The Evolution of Sequencing Technology for Microbial Diagnosis

วิวัฒนาการของเทคโนโลยีการหาลำดับพันธุกรรม เพื่อการวินิจฉัยเชื้อจุลชีพ

Abstract

          Over the past few decades, gene sequencing technology has become one of the most prominent tools in medical microbiology, widely applied in areas such as cancer diagnosis, the study of rare genetic diseases, microbial detection, and genome assembly. Currently, sequencing technologies can be classified into three main generations. The first-generation method, Sanger sequencing, employs chain-termination and gel electrophoresis to sequence DNA. In the second generation, Illumina sequencing utilizes bridge amplification for high-throughput sequencing, while other technologies such as Ion Torrent and SOLiD offer alternative approaches. The third-generation technology, exemplified by PacBio sequencing, allows for long-read sequencing, enabling the analysis of more complex genomic regions.

          As sequencing technologies evolve, the focus has shifted toward reducing costs, improving accuracy, and minimizing processing times. Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT), a more recent advancement, is often considered a part of third-generation sequencing. It enables real-time monitoring by detecting changes in electrical current as DNA or RNA molecules pass through a nanopore.

         Despite the widespread application of these technologies in medical microbiology, certain limitations remain. For instance, current sequencing methods struggle to simultaneously detect multiple bacterial species in mixed samples. Additionally, compared to traditional diagnostic methods, the high costs of sequencing technologies present a significant barrier to their broader adoption in clinical settings.