Metagenomics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) was the focus of a training session at CSRS from September 03 to 10, 2024.

Delivered in English by Dr. Gowtham Thakku, a scientist at the Chan Zuckerberg Bio-Hub in San Francisco, USA, the objectives were to prepare an RNA library from CSF samples, perform quality control of the RNA library, sequence the library using a MinIon, and perform bioinformatics analysis of the sequencing data generated.

In addition to the theoretical sessions in the Norbert Béhi room, manipulations were carried out in the laboratory by the project members selected for the training. At the end of the session, certificates of attendance were awarded to all participants.

It should be noted that this 2nd capacity-building session (the 1st having taken place last June) is an initiative of Dr Diallo Kanny and her collaborators at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (CZB) in San Francisco, California (USA) as part of the implementation of the “Real Etiology of Meningitis in West Africa” project. This project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to improve the diagnosis of meningitis.

N.G.S/CelCom