Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42622428›Full record

ArticleMicrobiology spectrum2026

Validation of an optimized Oxford Nanopore sequencing workflow versus Illumina for mycobacteria from primary MGIT culture.

Catriona S Baker, Matthew Colpus, Jess Gentry, Alexandra Hall, Eloïse Roghi, Hermione Webster, Bronte Drummond, Ruth Cooper, Hieu Thai, Jeremy Westhead and 5 more

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in Microbiology spectrum, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Catriona S BakerModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0009-0008-8135-2652
Matthew ColpusModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0009-0008-2219-4084
Jess GentryOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom.
Alexandra HallModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0009-0007-9899-6289
Eloïse RoghiModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0009-0005-9225-5602
Hermione WebsterModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0001-8655-911X
Bronte DrummondOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom.
Ruth CooperOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom.
Hieu ThaiModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0009-0001-3747-8679
Jeremy WestheadModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0009-0009-0660-7827
Robert TurnerModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-1353-1404
Timothy E A PetoModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Philip W FowlerModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0003-0912-4483
Marcus MorganOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, England, United Kingdom.
Derrick W CrookModernising Medical Microbiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-0590-2850

Funding

Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT), Oxford LtdNational Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit NIHR207397NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre NIHR203311
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Illumina short-read sequencing of primary Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) cultures is an established approach for mycobacterial genomic characterization but relies on labor-intensive workflows and centralized sequencing facilities. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) offers long-read sequencing and is increasingly being explored for in-house implementation in diagnostic laboratories; however, low DNA yields from primary MGIT cultures frequently limit standard PCR-free ONT workflows, restricting routine implementation. We developed and evaluated a semi-automated DNA extraction and Rapid PCR Barcoding workflow for ONT sequencing and compared its performance with Illumina for species identification and IMPORTANCE: Rapid genomic characterization of mycobacterial infections is important for timely patient management, infection control, and public health surveillance. However, many diagnostic laboratories rely on referral of positive cultures to regional reference centers for sequencing, introducing delays associated with transport, batching, and processing. Although Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) can support local sequencing, implementation has been limited by the low DNA yields typically obtained from primary Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) cultures and the absence of practical workflows suitable for routine diagnostic laboratories. In this study, we developed and validated a semi-automated DNA extraction and PCR-based ONT workflow designed to support implementation in routine diagnostic laboratories. The workflow generated genomic results highly concordant with Illumina sequencing while overcoming a major barrier to ONT implementation by enabling reliable sequencing from low-yield MGIT-derived DNA. This approach supports routine in-house genomic characterization of mycobacterial cultures and has the potential to reduce turnaround times and dependence on external sequencing services.

Indexed as

High-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingMycobacteriumMycobacterium tuberculosisNanopore SequencingDNA, BacterialHumansPolymerase Chain ReactionPolymorphism, Single NucleotideSequence Analysis, DNATuberculosisWorkflowDNA, BacterialDNA extractionlong-read sequencingmycobacteriawhole-genome sequencing

Identifiers

PMID42622428
PMCPMC13689354

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.