PacBio Announces Plans to Improve Methylation Detection in HiFi Chemistry

Core Insights - PacBio has licensed advanced deep learning-based DNA methylation detection methods from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) to enhance its HiFi sequencing capabilities, specifically for detecting 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), hemimethylated 5-methylcytosine (5mC), and N6-methyladenine (6mA) [1][2][4] Technology and Innovation - The licensed technology includes the Holistic Kinetic Model 2 (HK2), which utilizes an AI deep learning framework to improve the accuracy of methylation detection, including the ability to call native 5hmC in single molecules, a first for HiFi sequencing [2][4] - HiFi sequencing on Revio and Vega platforms allows for comprehensive genome and epigenome readouts from native DNA without chemical conversion or additional sample preparation, enhancing the efficiency of sequencing workflows [3][6] Market Impact - The integration of HK2 is expected to set a new standard for accuracy in DNA methylation detection, particularly for 5mC and 5hmC, which are crucial for research in cancer and human development [4][7] - Institutions like Children's Mercy Kansas City and GeneDx are already utilizing HiFi sequencing for genomic and epigenomic profiling, indicating a growing adoption of this technology in clinical settings [5] Future Prospects - The new capabilities from HK2 will be delivered to existing customers through software updates, ensuring no additional costs or changes to current sequencing protocols [3][8] - The ability to profile 5hmC is anticipated to open new avenues in liquid biopsy and cancer detection, maintaining DNA integrity and supporting haplotype-resolved analysis [6][8]