High-plex proteomics continues to accelerate modern genomics and biomarker discovery, and researchers are increasingly looking for flexible, scalable sequencing options. A recent compatibility study demonstrates that Olink® Explore HT, one of the most advanced targeted proteomics technologies available today, performs seamlessly on MGI’s ultra-high-throughput T7 platform.
Why This Matters: Expanding Sequencing Options for Proteomics
Olink® Explore enables highly multiplexed, antibody-based protein quantification, powered by dual oligonucleotide labeling and proximity extension (PEA™) technology. The Explore HT version can simultaneously measure 5,400+ proteins across 172 samples, covering ~84% of known signaling pathways.
Meanwhile, the T7 from MGI delivers up to 7 Tb of data in just 24 hours, featuring low duplication rates, minimized index hopping, and high accuracy thanks to proprietary DNBSEQ™ chemistry.
Validating compatibility between these two systems opens the door for labs to combine Olink’s precision proteomics with MGI’s speed and scalability, offering new flexibility for high-throughput biological discovery.
Study Overview: How Compatibility Was Tested
Researchers produced two Olink Explore HT PEA libraries from standard plasma samples following the official Olink protocol.
To compare platform performance, the same libraries were sequenced on:
Illumina NovaSeq 6000 (S4 flow cells)
MGI T7 (two flow cells per library, sequenced in a single run)
A real-world pilot study was also conducted using plasma from 66 males and 66 females, processed by SEQUANTA and sequenced on both platforms.
Library circularization was performed using the MGIEasy® Olink Library Circularization Set, enabling PCR-free circularization and purification prior to sequencing. Data analysis was executed using Olink’s ngs2counts preprocessing tool and NPX™ Explore analytics suite.
Results: Strong Correlation and Highly Reproducible Data
1. Excellent Agreement Between Platforms
Matched counts and NPX values showed high correlation between NovaSeq 6000 and T7, both before and after normalization. Additional quality metrics, such as signal-to-noise ratio and detectability, also aligned closely (data referenced in the report).
2. Real Biological Signals Reproduced Across Systems
In the male/female pilot study, proteins known to vary by sex, such as INSL3, EDDM3B, and TEX101, displayed the expected differential abundance patterns on both sequencing platforms.
A direct comparison of NPX differences between males and females demonstrated a strong cross-platform correlation, confirming that the biological insights generated are consistent regardless of sequencer choice.
What This Means for Researchers
The findings confirm that MGI T7 is a reliable and fully compatible sequencing option for Olink® Explore HT workflows.
This opens significant advantages:
- Greater flexibility across sequencing infrastructures: Labs can now choose between Illumina or MGI platforms based on throughput needs, budget, or availability.
- Expanded access to high-plex proteomics: Facilities already running T7 can now adopt Olink® Explore HT without new capital investment.
- Consistent biological insights across platforms: The study confirms that platform choice does not compromise biological interpretation.
- Scalable multi-omics integration: High-throughput proteomics can now be efficiently paired with high-throughput genomics on the same MGI system.
Conclusion
The compatibility validation demonstrates exceptional data quality, reproducibility, and biological concordance between Olink® Explore HT and the MGI T7.
This interoperability expands the NGS ecosystem for high-plex proteomics, empowering more labs to leverage Olink’s precise protein detection alongside MGI’s high-throughput sequencing performance.
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