Aspergillus Fumigatus has overtaken Candidasis

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February 03, 2004 08:16 AM US Eastern Timezone

Whole Genome Optical Map Enables International Consortium to

Construct Complete Chromosomes from the DNA Sequence of Aspergillus

Fumigatus

MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3, 2004--

OpGen's Whole Genome Analysis Is Key To Rapid, Cost Efficient

Sequencing Of Deadly Fungal Pathogen

OpGen, Inc., the leader in single molecule DNA analysis technology,

today announced that it has completed a whole genome map of the

fungal pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus (strain Af293), for an

international project aimed at determining the complete genome

sequence of this organism. The global sequencing consortium,

including scientists from the United Kingdom, United States, France

and Spain, had generated over 28 million bases (Mb) of sequence data

in 19 individual contiguous sequences (contigs). OpGen's data

allowed all 19 contigs to be ordered and orientated on the 8

chromosomes identified by the whole genome optical map, establishing

the number, location and size of the gaps remaining to be finished.

" OpGen's whole genome map gave us the ability to put everything

together, allowing our team to view all of the pieces of the

chromosomes as a whole unit, " said C. Nierman, Ph.D.,

consortium member and Investigator with The Institute for Genome

Research (TIGR). " Because of the nature of this global project, we

thought we would have to expend a great deal of money trying to link

all the parts together and were faced with the possibility that it

might not have worked. With OpGen's help, we were able to link all

of the sequence contigs into whole chromosomes in a very cost

efficient manner. "

The collected data corresponding to more than 300 times coverage of

greater than 29.1 Mb genome in a single day using the system

developed by OpGen's Founder, Professor C. Schwartz, and his

scientific team at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. " This is

equivalent to mapping the human genome three times over, " said Dr.

Schwartz.

" We are thrilled with the results our efforts have brought about on

finalizing the sequence of this organism, " said Colin Dykes, Chief

Scientific Officer of OpGen. " This illustrates the power and

versatility of optical mapping as a genome analysis system. "

Aspergillus fumigatus has overtaken candidiasis as the most frequent

fungal infection in the world. People at risk are transplant

recipients, patients with HIV/AIDS and other immuno-compromised

patients. Global medical, biotechnology and environmental protection

agencies are all looking for vital breakthroughs in the analysis of

pathogenic fungi in order to find new therapeutics to treat this and

other deadly infections.

Dr. Denning, at the University of Manchester, England has

spearheaded the coordination of an international group of

scientists, including TIGR, The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute,

l'Institute Pasteur and the University of Salamanca, to participate

in the sequencing of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Dr. Dykes, will be describing the Aspergillus fumigatus optical map

and related data during his presentation to the scientific community

at the 2004 Advances in Genome Technology and Biology meeting, which

will take place February 4-7 in Marco Island, Florida. The meeting

will focus on the increasing impact of genomic methodology on

biological discovery.

OpGen, Inc. is commercializing technology that will revolutionize

modern medicine by providing the first means for rapid, cost-

effective comparison of whole genomes in populations. Such whole

genome analysis will enable practical pharmacogenomics, forensic

microbiology, and whole genome molecular diagnostics. Optical

mapping, the technology that makes this all possible, is the first

and only publicly validated system for single DNA molecule analysis.

OpGen, Inc. uses optical mapping to produce information across whole

genomes in a single, cost-effective manipulation, with no

requirement for prior sequence information, PCR, synthesis, cloning

or probes. This information can be used for DNA sequence validation,

comparative genomics, biodefense, and molecular diagnostics. For

more information, please visit the Web site at www.opgen.com.