Rapid and Accurate Tracking of Covid-19 Variants: The Role of Oxford Nanopore Sequencing in Sars-Cov-2 Genome Surveillance

In this comprehensive review, we have explored the role of Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) in the sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, highlighting its significant contributions, methodologies, achievements, and challenges. ONT stands out for its real-time sequencing capabilities, portability, and long-read sequencing, providing crucial insights into the virus's genetic makeup, aiding in the rapid identification of variants, and enhancing global epidemiological surveillance. Despite challenges such as higher error rates and complex data analysis requirements, ongoing advancements in nanopore technology and computational methods are steadily overcoming these hurdles. Looking forward, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning, along with the expansion of ONT's applications into areas like clinical diagnostics and personalized medicine, are poised to further revolutionize genomic research. This review underscores the importance of ONT in current and future genomic studies, particularly in understanding and combating infectious diseases like COVID-19, and highlights its potential in addressing global health challenges.