Single-cell Genome Sequencing at Ultra-high-throughput with Microfluidic Droplet Barcoding

Overview

Journal Nat Biotechnol

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2017 May 30

PMID 28553940

Citations 162

Authors

Freeman Lan

Benjamin Demaree

Noorsher Ahmed

Adam R Abate

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The application of single-cell genome sequencing to large cell populations has been hindered by technical challenges in isolating single cells during genome preparation. Here we present single-cell genomic sequencing (SiC-seq), which uses droplet microfluidics to isolate, fragment, and barcode the genomes of single cells, followed by Illumina sequencing of pooled DNA. We demonstrate ultra-high-throughput sequencing of >50,000 cells per run in a synthetic community of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. The sequenced genomes can be sorted in silico based on characteristic sequences. We use this approach to analyze the distributions of antibiotic-resistance genes, virulence factors, and phage sequences in microbial communities from an environmental sample. The ability to routinely sequence large populations of single cells will enable the de-convolution of genetic heterogeneity in diverse cell populations.

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