Targeted genomic sequencing with probe capture for discovery and surveillance of coronaviruses in bats.

ABSTRACT: Public health emergencies like SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 have prioritized surveillance of zoonotic coronaviruses, resulting in extensive genomic characterization of coronavirus diversity in bats. Sequencing viral genomes directly from animal specimens remains a laboratory challenge, however, and most bat coronaviruses have been characterized solely by PCR amplification of small regions from the best-conserved gene. This has resulted in limited phylogenetic resolution and left viral genetic factors relevant to threat assessment undescribed. In this study, we evaluated whether a technique called hybridization probe capture can achieve more extensive genome recovery from surveillance specimens. Using a custom panel of 20,000 probes, we captured and sequenced coronavirus genomic material in 21

SUBMITTER: Kuchinski KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9643004 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature