We live in a world where new viruses can move quickly than ever. So, we need to be a step ahead of infectious diseases. This is where Oxford Nanopore Technology comes in.
Also known as ONT, it is a new, groundbreaking tool that is rapidly outpacing infectious diseases. It has transformed how scientists track, detect, and react to outbreaks around the world.
How so? Read on to learn more.
Real-Time Data
Conventional genetic sequencing can use days or even weeks to provide results. However, during an outbreak, one does not have time to spare. ONT sequencing turns the game around and provides real-time results.
It uses devices such as the MinION, which is a portable device capable of sequencing the genome of a pathogen. Researchers and health workers can start analysing the genome of a pathogen within hours after collecting the sample.
Such speed can make the difference between a contained virus and an expanding one.
Sequencing in the Field
Genetic sequencing may have seemed like a phenomenon reserved for large urban centres with high-tech laboratories. However, the ONT portable device is designed to operate everywhere it is needed:
- Rural clinics
- Refugee camps
- Very deep in the jungle.
All that is required is PowerPoint and a laptop.
Take the example of Ebola outbreaks in West Africa. Scientists employed ONT sequencers in the field to monitor viral mutation and chains of transmission as they happened. This assisted aid workers and health authorities in making better-informed decisions quickly.
So, you can indeed take a sequencer out into the field and begin "cracking a virus" there and then.
Accurate Monitoring of Diseases
Among the greatest advantages of ONT sequencing is the possibility of delivering full-length genomes. This means researchers get to see the complete picture of the virus. This is important when monitoring how a virus evolves. This is because the mutations can affect the way it spreads or the reaction to vaccines.
Take the COVID-19 pandemic as an example. ONT sequencing helped public health agencies worldwide discover new variants such as Delta and Omicron. This enabled them to monitor the mutation of the virus in real-time.
Enabling Health Equity
Not all countries are fortunate enough to be able to access large-scale, high-cost sequencing facilities. ONT is equalizing the playing field through the provision of affordable, portable, and simple tools. This implies that more countries will have the ability to establish their own genomic surveillance systems, instead of using external facilities and slow turnaround times.
Training and open-source tools have opened the door to allowing even smaller labs to contribute to the global surveillance effort of infectious diseases.
The Bottom Line
ONT sequencing is no longer a nice-to-have tool. It is fast becoming a must-have. It is essential for public health, research, and global health policy institutions. It transforms how we respond to infectious threats through:
- The real-time detection.
- Sequencing.
- Publishing of pathogen data.
In other words, ONT provides a chance to notice when another outbreak is coming and take action before it is too late.
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