Addressing the challenges of metagenomics with nanopore sequencing

Overview

The advance of DNA sequencing technologies to allow genomic analysis of samples containing many species has made it possible to obtain complete or nearly complete genome sequences from uncultured microorganisms — providing an important means to study their biology, ecology, and evolution.

However, a number of challenges remain, particularly for time-critical or remote sampling applications such as outbreak investigation and pathogen surveillance. In this review, we will explore how nanopore sequencing is addressing the challenges of metagenomics, with real-world examples of how researchers are applying the benefits of nanopore technology in this field to reveal unprecedented insight into microbial communities.