Automated environmental metagenomics using Oxford Nanopore sequencing

We compared long-read metagenomic sequencing of environmental samples using either manual or automated ONT library preparation. We utilised the Bravo Automated Liquid Handing Platform (Agilent, UK), which has a 96-channel pipetting head for simultaneous execution of liquid handling steps across a 96-well plate. ONT sequencing libraries were prepared in parallel manually and on the Bravo using 24 DNA samples, extracted from soils with a range of habitat and geochemical traits.