Simple, sensitive, and swift sequencing of complete H5N1 avian influenza virus genomes.

The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (HPAIV) of subtype H5N1 demands fast and reliable methods for in-depth, full-length sequence analysis. For this purpose, we designed a simple and sensitive method for the preparation of sequencing libraries from H5N1 HPAIV diagnostic RNA samples for sequencing with the Genome Sequencer FLX instrument. The method presented seamlessly integrates high-throughput pyrosequencing with the Roche/454 instrument into diagnostics without the need for additional equipment or molecular biological techniques besides standard PCR and the Genome Sequencer FLX sample preparation and sequencing pipeline.