For use with the Twist NGS Workflow

Our ability to intercept and combat new pandemic strains is contingent on robust and accurate technologies for viral genome sequencing. A common method for viral genome sequencing employs the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This method is not robust over time when dealing with a rapidly mutating organism, as mutations can accumulate in amplicon primer binding regions, leading to drop-outs. Here we show that target capture sequencing is a robust alternative for pandemic strain surveillance that does not present dropouts in rapidly mutating strains

The sooner a cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat and developing tools for early cancer detection can ultimately help save lives. Capturing and sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has emerged as a promising source of diagnostic information. Researchers are using custom target enrichment panels to extract and analyze DNA fragments shed from cancerous cells and captured in blood samples—enabling the use of liquid biopsies for less invasive and more sensitive screening. Additionally, advances in methylation sequencing workflows are improving cfDNA analysis by exposing epigenetic clues about the cancer’s subtype and tissue of origin. Together, custom target enrichment panels and methylation sequencing give researchers tools to develop more sensitive and specific early cancer detection assays.