Massively parallel sequencing for the microbiologist
David Warrilow A and Richard JN Allcock BA Public Health Virology
Forensic and Scientific Services
Health Services Support Agency
Department of Health
PO Box 594, Archerfield
Qld 4108, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3274 9150
Email: david_warrilow@health.qld.gov.au
B Lotterywest State Biomedical Facility: Genomics
School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of Western Australia
Stirling Highway, Nedlands
WA 6009, Australia
Tel: +61 8 9224 3879
Email: richard.allcock@uwa.edu.au
Microbiology Australia 34(4) 180-181 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA13060
Published: 2 October 2013
Abstract
Molecular biology techniques have revolutionised the diagnostic microbiology laboratory. In particular, the past decade has seen standardised nucleic acid sequencing methods applied to routine identification and typing of microorganisms. The full extension of this approach will see massively parallel sequencing (MPS; also referred to as next generation or high throughput sequencing) of samples, bringing with it new capabilities (e.g. complete community profiling in complex samples) and challenges. MPS is a different diagnostic paradigm requiring no prior hypotheses of the specific microorganisms in a given sample. While standard sequencing can detect non-culturable organisms in some circumstances (i.e. where a specific test is performed), MPS might enable hypothesis-free detection of all non-culturable microorganisms in a single assay. In addition, MPS has applications where the clinical picture is complicated or where standard diagnostic approaches have failed. MPS might also shed light on complex disease processes, particularly where disease involves the interaction of the host with a population of microorganisms. In the longer term, as sequencing technology and hardware for processing data become cheaper, the potential exists for rapid point-of-care testing of any microorganism.
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