Rapid and sensitive direct detection and identification of poliovirus from stool and environmental surveillance samples using nanopore sequencing

Abstract

Global poliovirus surveillance involves virus isolation from stool and environmental samples, intratypic differential (ITD) by PCR and sequencing of the VP1 region to distinguish vaccine (Sabin), vaccine-derived and wild-type polioviruses and ensure an appropriate response. This cell-culture algorithm takes 2-3 weeks on average between sample receipt and sequencing. Direct detection of viral RNA using PCR allows faster detection but has traditionally faced challenges related to poor sensitivity and difficulties in sequencing common samples containing poliovirus and enterovirus mixtures. We present a nested PCR and nanopore sequencing protocol that allows rapid (99.9%. This novel method shows promise as a faster and safer alternative to cell-culture for the detection and real-time sequencing of polioviruses in stool and environmental samples.