The current multi-country monkeypox outbreak has increased the need for sensitive diagnostic and research tests for the detection of monkeypox viral DNA. Development and validation of these test methods requires adequate quality controls to ensure testing is accurate, reliable and can meet public health needs. Twist Bioscience Corporation has now launched two human monkeypox virus synthetic DNA controls which can aid in the ongoing development, verification and validation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods.
The Twist synthetic DNA controls include both known clades of the monkeypox virus, currently named the Congo Basin (Central African) clade and the West African clade, the latter of which has been identified as the predominant clade in the current outbreak. The controls cover over 80% of the full viral genome and are sequence-verified using NGS and ddPCR. Each control is made up of 1.8kb of overlapping fragments that tile the genome. The controls support the design of custom assays targeting regions of the genome relevant to orthopoxvirus research and can be used for both amplicon and capture-based detection methods, according to Twist Bioscience.
“These monkeypox controls are the most recent addition to our expanding portfolio of synthetic controls and reference standards that empower our customers to develop research and diagnostic tests to improve global health. They also complement our growing suite of NGS applications for viral diseases, including the Twist Pan-Viral Panel, which was used by researchers to characterize the monkeypox pathogen in a previous outbreak and highlighted in The Lancet,” said Twist Bioscience CEO and Co-founder Emily M. Leproust, Ph.D. “As new and existing pathogens emerge as public health concerns, we will continue to rapidly develop tools to enable cutting edge research that improve global health outcomes.”
Twist offers a suite of research tools and NGS products, including custom controls and reference standards for monkeypox, respiratory diseases including coronaviruses, influenza viruses, paramyxoviruses and enteroviruses as well as liquid biopsy and cancers. The company also offers the Twist Pan-Viral Panel, which contains over 600,000 probes for the targeted enrichment of over 1,000 viral human pathogens, including those that cause monkeypox, Zika virus and other diseases. In a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases in 2018, researchers used the Twist Pan-Viral Panel to screen blood samples for viral content to analyze the genetic makeup and origin of a monkeypox virus outbreak in Nigeria.
Customers purchasing the synthetic controls are subject to Twist’s biosecurity and customer screening protocols, and applicable laws and regulations, according to a company statement. An export license will also be required for international customers.