Vet-LIRN Network Capacity-Building MiSeq i100 System for Testing Foodborne and Zoonotic Pathogens

Project Abstract The University of Illinois (UI) Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) is a full service, AAVLD accredited, all species, reference veterinary diagnostic laboratory. As a member laboratory of the FDA Vet-LIRN, UI VDL is actively involved in several VET-LIRN activities including iSeq-sequencing Listeria project as a lead lab, providing isolates for MiSeq WGS sequencing project as a source lab, participation on antimicrobial resistance pilot project, and evaluation of automatic nucleic acid extraction methods as a lead lab. Old MiSeq System has a longer turnaround time (19-56 hours) and complexed process for sequencing and equipment maintenance; by contrast, the new MiSeq i100 System has much shorter turnaround time (4-15.5 hours), simple integrated fluidics without additional equipment wash and library denaturation, and more versatile amplifications. Therefore, the new MiSeq i100 System add more diagnostic values to clinical case investigation of foodborne pathogen related outbreaks and other zoonotic diseases affecting both animals and humans. This funding support is crucial for maintaining UI VDL capacity in molecular testing and critical response to animal food/drug emergency or disease outbreak coordinated by FDA Vet-LIRN.