GAITHERSBURG, Md.
OpGen, Inc., a commercial stage DNA analysis company, today announced the Argus® Whole Genome Mapping System continues to gain broad adoption among genome sequencing centers worldwide. Five leading international genomic sequencing centers have joined the growing list of centers utilizing OpGen’s technology to enhance their next-generation sequencing capabilities. The centers include The Genome Institute at Washington University, St. Louis, MO; The Genome Analysis Centre (TGAC), Norwich, UK; Genoscope, Evry, France; National High-throughput DNA Sequencing Centre at the Centre for GeoGenetics, Copenhagen, Denmark; and Genome Institute of Singapore. These organizations join our growing customer base that includes Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and BGI, public health and biodefense agencies, and research and service labs that are utilizing the company’s Whole Genome Mapping technologies and services.
“We adopted OpGen’s Argus System after evaluating the value of adding Whole Genome Mapping to improve whole genome sequences,” said George Weinstock, Ph.D., associate director of The Genome Institute at Washington University. “We combined Whole Genome Maps with sequence assemblies to correct errors and misassemblies in bacterial samples from the Human Microbiome Project, and now we are using the technology in larger genome projects.”
OpGen’s Argus Whole Genome Mapping System is the only commercially available technology that can provide a high resolution, complete visual map of a whole genome and individual chromosomes. OpGen’s unique single molecule analysis technology provides a whole genome view that compliments genome assembly and enables scientists to identify highly repetitive regions, tandem repeats and translocations that are very difficult to identify and clarify with sequencing alone. Sequencing projects can now be finished and validated with less investment in time, cost and computational effort.
“Our research focuses on a wide variety of projects from microbes to crop plants and mammals,” said Matthew Clark, Ph.D., sequencing technology development team leader at The Genome Analysis Centre. “Many of our projects are de novo assembly projects, where, without a closely related genome sequence, it can be difficult to critically assess the results. We often combine different sequencing technologies, and we are finding that regardless of the sequencing platform, error correction, or assembler used, OpGen’s Whole Genome Mapping identifies misassemblies and provides the highest quality de novo assembly for further research.”
“We are successfully expanding our customer base among major global sequencing centers,” said Douglas White, president and chief executive officer of OpGen. “By providing the highest quality, validated sequence assemblies, our goal is to enable translational research that will meet the highest standards for clinical applications.”
About OpGen, Inc.
OpGen, Inc. is a leading innovator in providing rapid, accurate genomic and DNA analysis systems and services. The company’s Argus® Whole Genome Mapping System, GenomeBuilder™ and MapIt® Services provide high resolution, whole genome maps for sequence assembly and finishing, strain typing and comparative genomics in the life sciences market. OpGen’s powerful technology dramatically improves the quality of data and time-to results by providing sequence information from single DNA molecules more rapidly and less expensively than previously possible. The company is dedicated to positively influencing individual healthcare outcomes, advancing scientific research and enhancing public health by delivering precise, actionable information and results to customers in the life science and healthcare communities. OpGen’s customers include leading genomic research centers, biodefense organizations, academic institutions, clinical research organizations and biotechnology companies. For more information, visit www.opgen.com.
CONTACT
Media Contact:
Pure Communications, Inc.
Dan Budwick,
973-271-6085
or
OpGen, Inc.
C. Eric Winzer, 240-813-1273
CFO
