MGI has announced that its ATOPlex multiplex PCR-based library preparation platform for targeted sequencing applications will soon support library prep for its CycloneSEQ long-read sequencer, unveiled last year. ATOPlex, when combined with MGI’s automated instruments, genetic sequencers, and bioinformatics analysis platforms, will now offer an end-to-end solution for targeted long-read sequencing as well as sequencing on MGI’s DNBSEQ NGS sequencers, according to the company.
Targeted sequencing has increasingly emerged as an indispensable tool in infectious disease, microbiology, oncology, food safety, agriculture, and forensic genetics among others. Boasting cost-effectiveness and high sensitivity with accurate, easy-to-interpret results, targeted sequencing has showcased immense value in a range of applications. The ATOPlex Platform, according to MGI, has helped to ensure safer food supply chains by detecting pathogens and contaminants in food products. In the field of public health, the platform offers a range of panels for pathogen detection, covering a variety of critical pathogens such as COVID-19, mpox virus, dengue virus, influenza virus, HIV, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In agriculture, it has aided breeding programs while facilitating the identification of plant pathogens to ensure healthier crops and improved yields. For the everyday consumer, the solution has also provided them with genetic insights through direct-to-consumer testing, empowering more informed health decisions and personalized lifestyle choices. Moreover, the platform provides library preparation kits for forensic genetics and environmental DNA detection, further expanding its range of applications and utility.
Compared with probe-based targeted enrichment, an amplicon-based method, such as MGI’s ATOPlex Platform, has the advantages of low cost, low sample input requirements, ease of customization, and the ability to achieve higher sequencing depth. In turn, laboratories are able to process more samples in less time while achieving higher sequencing depth, facilitating the detection of lower-frequency mutations compared to whole-genome sequencing.
One of the primary advantages of targeted sequencing is its ability to provide high sensitivity and specificity for detecting variants. The ATOPlex platform’s ultra-high multiplex PCR core technology lends itself to providing reliable and accurate results, said MGI. Its single-tube PCR approach, combined with a novel primer design, minimizes dimer formation and non-specific amplification, reliably amplifying close to 20,000 targets in a single reaction.
Adding to its high accuracy, the platform has a streamlined two-step workflow incorporating a dUTP/UNG anti-contamination system, which replaces dTTP with dUTP in PCR reactions to help prevent aerosol contamination. Amplified products containing uracil are then treated with uracil-DNA glycosylase, which degrades DNA containing uracil. This process reduces contamination risks, ensuring higher accuracy and confidence.
The minimum starting amount for ATOPlex library preparation is as low as 0.1 ng (for human genome), which expands the range of compatible sample types. It also has the ability to directly amplify target genes from crude samples like blood-spot lysates and bacterial culture medium without the need for extensive extraction processes. Simultaneously, it has been highly favored for its relatively short turnaround time and low cost, supporting the detection of SNPs, CNVs, STRs, and gene fusions, making it an adaptable choice across scenarios, according to MGI.
The platform’s online primer design tool ATOPlex Designer allows users to design custom panels for DNA or RNA targets ranging from 10 to 20,000×, based on their specific needs. With rapid feedback, downloadable designed primer sequences, and dedicated offline technical support, researchers and clinicians can identify relevant genetic mutations more seamlessly and efficiently.
As technology and the field of genomics continue to evolve, the role of targeted sequencing is expected to expand further. Similarly, for ATOPlex, MGI said the platform is poised to catalyze a fundamental shift in how targeted sequencing is utilized across disciplines and industries with its high-level adaptability, paving the way for myriad transformative advancements.