ACRI Biotechnology Flagship Program Completes Successful Nanopore Sequencing Training
Last October 30 to November 1, 2024, the Ateneo Center of Research and Innovation’s (ACRI) Biotechnology Flagship Program (BFP) concluded its three-day hands-on genomics and sequencing workshop at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health in its newly established molecular biology laboratory. This three-day training was a combination of lectures and laboratory work that provided its participants with theoretical and practical experience in handling and using Oxford Nanopore’s MinION portable sequencing device, covering essential skills from DNA library preparation to bioinformatics data analysis. Aside from the research assistants in the BFP, professors from the Loyola Schools and ASMPH likewise participated in the event.
The first training day consisted of both lecture and laboratory sessions. It commenced with a lecture on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics terminology and workflows, the two critical lessons for the duration of the event. An introduction to Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) focused on nanopore sequencing was also discussed. In preparation for the bulk of the hands-on training, the afternoon session was devoted to calibrating the QubitTM Fluorometer, a tool used for DNA quantitation following the dsDNA high-sensitivity assay. Likewise, the participants learned how to do a quality check with the Flow Cell, the component that contains the nanopores for DNA/RNA sequencing.
Image 1. Samples and standards were prepared to calibrate the QubitTM Fluorometer.
Image 2. Participants were guided on the Flow Cell quality check.
On the second training day, the participants were guided with a hands-on session on ligation sequencing, starting with DNA repair and end preparation, followed by adapter ligation and clean-up, and finally, priming and loading the MinION Flow Cell.
Image 3. Each participant was given the opportunity to work on a certain section in the protocol.
The final training day involved lectures on utilizing various bioinformatics tools to process and analyze sequenced data. The event concluded with a short hands-on activity of washing and returning the Flow Cell for reuse.
Image 4. Proper pipetting skills are necessary when washing the ONT MinION portable sequencing device to maximize its function in succeeding experiments.
Overall, ACRI aspires to advance research related to molecular biology within the Ateneo de Manila University. The BFP intends to enhance its capabilities in nucleic acid extraction, polymerase chain reaction, and next-generation sequencing, enabling it to conduct training sessions for all students from the Loyola Schools and medical students in the ASMPH.
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ACRI Junior Research Fellow Samantha Eala Selected for the Wattle Fellowship
The Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation is proud to share that Samantha Eala, Junior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Master of Public Health student, and Australia Awards scholar, has been selected as a Wattle Fellow. This prestigious fellowship is part of a year-long program designed to foster leadership on global sustainability, emphasising multidisciplinary approaches, transformative leadership, and practical skills development.
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Samantha Eala and University of Melbourne team wins the the Indo-Pacific Global Health Case Competition
The Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation is proud to share that Samantha Eala together with her team won the Indo-Pacific Global Health Case Competition held on September 9. Samantha, an ACRI Junior Research Fellow, Master of Public Health student at the University of Melbourne, and Australia Awards scholar, clinched first place in this formidable challenge, which attracts bright minds from universities across Australia and the Indo-Pacific region. The focus of this year's competition was to develop actionable strategies to address malaria in Papua New Guinea. Participating teams were given two weeks to craft their solutions and had the opportunity to present their ideas in a 20-minute session to a panel comprised of renowned professionals and academics from the public health sector across the region. The event was organised by the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health and supported by the University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences. It was notably the largest to date, with 28 teams from five countries and more than 150 participants.