Nanopore sequencing: mobile metagenomics at the epicentre of a viral outbreak

Nanopore sequencing: mobile metagenomics at the epicentre of a viral outbreak

Portable field methodologies are vital for pathogen monitoring, especially when epidemics and outbreaks occur in resource-limited settings. Rapid and unbiased identification, such as metagenomic MinION sequencing, can assist pathogen identification and characterisation, particularly in the case of highly divergent pathogens. We mobilized a research team and deployed in Nigeria to test and investigate the establishment of field metagenomic sequencing using the MinION. Our pilot study was expedited and utilized to support the largest reported upsurge of Lassa fever (LASV) positive cases in Nigeria.