Nanopore Sequencing as a Rapidly Deployable Ebola Outbreak Tool

Rapid sequencing of RNA/DNA from pathogen samples obtained during disease outbreaks provides critical scientific and public health information. However, challenges exist for exporting samples to laboratories or establishing conventional sequencers in remote outbreak regions. We successfully used a novel, pocket-sized nanopore sequencer at a field diagnostic laboratory in Liberia during the current Ebola virus outbreak.

Authors: Thomas Hoenen, Allison Groseth, Kyle Rosenke, Robert J. Fischer, Andreas Hoenen, Seth D. Judson, Cynthia Martellaro, Darryl Falzarano, Andrea Marzi, R. Burke Squires, Kurt R. Wollenberg, Emmie de Wit, Joseph Prescott, David Safronetz, Neeltje van Doremalen, Trenton Bushmaker, Friederike Feldmann, Kristin McNally, Fatorma K. Bolay, Barry Fields, Tara Sealy, Mark Rayfield, Stuart T. Nichol, Kathryn C. Zoon, Moses Massaquoi, Vincent J. Munster, Heinz Feldmann