rRNA Depletion
The successful application of NGS for virus detection in samples faces a critical challenge - the presence of abundant host and bacterial sequences. These non-target sequences are commonly represented by ribosomal RNA (rRNA), which can comprise up to 95% of total reads varying based on the sample type. These sequences can overshadow the viral genetic material, making it difficult to detect and characterize the less prevalent viruses of interest. The removal of the most abundant host-specific rRNA (18S, 28S, mitochondrial) and bacterial rRNA (16S, 23S) is a fundamental step in addressing this issue, as it can substantially improve the sensitivity and accuracy of viral detection in NGS data.