Rapid, accurate bacterial identification in biological samples is an important task for microbiology laboratories, for which 16S rRNA gene Sanger sequencing of cultured isolates is frequently used. In contrast, next-generation sequencing does not require intermediate culturing steps and can be directly applied on communities, but its performance has not been extensively evaluated. We present a comparative evaluation of second (Illumina) and third (Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT)) generation sequencing technologies for 16S targeted genomics using a well-characterized reference sample. Different 16S gene regions were amplified and sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq, and analyzed with Mothur. Correct classification was variable, depending on the region amplified. Using a majority vote over all regions, most false positives could be eliminated at the genus level but not the species level. Alternatively, the entire 16S gene was amplified and sequenced using the ONT MinION, and analyzed with Mothur, EPI2ME, and GraphMap. Although >99% of reads were correctly classified at the genus level, up to ≈40% were misclassified at the species level. Both technologies, therefore, allow reliable identification of bacterial genera, but can potentially misguide identification of bacterial species, and constitute viable alternatives to Sanger sequencing for rapid analysis of mixed samples without requiring any culturing steps.

In order to strengthen the current genetically modified organism (GMO) detection system for unauthorized GMO, we have recently developed a new workflow based on DNA walking to amplify unknown sequences surrounding a known DNA region. This DNA walking is performed on transgenic elements, commonly found in GMO, that were earlier detected by real-time PCR (qPCR) screening. Previously, we have demonstrated the ability of this approach to detect unauthorized GMO via the identification of unique transgene flanking regions and the unnatural associations of elements from the transgenic cassette. In the present study, we investigate the feasibility to integrate the described workflow with the MinION Next-Generation-Sequencing (NGS). The MinION sequencing platform can provide long read-lengths and deal with heterogenic DNA libraries, allowing for rapid and efficient delivery of sequences of interest. In addition, the ability of this NGS platform to characterize unauthorized and unknown GMO without any a priori knowledge has been assessed.

The invasive ctenophore, Mnemiopsis leidyi, which had its first mass occurrence in Limfjorden (Denmark) . During that period, copepods and other mesozooplankton organisms were virtually absent while ciliates were a substantial part of the zooplankton biomass. In "pre-Mnemiopsis years", there seems to have been large variability in the grazing impact on zooplankton depending on the seasonal abundance of A. aurita. With the addition of the second carnivore M. leidyi, however, additional predation pressure caused the zooplankton stocks to be severely depressed throughout 2008 and 2009 when copepods and cladocerans no longer showed the high seasonal peaks in abundance typical of previous years.

Safety and efficacy of the Pantera Lux paclitaxel-coated balloon was confirmed in a real-world setting with low major adverse cardiac event rates in patients with in-stent restenosis or de novo lesions. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01081366).

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