Abstract

The R+D department at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (Sanger Centre) has been exploring new methods to enhance the DNA sequencing production pipeline, largely based upon Illumina technology. Work is underway on numerous projects including: • Improving no-PCR library-preparation and other methods to eliminate bias • Reducing contaminating human DNA impacting the efficient sequencing of pathogens from clinical isolates • A method for mapping transposon-insertion sites useful to identify essential genes • A new protocol for long-insert (mate-pair) sequencing

We are simultaneously exploring newer next-generation technologies that have the potential to replace or complement the existing methods. Our experience with the PacBio instrument for de novo assembly and epigenetics will be shown along with a novel method for direct sequencing of small genomes without library preparation. For fast sequencing of amplicons and bacterial pathogens, Life Technology’s Ion Torrent PGM has been tested and will be compared to Illumina’s benchtop competitor, the MiSeq. The outlook for both Ion Torrent’s new instrument, the Proton, and Oxford Nanopore’s technology will also be discussed.