The COVID-19 pandemic has been fueled by the effects of more transmissible variants, including well-known variants originally identified in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil. Newer variants emerging in California, New York, and India are also of great concern.
The spread of these variants around the world has underscored the need for large-scale genome surveillance efforts to identify new mutations, track transmission, and identify potential targets for future development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics.
Unlike individual PCR tests designed to detect the presence of viral material, genome surveillance requires sequencing the entire viral genome to help scientists spot mutations as the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen continues to evolve.
Recently, sequencing leader Illumina established a high-throughput facility to generate genome surveillance data by sequencing viral isolates collected from patients. We’re excited that the ambitious effort is being managed with Biosero workcells enabled by Green Button Go® Scheduler, streamlining sample preparation and processing.
The workflow involves the Illumina COVIDSeq Test that is run on the NovaSeq 6000 sequencer. We deployed three Biosero workcells to help manage the pre-sequencing steps: extraction and isolation; conversion of RNA to cDNA and amplification; and amplicon tagmentation. Our solutions help the Illumina team ensure consistent, rigorous, and appropriate processing and preparation for every sample analyzed.
For a more detailed view of each workcell and its role in the pipeline, check out our in-depth description.
The Biosero team is honored to be helping in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic!