A novel target enrichment strategy in next-generation sequencing through 7-deaza-dGTP-resistant enzymatic digestion.

The new enrichment strategy is named target enrichment via enzymatic digestion in next-generation sequencing (TEEDseq). It combined 7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (c7dGTP)-involved primer extension, splinter-assisted intracellular cyclization, c7dGTP)-resistant enzymatic digestion, and two-phase rolling cycle amplification. We first estimated c7dGTP for its efficiency in PCR amplification and its resistance to three restriction enzymes, AluI, HaeIII, and HpyCH4V. We then evaluated TEEDseq using a serum sample spiked with a 1311-bp hepatitis B virus (HBV) fragment. TEEDseq achieved an HBV on-target rate of 3.31 ± 0.39%, which was equivalent to 454× the enrichment of direct Illumina sequencing. Therefore, the current study has provided a concept proof for TEEDseq as an alternative option for clinical viral sequencing that requires an enrichment in next-generation sequencing.