Recently, at the first China Intestinal Industry Conference, MGI was invited to attend the Sequencing Technology and Application Forum. Ma Tao, Director of Applied Technology Support at MGI, was interviewed on the significance and value of sequencing technology in intestinal flora research. The following is an on-site record of five key topics discussed during the roundtable forum, sharing MGI’s insights.
What is the significance and value of using sequencing technology to study the intestinal flora?
Ma Tao: Often referred to as the “No.2 genome” of humans, the intestinal flora has a profound impact on our lives. How can we manage these effects within human control? In 2010, BGI used high-throughput sequencing to study 124 European intestinal microbes, constructing the first and most comprehensive human microbial gene set. Published on the cover of Nature, this achievement was recognised as one of the “Top Ten Scientific and Technological Progress in the World” in the first decade of the 21st century. Since then, our understanding of intestinal microbes has reached the genetic level: high-throughput sequencing allows researchers to study the association between intestinal microbes and complex diseases through reference gene sets, enabling evaluation, monitoring, and intervention in human intestinal health.
High-throughput sequencing technology has been in use for more than ten years. How will instruments and technology develop in the near future, and how should researchers respond?
Ma Tao: Technology and tools develop in line with the needs of the time. In practice, sequencing technology will continue to become more powerful, faster, lower-cost, more diverse, and potentially more miniaturised. Researchers must keep pace, continually learn, and innovate to stay ahead.
High-throughput sequencing commercial services bring opportunities for enterprises such as MGI and Novogene. What are the current challenges and future directions?
Ma Tao: Commercial sequencing services are designed to serve customers’ needs. The challenge lies in the increasing diversity and personalisation of those needs. As technology spreads, customers gain more information and apply it more creatively, making traditional, standardised service models less effective.
Technological innovation puts pressure on service providers. Companies must adopt new technologies and platforms, build upstream and downstream cooperation systems, transform products from basic research to applied fields, and expand markets through collaboration. Future growth will thrive in an open, shared, and balanced sequencing ecosystem.
How will third-generation sequencing technology support microbial and microecological research? Does second-generation sequencing become outdated?
Ma Tao: Second- and third-generation technologies are not replacements; no generation is outdated. Each is compared to the “gold standard” of the previous generation.
With sequencing becoming widespread, it’s vital to maximise existing data. As micro-ecology is still an emerging field, fast accumulation of data, discovery of scientific laws, and exploration of application scenarios are critical. MGI has developed flexible sequencing platforms with high data quality, controllable costs, and rapid integration into research and clinical workflows.
Regarding long vs short reads, the choice depends on the research goal. High-quality long-segment DNA can be achieved with short-read technology. For example, MGI’s StLFR technology brings innovative methods for studying intestinal microbes. Combining long- and short-read technologies may become a long-term trend.
How do domestically produced sequencers promote intestinal flora research and industrial applications?
Ma Tao: Advancing intestinal flora research requires industry-wide collaboration. Domestic sequencers serve as key platforms. In 2017, deep metagenomic sequencing of intestinal samples from healthy populations was completed. In 2018, the world’s first rat intestinal microbial reference gene set was constructed. In March 2019, high-depth metagenomic shotgun sequencing of the fecal microbiome was completed. All these achievements relied on MGI’s domestically produced sequencers. With continued collaboration, intestinal flora research and industrial applications will achieve even greater breakthroughs.
References
- Fang C, Zhong H, Lin Y, et al. Assessment of the cPAS-based BGISEQ-500 platform for metagenomic sequencing. GigaScience, 2017.
- Pan H, Guo R, Zhu J, et al. A gene catalogue of the Sprague-Dawley rat gut metagenome. GigaScience, 2018.
- Jie Z, Liang S, Ding Q, et al. A multi-omic cohort as a reference point for promoting a healthy human gut microbiome. bioRxiv, 2019.
