Next Generation Sequencing Plays Crucial Role in COVID-19 Crisis

 

Next generation sequencing (NGS) has been critical in the fight against COVID-19. The process of genetic sequencing has been essential in studying the SARS-CoV-2 genome and identify variants.

The urgent need for vaccines has accelerated the speed, efficiencies and cost reductions related to NGS. It’s also helped in the creation of new NGS approaches designed to further reduce the time needed for sequencing.

Early Days and Urgent Needs

Once the virus causing COVID-19 emerged as a threat, there were several critical steps needed. Scientists needed to understand how the virus was characterized and how quickly it could spread.

Next generation sequencing drove the decoding and initial sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. That sequence was the key to developing tools to slow the spread and damage of the virus.

For one, the sequencing was used to provide basic information necessary to create the first assays to detect the virus. Testing was and continues to be an important way to identify infection accurately, trace close contacts and map where the virus is present.

That initial work also allowed researchers to create reagents used in the eventual development of vaccines. Processing the genome so early on allowed the creation of vaccines much earlier than for previous disease outbreaks.

NGS allowed researchers to reduce the quantity of sequencing that was required, allowing for more research samples to undergo testing simultaneously. That data allowed for rapid identification of new strains emerging as public health threats.

Researchers could start studies faster as a result, leading more data to provide to public health officials. Identifying the mutated strains early allowed for research studies into how infectious the variants were, their ability to evade immune responses such as vaccines, and their geographic reach.

As mutations continue to emerge, there is concern that existing vaccines and the immune systems of those previously infected may not be effective in fighting the disease. Researchers can use the genome data to study the efficacy of vaccines to the variants in circulation. Those insights can help determine whether new vaccine boosters are necessary and, if so, what is in them.