Ebersberg, Germany, March 14, 2013 - Eurofins MWG Operon and School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, have recently signed a cooperation agreement on the genome sequencing analysis of Ash (Fraxinus excelsior). The major aim of this project is to increase our understanding of the wide spreading fungal tree disease – ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus), which is widespread in northern Europe and has already been found at more than 300 sites across the UK.
Project leader, Dr. Richard Buggs from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences: "Sequencing the ash genome is a foundational step towards discovering the genetic basis of resistance to ash dieback – the future of ash trees in Britain may depend on this". His research is funded by an urgency grant from the Natural Environment Research Council.
Sequencing of the approximately 900 Mb plant genome will be performed applying the latest hybrid de novo sequencing strategy, recently proven to deliver excellent scaffolding and assembly results.This new golden standard in de novo sequencing employs a combination of Roche/454 FLX++ long read technology (software version 2.8 with read lengths up to 1,100 bp) and Illumina HiSeq 2000/2500 high throughput sequencing with several ultra-accurate long jumping distance libraries (LJD of 3kb, 8kb, 20kb and 40kb), supplemented by sequencing of Illumina shotgun libraries with different fragment sizes.
The DNA samples provided by Dr. Richard Buggs, Queen Mary University of London, from tree material supplied by Earth Trust, Oxfordshire, have successfully passed the first QC steps in lab, while the Eurofins MWG Operon NGS sequencing service pipeline is already planning the first sequencing runs starting with GS FLX++.
"We take specific care that our technical and operational pipeline meets the best quality standards, fast turnaround times and the high service level we want to provide to our customers", says Bruno Poddevin, Eurofins Senior Vice President, Genomic Services. "Our specific library know-how fits seamlessly to this challenging and important genome sequencing project and we are confident that we will deliver excellent results."