Developing portable next generation gene sequencing technology
Conventional methods for combating microbial diseases include the use of antibiotics and disinfectants. These methods are highly problematic. Other, more innovative methods need advanced tools for monitoring.
Project leader
Dr David Werner
Dates
2019-2020
Project staff
Mr Adrian Blackburn
Dr Soydoa Vinitnantharat, KMUTT
Dr Sawannee Sutheeworapong, KMUTT
Ms Pawinee Patanachan, KMUTT
Dr Pawinee Chaiprasert, KMUTT
Mr Bundit Tirachulee, KMUTT
Ms Rattikan Neamchan, KMUTT
Ms Thunchanok Thongsamer, KMUTT
Mr Thanee Dawrueng, KMUTT
Sponsors
Newton Fund
British Council
Office of the Higher Education Commission
Partners
Small-scale aquaculture farmers in Thailand (six case study sites)
Description
Antibiotics are life-saving medicines in treating human diseases. Their use in agriculture reduces their effectiveness, and leads to antibiotics resistance.
Disinfectants like chlorine form unwanted by-products. They indiscriminately kill good and bad microbes. Eliminating beneficial microorganisms makes aquacultures more vulnerable to invasion by pathogens.
More innovative methods include probiotics and water biofiltration and recirculation schemes. They avoid the excessive use of problematic chemicals. They are thus able to maintain aquacultures as resilient ecosystems in which sudden stock losses are less likely to occur. These new methods need in-depth understanding of aquaculture microbiology. This understanding requires advanced tools for monitoring.
Next generation sequencing (NGS) can provide near real-time monitoring of microbial communities. We are bringing these benefits within reach of aquaculture farmers. Newcastle University is working with King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) in Thailand. We are training KMUTT staff in the use of the NGS tool MinION. Developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, MinION is a portable, real-time device for DNA and RNA sequencing. We will then work together to develop the use of NGS for microbial community monitoring and management in aquacultures. We will demonstrate the benefits of the tool at case study aquaculture farms.