Optimisation of methodology for whole genome sequencing of Measles Virus directly from patient specimens.

In an era of decreasing genetic diversity of Measles Virus (MeV), effective surveillance requires a higher-resolution genotyping method or whole genome sequencing (WGS) to document elimination. Through optimization of MeV WGS protocol, we developed a MeV-specific probe enrichment method that allows next generation sequencing from clinical specimens. With the probe enrichment method, 70% of specimens can be sequenced at a read depth of greater than 10 reads with minimal off-target sequences.