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NASCarD (Nanopore Adaptive Sampling with Carrier DNA): A Rapid, PCR-Free Method for SARS-CoV-2 Whole-Genome
Miguel A Terrazos Miani1, Loïc Borcard1, Sonja Gempeler1
1Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 25, 3001 Bern, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) represents the main technology for SARS-CoV-2 lineage characterization in diagnostic laboratories worldwide. The rapid, near-full-length sequencing of the viral genome is commonly enabled by high-throughput sequencing of PCR amplicons derived from cDNA molecules. Here, we present a new approach called NASCarD (Nanopore Adaptive Sampling with Carrier DNA), which allows a low amount of nucleic acids to be sequenced while selectively enriching for sequences of interest, hence limiting the production of non-target sequences. Using COVID-19 positive samples available during the omicron wave, we demonstrate how the method may lead to >99% genome completeness of the SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences within 7 h of sequencing at a competitive cost. The new approach may have applications beyond SARS-CoV-2 sequencing for other DNA or RNA pathogens in clinical samples.
