Subsequent-generation sequencing (NGS) has moved away from costly runs and complex workflows into a brand new period the place benchtop devices prioritize sustainability, accessibility, accuracy, and pace. On this Innovation Highlight, Emmanuel Naouri, affiliate director of Product Administration, NGS Benchtop Techniques at Illumina, discusses how the MiSeq i100 Sequence of sequencers was designed to satisfy the wants of skilled NGS customers whereas providing the simplicity and assist mandatory for researchers new to the method.

Emmanuel Naouri
Affiliate Director
Product Administration, NGS Benchtop Techniques
Illumina
Illumina
What are a number of the perceived limitations to entry with regards to NGS?
The perceived limitations to entry for NGS embody the necessity for NGS experience within the lab, together with specialists in genomic sequencing and bioinformatics. Price of the instrument in addition to whole price of possession is one other barrier for a lot of labs wanting so as to add NGS capabilities.
To avoid these limitations, our new instrument is designed for simplicity and ease of use from the second it arrives in a lab. Preliminary setup doesn’t require Illumina assist, whereas lab technicians may be skilled to run the instrument. We provide whole workflow options to streamline operations by the complete sequencing course of, from pattern to evaluation.
On the subject of price, the MiSeq i100 Sequence is available in two configurations with totally different worth factors, offering reasonably priced options to numerous forms of prospects. The circulation cells for the MiSeq i100 assist decrease knowledge output and pattern throughputs, which is right for purposes requiring a low variety of samples and library high quality management. The MiSeq i100 Plus System accesses a wider vary of throughputs for extra sequencing per pattern and bigger research. Purposes like small, focused panels for oncology, infectiology, or microbiology are the proper goal for this answer.
Our deal with the worth of the entire workflow addresses every section of the NGS course of: library preparation, sequencing, and evaluation. The power to streamline this course of from end-to-end facilitates price and operational efficiencies for labs.
What wants do the MiSeq i100 Sequence sequencers fulfill?
The MiSeq i100 is right for purchasers who’re new to NGS as a result of it presents highly effective insights by an reasonably priced, complete answer that’s easy to know and use, even for these with restricted NGS experience. With 18 pre-built, end-to-end, push-button workflows throughout 10 purposes (and extra coming within the pipeline), in addition to same-day outcomes, labs can rise up and operating rapidly. Because of its simplicity and accessibility, teams that beforehand despatched samples to a third-party lab for sequencing can now convey that NGS functionality in-house.
For established NGS customers, the instrument introduces capabilities to broaden into new NGS purposes and the flexibility to sequence on-demand, with faster-than-ever run instances, and value efficient, complete workflow options that allow a brand new stage of effectivity and productiveness.
The MiSeq i100 overcomes the limitations to entry for a lot of labs, and goes past to introduce, for the primary time, prolonged room temperature storage for reagents, which unlocks on-demand sequencing and similar day sample-to-analysis. Moreover, the instrument’s run time is 4 instances quicker than the unique MiSeq, finishing runs in as little as 4 hours. This creates significant influence for labs conducting work round infectious illness unfold, pathogen monitoring, and analyzing genomic variations in tumors.
How will a benchtop sequencing instrument remodel analysis?

Illumina’s MiSeq i100 sequencers come geared up with quite a few pre-built workflows, giving researchers same-day outcomes on the contact of a button.
Illumina
The pace and ease of MiSeq i100 allows labs to start a run on-demand, due to no-thaw reagents, and to finish runs in the identical day. Our early entry prospects have expressed their enthusiasm for a way these options will allow them to do extra and attain solutions quicker. Additionally, improved knowledge high quality permits scientists to publish with confidence.
MiSeq i100 will probably be used for a variety of NGS analysis. As an illustration, as beforehand talked about, this know-how is right for figuring out disease-causing pathogens, infectious illness monitoring, and analyzing genomic variations in tumors, along with researching drug resistance. Moreover, labs conducting exploratory analysis can quickly take a look at hypotheses with much less time and value invested.
What improvements or options have been essential to implement within the new sequencers to satisfy researchers’ wants?
Now we have integrated the groundbreaking know-how of our NovaSeq™ X system—extending the facility of XLEAP-SBS™ chemistry, this instrument sequence allows quicker sequencing and insights to extra labs internationally. Moreover, the instrument facilitates knowledge evaluation in below two hours with included workflows and onboard or cloud-based DRAGEN™ genomic knowledge evaluation software program.
Do the brand new sequencers incorporate any sustainability options?
The room-temperature storage and delivery function provides prospects even larger flexibility in how they plan and execute their initiatives, whereas decreasing their environmental influence.
Ambient storage and no-thaw reagents reduces prep time, packaging, and space for storing, serving to labs reply quicker to pressing samples with quick run functionality, and making sequencing extra accessible to labs that wouldn’t have deep freezers or particular storage gear. Ambient storage additionally helps to enhance the power effectivity of our prospects’ labs, in flip decreasing their carbon influence and enabling them to progress ahead towards their sustainability targets.
Ambient delivery helps to scale back waste by the elimination of dry ice and ice packs, creating simpler disposal for purchasers whereas decreasing influence to the atmosphere. Recyclable plastics and buffer cartridges simplify disposal for purchasers whereas decreasing landfill waste. General, there may be an 85 p.c discount in packaging supplies in comparison with the unique MiSeq System.
How do knowledge high quality and the evaluation workflow examine to bigger sequencers?
The efficiency of the MiSeq i100 Sequence matches or exceeds the info high quality that benchtop prospects have come to understand. The MiSeq i100 Sequence could have a minimal specification of larger than 90 p.c of bases above a Q rating of 30 (a measure of base calling accuracy), leading to extremely correct (99.9 p.c) knowledge.
What recommendation do you will have for scientists seeking to carry out NGS for the primary time?
NGS has traditionally been very complicated to carry out, with sophisticated workflows that require specialised experience. Constructing a bioinformatics pipeline calls for very particular information, and operating an instrument requires intensive time and a spotlight. With the MiSeq i100 Sequence, we’re breaking down these limitations by simplifying the workflow and the evaluation so sequencing can grow to be so simple as qPCR. My recommendation is, don’t be afraid of sequencing anymore. Ask our groups the way it might help generate extra insightful data to your lab.
This interview has been condensed and edited for readability.