Empowering aquaculture researchers through molecular diagnostics and nanopore sequencing
World Fish, 11/8/2023
WorldFish, in collaboration with Patriot Biotech, recently organized a six-day in-person training program on molecular diagnostics and nanopore sequencing. Held in Penang, Malaysia, in May 2023, this program aimed to enhance the capacity of aquaculture researchers by providing them with valuable insights into molecular-based disease diagnostics, ranging from fish sampling to genome sequencing of bacterial isolates.
The training was attended by seven participants from five different countries. Among the attendees were Oluwaseun Ogundijo and Olayemi Akinsola Okunlade, a lecturer and a laboratory technologist, respectively from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and WorldFish researchers based in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Zambia and Malawi.
The training program began with an introduction of participants to their trainers. Based in the laboratories at WorldFish, Penang, the participants were immersed in hands-on experiences related to fish necropsy and bacterial isolation techniques. They were trained on preparing media for bacterial isolation and how to collect bacteriological samples from various fish tissues for bacterial enrichment.
The trainers also introduced participants to next-generation sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) platform, which enables real-time analysis of long DNA/RNA fragments of pathogens. Participants received instructions on DNA quantification and DNA library preparation techniques for whole bacterial genome sequencing, including the installation of a necessary computer environment for analysis.
After completing the intensive laboratory training, all participants engaged in fruitful discussions about the state of aquaculture in their respective countries. They shared insights into the challenges they faced in fish disease diagnosis and expressed their aspirations and the obstacles they encountered while striving to achieve their goals and desired impacts. Furthermore, the participants explored effective ways to apply the knowledge they acquired during the training in their research or training activities.
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