What are the Advantages of SMRT Sequencing in Epidemiology?
Long Read Lengths One of the main advantages of SMRT sequencing is its long read lengths, which can span tens of thousands of base pairs. This feature is particularly beneficial for resolving complex genomic regions and detecting large structural variations that shorter read technologies might miss.
High Accuracy SMRT sequencing offers high accuracy, especially in identifying base modifications such as methylation. This can provide additional layers of information about bacterial virulence and resistance mechanisms, which are important for understanding pathogen biology.
Real-time Analysis The ability to perform real-time analysis is another significant advantage. This can accelerate the pace of epidemiological investigations, allowing for quicker decision-making and response during public health emergencies.
