Low Cost Portable Genomic Sequencing Platform to Help Labs in Developing Countries Track SARS-CoV-2 Variants

An international volunteer team of scientists has brought a portable sequencing platform for SARS-CoV-2 monitoring to developing countries.

Scientists at the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao (Davao, Philippines) and the University of Amsterdam (Amsterdam, Netherlands) have partnered with Accessible Genomics, a group of volunteering scientists from all around the world to implement a low start-up cost genomic sequencing platform for laboratories in developing countries. Genomic data can be used to identify and track variants of the virus, which helps scientists and government officials make better decisions about quarantine measures and vaccine administration. However, not all countries have access to the equipment, chemicals, and know-how to perform enough genomic sequencing to sufficiently track SARS-CoV-2 variants. Genomic sequencing is rare in low-income countries and prevents local governments and hospitals to make better-informed decisions to lower infections and deaths.

A group of students and scientists from the field of portable genomics who have formed Accessible Genomics piloted SARS-CoV-2 sequencing in a representative lab from the Philippines which has complementary skills, facility, and experience on next generation sequencing, using recent advances in portable genomics technology. This partnership will serve as a learning experience for the local centre as it prepares to expand its omics facility and services in the region. Currently, plans are underway to fast-track the expansion of genomic surveillance in the main regions of the country through the Department of Health and Department of Science and Technology, as well as other efforts by both the government and private sectors in the country. The next step of the project is to replicate the initiative in other countries and help labs in other developing countries to get started in variant identification.

“Like many developing countries, genomic sequencing machines in the Philippines were all housed in labs in the capital, Metro Manila. This was because sequencing machines used to cost more than a car and were as large as refrigerators”, said Ineke Knot from the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) at the University of Amsterdam. “Portable genomic sequencing was made possible in the past few years due to innovations like the MinION sequencer by Oxford Nanopore Technologies. This sequencing machine costs less than an iPhone and is as small as one too.”

Related Links:
Philippine Genome Center Mindanao
University of Amsterdam