Next-Generation Sequencing — Biotoxin Screen

The most comprehensive view of the bacterial and fungal community in house dust.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionised microbiology and led to the identification of many previously unknown bacterial species. It identifies the microbial species present in a dust sample by analysing their DNA directly, including those that are difficult or impossible to culture using traditional methods. Because culturing can only grow certain species, it gives a skewed picture; analysing DNA regardless of culturability lets us identify species that were previously missed and gain a far more accurate understanding of the microbial ecology of house dust. This matters for health: the composition of the ecobiome in house dust has significant implications for human health, and exposure to certain bacterial species has been linked to the development of CIRS, allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions. Identifying which species are present, and how prevalent they are, also helps target strategies to reduce exposure.