MGI Launches End-to-End Sequencing Platform With DNBSEQ-T7 Sequencer
By Bio-IT World Staff
January 15, 2019 | MGI, a subsidiary of BGI Group, has made a few announcements already this week: market clearance for its G and T Series sequencers in Asia Pacific countries and Europe, and an end-to-end genomics solution automating sample pre-processing through data analytics.
On Monday MGI announced it has the market clearance for its G and T Series sequencers in Asia Pacific countries and Europe. Its DNBSEQ-T7, DNBSEQ-G400 and DNBSEQ-G50 sequencers are now cleared in European countries recognizing the CE-IVD mark and ready to position in clinical settings. The CE Mark opens up a wider global market with growing potential in clinical settings and enables MGI to serve more large-scale population sequencing projects, especially for DNBSEQ-T7.
DNBSEQ-T7 has the highest daily data output capacity of any DNA sequencer, with 60 human genomes per day, according to MGI. Designed for clinical and large-scale applications, it can support larger-scale population genomic health projects with Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), clinical research with Whole Genome Exome Sequencing (WES) and more. MGI’s G series sequencers (DNBSEQ-G400 and DNBSEQ-G50) are benchtop sequencers with unique flexibility and adaptability to a variety of applications.
“Regulatory clearance for MGI’s G and T Series sequencers is a huge milestone for MGI,” said Mu Feng, MGI’s Chief Executive Officer. “MGI can help to accelerate sequencing projects of any scale and deliver high quality data with the most adaptable, capable and efficient sequencer available. It also means that the sequencer’s quality is recognized, validated and certified for the clinical use.”
Yesterday MGI launched its One Million Genomes Total Solution, making use of the DNBSEQ-T7.
The One Million Genomes Total Solution is a full-process software and hardware solution for one million genome projects, the company said, with MGI’s ultra-high-throughput sequencer DNBSEQ-T7 at its core. The DNBSEQ-T7 can sequence 600,000 to 800,000 samples per year.
The integrated system will promote standardization and effectively solve the pain points in the industry and accelerate the arrival of the "genome for all" era, said Dr. Yongwei Zhang, BGI Group Vice President, speaking at a partnering summit during the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference.
MGI’s mega-genome overall solution addresses industry challenges and needs, relying on DNBSEQ sequencing technology and stLFR long fragment library construction technology. The hardware solution includes an automated sample pre-processing system, a fully automated library preparation system, a sequencer with daily throughput up to Tb level, and a data processing platform that can process exabyte (EB) level data each year.
The automated sample processing system released by MGI includes two main parts: a whole blood pretreatment system and a fully automated library preparation system. The pretreatment system achieves automated sample replacement without manual intervention, with an annual output up to 600,000 samples, the company reports. The fully automated library preparation system, the world's first ultra-high-throughput system, can meet production scale-sequencing requirements. It can operate 24 hours a day, without manual intervention, with an annual output up to 500,000 samples, the company said.
On the back end, the one-stop data processing platform combines high performance, automation, low cost, and security. It fully reflects the fusion of "IT + BT", according to the company announcement. The solution includes EB-level capacity expansion, and data governance, computing, and storage capabilities. It can complete the analysis of 100,000 to 1 million samples per year. In addition, this solution integrates the laboratory management system to provide an end-to-end solution that is easy to implement and deploy. It can be traced and queried throughout the process to resolve problems. Blockchain technology is utilized to provide maximum protection for data security and privacy. From a cost perspective, the solution uses storage tiering to optimize data management, and maximizes the use of storage and computing resources based on genetic data and algorithm characteristics.