A simple method for the parallel deep sequencing of full influenza A genomes.

Given the major threat of influenza A to human and animal health, and its ability to evolve rapidly through mutation and reassortment, tools that enable its timely characterization are necessary to help monitor its evolution and spread. For this purpose, deep sequencing can be a very valuable tool. This study reports a comprehensive method that enables deep sequencing of the complete genomes of influenza A subtypes using the Illumina Genome Analyzer IIx (GAIIx). By using this method, the complete genomes of nine viruses were sequenced in parallel, representing the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus, H5N1 virus from human and H1N1 virus from swine, on a single lane of a GAIIx flow cell to an average depth of 122-fold. This technique can be applied to cultivated and uncultivated virus.