Application of Biological Nanopore Sequencing Technology in the Detection of Microorganisms

Environmental pollution and the spread of pathogenic microorganisms pose a significant threat to the health of humans and the planet. Thus, understanding and detecting microorganisms is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment. Nanopore sequencing is a single-molecule detection method developed in the 1990s that has revolutionized various research fields. It offers several advantages over traditional sequencing methods, including low cost, label-free, time-saving detection speed, long sequencing reading, real-time monitoring, convenient carrying, and other significant advantages. In this review, we summarize the technical principles and characteristics of nanopore sequencing and discuss its applications in amplicon sequencing, metagenome sequencing, and whole-genome sequencing of environmental microorganisms, as well as its in situ application under some special circumstances. We also analyze the advantages and challenges of nanopore sequencing in microbiology research. Overall, nanopore sequencing has the potential to greatly enhance the detection and understanding of microorganisms in environmental research, but further developments are needed to overcome the current challenges.