19 extract through @nanopore Minion.
— Diag Bacteriology (@10minus6cosm) March 30, 2020
RNA to SARS-CoV-2 sequence in 7 hours.
Does it look OK @pathogenomenick? pic.twitter.com/vUtGootWEk
30 March
63 new Canadian SARS-CoV-2 genomes are now available on GISAID shared by BCCDC Public Health Laboratory. These genomes were sequenced by using ARTIC protocol on Nanopore platform.
29 March
In Saudi Arabia , scientists at King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) in the capital city of Riyadh have started sequencing samples from COVID-19 patients using MinION.
29 March
First complete genomes of SARS-CoV-2 from 10 patients with COVID-19 were sequenced at The Institut Pasteur de Montevideo in Uruguay. Read here for more details.
Researchers noted that: "Sequence the genomes in less than 24 hours allows obtaining information on epidemiological behavior almost in real time during the course of an epidemic. It will allow them to know (1) where the strains that entered Uruguay come from; (2) when they arrived and (3) if there are different variants of the coronavirus in the country among others. This will be useful to inform how to manage border closures and healthcare."
29 March
The first Colombian genome of SARS-CoV-2 is sequenced using the ARTIC protocol on MinION -- now available on GISAID.
Excited to share this pic @nfrancosierra sequenced on our @nanopore MinION the 1st genome of #SARSCoV2 #Colombia ??? inspired by protocols from @NetworkArtic and currently stored @GISAID https://t.co/51J4KjZD4b pic.twitter.com/ac2RQSl3HT
— Paola PS ? (@paolapstz) March 29, 2020
27 March
Scientist in Malaysia sequences the first COVID-19 genome on MinION.
26 March
A team of scientist led by Yale School of Public Health published a pre-print characterising Coast-to-coast spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States with the portable MinION platform. The team was able to generate the first SARS-CoV-2 genome approximately 14 hours after receiving the sample and performing near real-time sequencing and bioinformatics.
24 March
Using direct RNA sequencing on an Oxford Nanopore MinION, a group of scientists from Bristol university, Public Health England and Liverpool univeritsy characterised the transcriptome and proteome of SARS-CoV-2 grown in Vero E6 cells in this pre-print.
24 March
Scientists in Garvan Institute in Austrslia run a single SARS-CoV-2 sample on Flongle for real time monitoring. The team was able to achieve over 100x coverage in ~10min of sequencing.
23 March
UK government announces £20m funding to a new UK research alliance for sequencing-based studies of COVID-19, enabling rapid, large-scale analysis of samples from patients testing positive for COVID-19. Oxford Nanopore is supporting researchers in the cities of Birmingham, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Nottingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Cardiff, Exeter and Cambridge in this programme. Read this news report on ITV about the team at the MRC’s Centre for Virus Research in Glasgow and the work at Edinburgh .
19 March
The first Russian SARS-CoV-2 genome has just been uploaded to GISAID by the WHO reference lab for Influenza in St. Petersburg, using Nanopore MinION sequencing.
18 March
60 new Dutch genomes are now available on GISAID and Nextstrain shared by the Dutch COVID response team at Erasmus MC. On the same day, the BC Centre for Disease Control uploaded 14 new SARS-CoV-2 sequences on GISAID, using nanopore sequencing for rapid tracking of the novel coronvirus.
15 March
A group of Korean scientists published a pre-print on bioRxiv, providing insights into the architecture of SARS-CoV-2 transcriptome using nanopore direct-RNA sequencing technology.
13 March
Minnesota's first three SARS-CoV-2 whole genome sequences are deposited to Genbank (MT188339 - MT188341) , using MinION sequencing with the ARTIC protocol.
13 March
In Western Germany, ten new genomes are posted that suggest separate introduction events and give more clarity to the Heinsberg outbreak.
12 March
An additional 48 new SARS-CoV-2 sequences from the Netherlands - making it a total of 73 from the country, have been updated on GISAID and Nextstrain. So far Dutch scientists have sequenced 7% of all known COVID-19 infections in the Netherlands. "This has shown multiple independent outbreaks, which contributed to the government decision to cancel all >100 people events".
12 March
First 2 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced at The University of Sheffield, UK on nanopore platform using ARTIC protocol.
12 March
First SARS-CoV-2 genome from Spain is available in GISAID, read news report here.
12 March
Ecuadorian scientists complete the sequencing of the first SARS-CoV-2 genome isolated in Quito using nanopore sequencing. Read news report here.
11 March
First SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence from Ireland using MinION and the ARTIC protocol.
9 March
Guangdong Provincial CDC uploads 35 SARS-CoV-2 sequences onto GISAID using the ARTIC protocol and nanopore sequencing on MinION. These data were used by scientists to understand the number, size, persistence and dynamics of transmission chains and supported public health responses in Guangdong, where transmission chains were reduced and eventually eliminated. Read the report on virological.org.
9 March
First Edinburgh SARS-CoV-2 genome using the ARTIC protocol on MinION, achieving 100x coverage at 15 mins of sequencing run time.
8 March
A team of scientists from Public Health England (PHE) in collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine reported the molecular characteristic of respiratory microbiome in UK COVID-19 patients within 10hr. In this paper, amplicon and metagenomic MinION based sequencing was used to rapidly identify SARS-CoV-2 and assess the microbiome in nasopharyngeal swabs obtained from patients with COVID-19 by the ISARIC 4C consortium. Read the BBC article about it here.
8 March
Erasmus University Medical Center(Erasmus MC) updated 28 new SARS-CoV-2 sequences from the Netherlands on GISAID and Nextstrain. Dr.Reina Sikkema from Erasmus MC noted that, so far all dutch sequences were generated using nanopore sequencing technology.
8 March
Researchers at the Doherty Institute in Australia publish the first native RNA sequence of SARS-CoV-2, using nanopore direct RNA sequencing. the work shows insights into subgenomic mRNA production and base modification in the virus.
8 March
The New Zealand Herald published an article describing ''A Mars Bar-sized device is helping Kiwi scientists speedily unravel the genetic jigsaw of the virus driving the Covid-19 crisis - part of an urgent global effort that could help create a vaccine.''
7 March
In Wales, researchers sequence viral genomes from the first two COVID-19 patients. Sequencing, uploading to GISAID and analysis by Nextstrain is all completed in under 24 hours, indicating that "the two genomes from Wales each group the large European outbreak clade, but don't group together, suggesting separate introductions." Public Health Wales has provided funding to sequence the viral genomes from the first 100 patients in Wales.
6 March
France’s CIBU/PGP completes a sequence of SARS-CoV-2 within 8 hours
As part of our 24/7 duty for #COVID19 diagnosis in France we obtained the full genome #SARSCoV2 from a #coronavirus case with @nanopore MinION within only 8 hours using the bioinformatics pipeline of @NetworkArtic ! Thanks to the CIBU team @InstitutPasteur pic.twitter.com/5KshvDVXyt
— cibu-pgp (@cibu_pgp) March 6, 2020
6 March
Nextstrain notes that the Düsseldorf01 genome, sequenced with the ARTIC protocol by Center of Medical Microbiology, shows "6 unique point mutations ...it doesn’t group with any other known European sequences."
4 March
MIT Tech Review reviews the use of rapid viral sequencing in the outbreak, noting that "Because scientists are posting data so quickly, this is the first outbreak in which a germ’s evolution and spread have been tracked in so much detail, and almost in real time."
4 March
The first case in New Zealand commences sequencing using the ARTIC protocol.
3 March
The SARS-CoV2 virus from Scotland's first COVID-19 case is sequenced in under 24 hours using nanopore sequencing and the ARTIC protocol.
3 March
A joint team from Wuhan University, Wuhan University Peoples' Hospital and Wuhan Dgensee Clinical Laboratory Co.,Ltd, an emerging diagnostics company in China, report the testing of a rapid nanopore-based workflow for targeted sequencing of SARS-Cov2 and ten additional viruses.
3 March
US CDC describes sequencing the first US COVID-19 patient using nanopore sequencing. Read the paper
2 March
Darui Biotechnology, the leading diagnostics company in China, reports on the work they have been doing on rapid, accessible characterisation of SARS-Cov2 using nanopore sequencing and based on the ARTIC protocol. Data shows that the workflow is able to rapidly produce accurate test results (comparisons are shown with traditional sequencing approaches), resolving false negatives in qPCR caused by low viral load or mutations. Full viral sequence information and the presence of mutations in the genome are both shown reliably and rapidly. For more information view this post (Mandarin language).
1 March
British Columbia CDC release the genome of a Canadian SARSCoV2 genome, providing the first sequence of a genome where the patient has travelled from Iran, and thus providing the first phylogenetic view of the Iran outbreak. @Nexstrain notes: "This groups most closely with a Shandong virus, but it is still consistent with Wuhan - Iran - BC transmission." The genome was sequenced using the MinION and the ARTIC protocol.
29 Feb
In Brazil, the CADDE project 36 at the Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, releases sequence data for the first South American case of COVID-19, from a patient who had travelled to Lombardia, Italy. Sequencing and data release were performed in record time using the ARTIC protocol and nanopore sequencing. Researchers report that “the virus estimated phylogeny consistently places the Brazil/SPBR1/2020 in a strongly supported cluster with the Germany/BavPat1/2020 strain”. Read the BBC article(Portuguese language).
20 Feb
Genome British Columbia, Canada, describes the importance of sequencing in genomic epidemiology of the virus, and announces a new project that incorporates nanopore sequencing: "Responding to Emerging Serious Pathogen Outbreaks using Next-gen Data: RESPOND"
19 Feb
Darui Biotechnology, the leading diagnostics company in China, is accelerating the development of an Oxford Nanopore-based rapid solution for the sequencing of the virus responsible for COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), which can then easily be used in any laboratory, public heath body and hospital.
5 Feb
Hanzhou CDC enters the first nanopore-only nCoV genome into GISAID, using ARTIC protocol.
3 Feb
First Belgian nCoV sample arrives in the lab at KU Leuven, at 5pm. Using the ARTIC protocol, the team completes the sequence by 9am the next day.
31 Jan
Following a week of support and liaison with scientists in China, 200 nanopore MinION devices start shipping to China to support coronavirus surveillance Read more
31 Jan
Further nCoV genomes continue to be released via GISAID (approved login required). Genomes from Bavaria and Australia have used nanopore sequencing.
30 Jan
29 Jan
A paper in the Lancet from China CDC characterised full-length genomes of 2019-nCov patients using a combination of technologies including Nanopore sequencing, providing important information on possible virus origins and cell-binding receptors that is crucial for determine transmission capacity.
28 Jan
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) releases nCoV genomes sequenced with nanopore sequencing, and Sanger: CA1 CA2 IL1
26 Jan
China CDC provides an update on viral mutation status, noting that '3rd generation' sequencing technology is enabling them to understand whether the virus is mutating (Mandarin language)
24 Jan - The Lancet
also publishes extensive nCoV materials. This includes a paper describing the analysis of a family cluster, sequencing using MinION, supplemented by Sanger sequencing, that indicates person-to-person transmission of the virus.
24 Jan - New England Journal of Medicine
publishes extensive reports on the virus and the outbreak, including "A Novel Coronavirus from Patients with Pneumonia in China, 2019". This manuscript describes the work conducted from 31st December 2019, when the "Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) dispatched a rapid response team to accompany Hubei provincial and Wuhan city health authorities and to conduct an epidemiologic and etiologic investigation. We report the results of this investigation, identifying the source of the pneumonia clusters, and describe a novel coronavirus detected in patients with pneumonia whose specimens were tested by the China CDC at an early stage of the outbreak. We also describe clinical features of the pneumonia in two of these patients." This paper describes the use of nanopore sequencing as part of the investigational methods.
22 Jan - The ARTIC project
is developing an end-to-end system for processing samples from viral outbreaks, to generate real-time epidemiological information that is interpretable and actionable by public health bodies. The ARTIC network has released a set of materials to assist groups in sequencing the nCoV-2019 virus including a set of primers, laboratory protocols, bioinformatics tutorials and datasets.
When we started developing RAMPART the idea that you could analyse seq data in real time seemed rather aspirational. Today: a still-sequencing #SARSCoV2 @nanopore genome from Brazil already up on @nextstrain. Amazing to get to work with @jaquegj @CaddeProject @NetworkArtic et al pic.twitter.com/epekvUHoqF
— james hadfield (@hamesjadfield) February 28, 2020

Oxford Nanopore continues to work with community collaborators on protocol optimisation, and continues to support public health authorities using sequencing in their epidemiology work. Please get in touch if you wish to discuss this with us.
Oxford Nanopore products are for Research Use Only. Where community members have issued protocols, at this time we recommend contacting those publishers for further information.