Exome Target- Enrichment System to Analyse 1,500 Samples Genetic Population Study

Agilent Technologies Inc have announced that Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, has selected the Agilent SureSelect XT Human All Exon target enrichment system along with the Agilent Bravo automated liquid-handling platform as part of the Erasmus Rucphen Family study to identify genetic risk factors for some complex
genetic disorders.

The researchers are studying reduced heterozygosity exhibited by residents of one Dutch village compared to the general population, and any relationship this has with risk factors for type-2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In this portion of the project, exomes from 1,500 samples will be sequenced.

“The genetically isolated population of the study is ideal for the discovery of new genetic variants related to complex disorders,” said Wilfred van IJcken, Head of the Genomics core facility at Erasmus Medical Center. “We are halfway through this sequencing project and are very pleased with the results so far. The newly designed v4 exomecapture
platform needs only 4 Gbp, which is financially attractive because more exomes can be analysed. Furthermore, we have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the data.”

“As interest continues to grow in exome sequencing,” said Robert Schueren, Agilent Vice President and General Manager, Genomics, “we’ve put a lot of effort into providing a complete, streamlined exome target-enrichment  workflow from sample prep to sequencing.”

SureSelect XT includes SureSelect biotinylated RNA library ’baits,’ hybridisation buffers, and optimised gDNA prep and library prep kits. The investigators have produced 50 exomes per week during each of three consecutive months,
including analysis. The workflow uses the Agilent Bravo liquid-handling platform to automate DNA library prep and in-solution enrichment.

The SureSelect portfolio provides a complete and customisable target-enrichment platform. Since it was introduced in 2009, SureSelect has been instrumental in more than 230 published studies covering research into a wide range of heritable disorders and complex diseases. There are now more than 23 products in the SureSelect portfolio,
including a full range of catalogue and custom roducts. The Agilent Bravo automated liquidhandling  platform is the fastest and most versatile small footprint liquid-handling system available.