Comparison of four high throughput sequencing platforms in a medical laboratory for gut microbiome research

Abstract

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) systems, which are more appropriately called High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) systems have revolutionized the way microbiome of a given environment may be studied in considerable details. The reach of HTS is significantly more than that of the standards of Sanger sequencing, and the results from the study of gut microbiome and other metagenomic research has shown that HTS is going to remain as an indispensable tool for such studies for some time to come. Microbiology laboratories working in the field of human medicine, veterinary medicine, agriculture or environmental sciences would need to know and understand the intricacies of HTS methods. This would entail not only a theoretical understanding of the principles of HTS, but also a practical know how about processes, consumables, pitfalls and costs associated with HTS. The current review attempts to explain this important but complex topic with the help of a comparative description of various HTS/NGS systems available in a cancer hospital in eastern India, which is engaged in the use of such technologies for patient care and basic research.