Demultiplexing and barcode-specific adaptive sampling for nanopore direct RNA sequencing

Abstract Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (dRNA-seq) enables unique insights into RNA biology. However, applications are currently limited by the lack of accurate and cost-effective sample multiplexing. Here we introduce WarpDemuX, an ultra-fast and highly accurate adapter-barcoding and demultiplexing...

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Main Authors: Wiep van der Toorn, Patrick Bohn, Wang Liu-Wei, Marco Olguin-Nava, Anne-Sophie Gribling-Burrer, Redmond P. Smyth, Max von Kleist
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59102-9
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author Wiep van der Toorn
Patrick Bohn
Wang Liu-Wei
Marco Olguin-Nava
Anne-Sophie Gribling-Burrer
Redmond P. Smyth
Max von Kleist
author_facet Wiep van der Toorn
Patrick Bohn
Wang Liu-Wei
Marco Olguin-Nava
Anne-Sophie Gribling-Burrer
Redmond P. Smyth
Max von Kleist
author_sort Wiep van der Toorn
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (dRNA-seq) enables unique insights into RNA biology. However, applications are currently limited by the lack of accurate and cost-effective sample multiplexing. Here we introduce WarpDemuX, an ultra-fast and highly accurate adapter-barcoding and demultiplexing approach for dRNA-seq with SQK-RNA002 and SQK-RNA004 chemistries. WarpDemuX enhances speed and accuracy by fast processing of the raw nanopore signal, use of a light-weight machine-learning algorithm and design of optimized barcode sets. We demonstrate its utility by performing rapid phenotypic profiling of different SARS-CoV-2 viruses through multiplexed sequencing of longitudinal samples on a single flowcell, identifying systematic differences in transcript abundance and poly(A) tail lengths during infection. Additionally, integrating WarpDemuX into sequencing control software enables real-time enrichment of target molecules through barcode-specific adaptive sampling, which we demonstrate by enriching low abundance viral RNA. In summary, WarpDemuX represents a broadly applicable, high-performance, economical multiplexing solution for dRNA-seq, facilitating advanced (epi-) transcriptomic research.
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issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
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spelling doaj-art-8f609053842d40d1abd91a8f60c4b2f42025-08-20T03:53:32ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-59102-9Demultiplexing and barcode-specific adaptive sampling for nanopore direct RNA sequencingWiep van der Toorn0Patrick Bohn1Wang Liu-Wei2Marco Olguin-Nava3Anne-Sophie Gribling-Burrer4Redmond P. Smyth5Max von Kleist6Systems Medicine of Infectious Disease (P5), Robert Koch InstituteHelmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection ResearchSystems Medicine of Infectious Disease (P5), Robert Koch InstituteHelmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection ResearchHelmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection ResearchHelmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, Helmholtz Centre for Infection ResearchSystems Medicine of Infectious Disease (P5), Robert Koch InstituteAbstract Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (dRNA-seq) enables unique insights into RNA biology. However, applications are currently limited by the lack of accurate and cost-effective sample multiplexing. Here we introduce WarpDemuX, an ultra-fast and highly accurate adapter-barcoding and demultiplexing approach for dRNA-seq with SQK-RNA002 and SQK-RNA004 chemistries. WarpDemuX enhances speed and accuracy by fast processing of the raw nanopore signal, use of a light-weight machine-learning algorithm and design of optimized barcode sets. We demonstrate its utility by performing rapid phenotypic profiling of different SARS-CoV-2 viruses through multiplexed sequencing of longitudinal samples on a single flowcell, identifying systematic differences in transcript abundance and poly(A) tail lengths during infection. Additionally, integrating WarpDemuX into sequencing control software enables real-time enrichment of target molecules through barcode-specific adaptive sampling, which we demonstrate by enriching low abundance viral RNA. In summary, WarpDemuX represents a broadly applicable, high-performance, economical multiplexing solution for dRNA-seq, facilitating advanced (epi-) transcriptomic research.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59102-9
spellingShingle Wiep van der Toorn
Patrick Bohn
Wang Liu-Wei
Marco Olguin-Nava
Anne-Sophie Gribling-Burrer
Redmond P. Smyth
Max von Kleist
Demultiplexing and barcode-specific adaptive sampling for nanopore direct RNA sequencing
Nature Communications
title Demultiplexing and barcode-specific adaptive sampling for nanopore direct RNA sequencing
title_full Demultiplexing and barcode-specific adaptive sampling for nanopore direct RNA sequencing
title_fullStr Demultiplexing and barcode-specific adaptive sampling for nanopore direct RNA sequencing
title_full_unstemmed Demultiplexing and barcode-specific adaptive sampling for nanopore direct RNA sequencing
title_short Demultiplexing and barcode-specific adaptive sampling for nanopore direct RNA sequencing
title_sort demultiplexing and barcode specific adaptive sampling for nanopore direct rna sequencing
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59102-9
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