Outbreak response
Accelerating outbreak response: Automated sequencing pipelines for Ebola and Hantavirus
In public health and infectious disease research, time is the ultimate currency. The global attention around high-consequence pathogens, such as Bundibugyo virus (an Ebola virus) and Andes virus (a segmented Hanta virus), underscores a vulnerability in global health security: the bioinformatics bottleneck. When an outbreak occurs, tracking mutations and identifying specific viral strains through automated next-generation sequencing (NGS) pipelines can be performed fast and reliably on a validated pipeline without manual command-line coding. Genome Detective transforms raw sequencing data into actionable epidemiological insights in minutes rather than days.
Published May 28, 2026
Overcoming the challenges of complex viruses
Pathogens like Ebola and Hantavirus present unique sequencing challenges. Hantaviruses are segmented, which is challenging for certain bioinformatic pipelines. Meanwhile, Ebola mutates rapidly as it spreads, requiring precise reconstruction of the viral sequence to monitor strain evolution.
Genome Detective’s advanced algorithms automate the entire process, including quality control, de novo assembly, variant calling, and minority variant reporting. For segmented viruses, the platform seamlessly stitches the genome back together, while its regularly curated reference databases allow researchers to instantly differentiate between specific viral strains (such as Zaire ebolavirus versus Sudan ebolavirus). This precision is critical, as different strains potentially require different medical countermeasures and treatments.
Metagenomic surveillance ready for the field
Genome Detective Platform not only includes a powerful bioinformatic pipeline, but also contains an easy-to-use module for data management and analysis. You can store, manage, share and analyze your genomic data within the platform, and easily export it for further analysis by other tools.
By removing the need for specialized, on-site bioinformaticians during a breakout, Genome Detective enables medical organizations to scale their surveillance efforts dynamically.
Validate your laboratory’s pipeline before the pressure mounts.