Bio-Fab service: First Italian company certified for Oxford NANOPORE technologies

Bio-Fab sequencing laboratories are pleased to add TGS, Third-Generation Sequencing (also known as long-read sequencing) to their sequencing services. The knowledge acquired during these years is now certified by Oxford NANOPORE.

Bio-Fab Long-Read Sequencing Services are certified for the following sequencing macro-areas:

1. Low input DNA Sequencing for specific targets (Amplicon Sequencing);
2. High input DNA sequencing (Whole Genome Sequencing);
3. cDNA sequencing;
4. Direct RNA sequencing;
5. Bioinformatics and Data analysis.

I. Low input DNA Sequencing for specific targets (Amplicon Sequencing)

This type of sequencing is suitable for samples with a low amount of DNA and for the amplification of specific targets (eg: 1500 nt of the 16S gene). In addition, samples can be barcoded and sequenced together, thus reducing sample costs.

II. High input DNA sequencing (Whole Genome Sequencing)

This type of sequencing, since it does not involve any fragmentation and/or amplification step, is suitable for samples with a high amount of DNA and for entire genomes or long amplicons. In addition, samples can be barcoded and sequenced together, thus reducing sample costs.

III. cDNA sequencing

This type of sequencing is suitable for samples with a low amount of RNA and for the sequencing of full-length cDNAs and for the identification of splice variants and fusion transcripts. In addition, samples can be barcoded and sequenced together, thus reducing sample costs.

IV. Direct RNA sequencing

This type of sequencing, since it does not involve any fragmentation and amplification steps, is suitable for samples with a high amount of RNA and for direct sequencing of RNA, without the need to convert it into cDNA thus allowing the identification of bases. directly modified along the RNA sequence.

DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY

Length of reads:
The Third Generation Sequencing Technology (TGS) based on nanopores (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) allows the sequencing of fragments up to 50 Kb and ultra-long fragments up to 4 Mb. It represents the ideal complement to second generation technologies based on the sequencing of fragmented DNA libraries with PE reads up to 600bp. The ability to sequence long genomic fragments allows to obtain complete and more accurate de novo assembly and to analyze long structural variations.

Real-time analysis:
The Third Generation Sequencing (TGS) technology based on nanopores (Oxford Nanopore Technologies) enables real-time sequencing analysis of native DNA or RNA. The sequencing is performed on a Flow Cell with nanopores embedded in an electroresistant membrane. As the molecules pass through each nanopore, the current is interrupted and the signal is decodified using basic calling algorithms to generate the DNA or RNA sequence.

Bio-Fab provides:

1. Elaboration of the experimental design;
2. Library preparation service;
3. Library validation and quantification by Agilent Tape Station and Qubit;
4. Primary bioinformatics analysis of data and generation of .fastq files;
5. Post sequencing bioinformatics analysis;
6. Specialized support during all phases of project development.

Bioinformatics and Data Analysis