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Enabling Sequencing of First Plant Species in The African BioGenome Venture
Sep
Cape City, South Africa, 13 September2023 – MGI, an organization dedicated to constructing core instruments and expertise to steer life science, is delighted to assist The African BioGenome Venture (AfricaBP), launched in 2021, in sequencing of the venture’s first plant species primarily based on MGI’s DNBSEQ-G400* versatile benchtop sequencer and single-tube lengthy fragment learn (stLFR) expertise.
An affiliated venture of the Earth BioGenome Venture (EBP) and partnering venture of the ten,000 Crops Genomes Venture (10KP), AfricaBP is a coordinated effort to construct capability and infrastructure to generate, analyze and deploy genomics information for the development and sustainable use of biodiversity and agriculture throughout Africa. At present involving a complete of 109 African scientists (87 of whom working in Africa) and 22 African organizations, it goals to sequence the genomes of 105,000 endemic species, starting from vegetation, to animals, fungi, protists, and different eukaryotes.
“We’re proud to see MGI’s core applied sciences empowering the staff on the South African Medical Analysis Council (SAMRC) in sequencing the very first plant species for AfricaBP,” stated Dr. Yong Hou, Common Supervisor of MGI Europe and Africa. “This was the primary time our environment friendly and distinctive stLFR expertise has been deployed in Africa, and we sit up for benefitting extra scientists and researchers within the area and advancing the native subject of genomics with our end-to-end merchandise and choices.”
“Plant genomics is an more and more necessary space of science that has expanded lately together with the event of superior applied sciences and strategies, and it has been enjoying an important position in plant biodiversity,” stated Professor Craig Kinnear, Director of the SAMRC Genomics Platform. “Because of MGI’s modern instruments and the South African Medical Analysis Council’s assist, we’re one other step nearer to a retailer of reference plant and animal genomes that’s in-built Africa, for Africa.”
Picture Credit score: MGI
As a part of AfricaBP, MGI’s state-of-the-art sequencing applied sciences are empowering African researchers and policymakers from genomics, bioinformatics, biodiversity, and agriculture to supply high-quality reference genomes for an array of endemic African species. The endeavor will assist plant and animal breeders to supply extra resilient and sustainable meals programs. As well as, it is going to enhance public well being, strengthen agriculture, and inform biodiversity conservation throughout the continent.
Picture Credit score: MGI
Just lately, AfricaBP reported the profitable implementation of the Open Institute in Nature Biotechnology, a pioneering genomic and bioinformatics information trade platform. The Open Institute’s framework establishes overtly accessible workshops throughout Africa, crafted in shut collaborations with native African Establishments with the first goal to develop biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics curricula and foster grassroots information trade that revolves across the necessities of African scientists. From the August 21-25, MGI was proud to be one of many essential sponsors on the AfricaBP Southern Africa Open Institute Workshop for Genomics and Bioinformatics 2023, and one of many key workshop holders to showcase MGI’s modern stLFR and DNBSeq expertise to supply high-quality reference genomes on the Agriculture Analysis Council Biotechnology Platform in Pretoria, South Africa. Throughout October 9-10, MGI may also be concerned in North Africa workshop of the AfricaBP Open Institute in Morocco.
Picture Credit score: MGI
“One of many main significance of the AfricaBP Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics is its timeliness at a second when the African Continental Free Commerce Space (AfCTA) settlement is already in impact. Via such a information trade platform, there’s an financial case and justification for organizations, African nationwide science companies, native and worldwide companions, to assist this effort which retains Africa in the proper observe for a federated genomic and bioinformatics infrastructure that may contribute to Africa’s bioeconomy”, stated Dr. ThankGod Echezona Ebenezer, Founder and Co-Chair, African BioGenome Venture, and a Bioinformatician on the College of Cambridge College of Medical Drugs, UK.
MGI’s modern stLFR relies on patented DNA co-barcoding expertise to supply artificial or linked lengthy reads on its proprietary DNBSEQ™ platforms. The stLFR Library Prep Equipment, which was launched in 2023 on the Advances in Genome Biology and Know-how assembly, overcomes the restrictions of brief learn lengths and facilitates high-quality small and huge structural variant calling, haplotype phasing of over 99% of the human genome, de novo meeting, and different lengthy fragment functions. Mixed with PCR-free high-throughput sequencing, it introduces a brand new normal for each analysis and medical situations by enabling extra full and extra correct haplotype-phased genomes at an reasonably priced value.Up to now, greater than 50 high-quality articles have been revealed primarily based on stLFR expertise, together with Nucleic Acids Analysis, Nature Ecology & Evolution, Genome Analysis and different prime journals.
Picture Credit score: MGI
On the symposiums periods of the AfricaBP Southern Africa Open Institute Workshop, Dr Mmatshepho Phasha-Muchemenye and Raksha Toolsi offered on “MGI’s single tube Lengthy Learn Fragment (stLFR) expertise” in the course of the Genomic Applied sciences Session, and “Overview of Genome Sequencing Sensible Train with MGI-Tech DNBSEQ-G400*” in the course of the Sensible workout routines introductions periods respectively.
MGI’s long-term partnership with SAMRC could be dated again to 2019, throughout which the latter established the African Genomics Middle in Cape City, the primary high-throughput genome sequencing heart in Africa, with assist and assist from MGI. Through the pandemic, MGI’s ATOPlex expertise, DNBSEQ-G50 and MGISP-100 additionally assisted researchers from SAMRC in screening and managing COVID-19 hotspots and circulating variants in wastewater samples, which later resulted within the Omicron variant being detected in Cape City’s wastewater system for the primary time.
Picture Credit score: MGI
About MGI
MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (or its associates, “MGI”), headquartered in Shenzhen, is dedicated to constructing core instruments and expertise to steer life science by clever innovation. Primarily based on its proprietary expertise, MGI focuses on analysis & growth, manufacturing, and gross sales of sequencing devices*, reagents*, and associated merchandise to assist life science analysis, agriculture, precision medication and healthcare. As of June 30, 2023, MGI has greater than 2,800 workers, and 35.2% of whom are R&D personnel. Based in 2016, MGI operates in additional than 90 international locations and areas, serving greater than 2,400 clients. For extra info, please go to the MGI web site or join on Twitter, LinkedIn or YouTube.
