Wouter De Coster from the VIB Center for Molecular Neurology in Belgium presented a session for the Oxford Nanopore Community Meeting 2020 entitled “Allele-specific methylation in human brains.” De Coster is a bioinformatician and started with a quote from Sydney Brenner: “Progress in science depends on new techniques, new discoveries and new ideas, probably in […]
Tonight I watched the March 2022 session with Cliv Brown explaining updates with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT). I wanted to watch this longer (~45 min) session as we get closer to new updates. Brown spoke about how Nanopore signal is information rich and new approaches using machine learning algorithms. They explained the Q20+ chemistry with […]
Logan Mulroney from EMBL-EBI and IIT-CGS Italy presented at London Calling 2022 on “Detecting RNA modifications from nanopore ionic current signals.” They spoke about chemical and physical modifications of RNA and how they are “really dynamic.” I did not know there are “eraser” proteins that remove modifications, “writers” that add the modification, and “readers” that […]
Ettore Fedele from the University of Leicester in the UK presented at London Calling 2022 on “Genomic tools for gorilla population dynamics and conservation.” Fedele spoke about using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) sequencing to support conservation of gorillas and began by emphasizing the importance of gorillas and major threats they encounter. Monitoring species to combat […]
Rupesh Kesharwani from the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine presented at London Calling 2022 a session entitled “STRspy-ing hidden variation in forensic DNA profiles with the MinION.” Kesharwani is a senior scientific programmer and explained that short tandem repeats (STR) vary in number between individuals. They spoke about cases solved with […]
Tonight I watched Steven Verbruggen from OHMX.bio Belgium speak about “HLA typing using targeted third-generation sequencing methods” as part of London Calling 2022. They explained that HLA or the human leukocyte antigen complex is about 3 Mb in chromosome six. It is divided into three clusters, and all genes are very diverse. I did not […]
Tim Mercer from AIBN/The University of Queensland, Australia presented at the London Calling 2022 conference on “Using nanopore sequencing to ensure the quality of mRNA vaccines.” Mercer is director of the BASE Facility in Australia, in charge of mRNA vaccine manufacturing in the country. They explained how mRNA vaccines work : the mRNA encodes antigen […]
Reindert Nijland from the Wageningen University in the Netherlands presented at London Calling 2022 about “Endangered European sturgeon detection through non-amplified eDNA sequencing.” They presented work on obtaining the full genome of this critically endangered big fish. The Netherlands has sturgeon species that are non-indigenous released from ponds. They have complex life cycles and are […]
Michael Dean from the National Cancer Institute spoke at London Calling 2022 about “Understanding cancer epigenetics, immunogenetics, and energetics.” Dean explained why they hate cancer and its impact on their family. Dean said that “cancer is more like a puzzle that has to be solved before you can have a rational solution.” The current analogy […]
Natalie Ring from The Roslin Institute in the UK presented at London Calling 2022 on “DoGsTAils: developing nanopore-based diagnostic approaches for the effective antimicrobial stewardship of canine infections.” Ring spoke about skin and urinary tract infections in dogs and how they can be antibiotic resistant. It also often takes two days to obtain results. Thus, […]