Viral Mutation Analysis and Whole Genome Sequencing
Respiratory viruses have a high transmission rate due to their ability to spread through the air, posing a constant risk of large-scale outbreaks. Historical respiratory virus pandemics, such as the Spanish flu (1918), SARS (2002), H1N1 influenza (2009), and COVID-19 (2019), have demonstrated the severe impact these viruses can have on public health. In particular, as viruses mutate during transmission, the patterns of outbreaks can change rapidly. Therefore, beyond simple pathogen detection, it is crucial to analyze genomic information to detect mutations and prevent further spread. To meet these needs, Celemics has developed a viral whole-genome sequencing (WGS) solution, providing services to various institutions both domestically and internationally.
Celemics’ Viral WGS Service is available through two approaches: Multiplex PCR and Hybridization Capture. The Multiplex PCR method amplifies viral genomes by dividing them into multiple amplicons, offering the advantage of a relatively simple experimental process and a reduced turnaround time (TAT). At Celemics, we utilize a proprietary design pipeline that incorporates extensive viral sequence data during the amplicon design stage, ensuring high detection rates and sensitivity for both common viral strains and their variants. This approach allows us to flexibly update amplicon designs and maintain robust amplification performance, even when new mutations are discovered.
The Hybridization Capture method uses long probes to enrich viral genomic sequences, providing greater resistance to mutations compared to PCR primers. Celemics has also developed a specialized design pipeline for this approach, integrating diverse variant sequences during panel design. This ensures maximized detection performance, even for viruses with high mutation rates.
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Leveraging these technological strengths, our company has successfully supplied WGS analysis services for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A and B viruses to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Additionally, we offer customizable viral analysis services beyond these panels, utilizing our exclusive reagent kits optimized for viral sample testing, PCR amplicon/Hybridization probe design pipelines, and dedicated data analysis pipelines to meet the diverse needs of our clients.
