Metagenomic Analysis at the Edge with Jetson Xavier NX

Nanopore sequencing technologies and devices such as MinION Nanopore enable cost-effective and portable metagenomic analysis. However, performing mobile metagenomics analysis in secluded areas requires computationally and energetically efficient Edge devices capable of running the whole analysis workflow without access to extensive computing infrastructure. This paper presents a study on using Edge devices such as Jetson Xavier NX as a platform for running real-time analysis. In the experiments, we evaluate it both from a performance and energy efficiency standpoint. For the purposes of this article, we developed a sample workflow, where raw nanopore reads are basecalled and later classified with Guppy and Kraken2 software. To provide an overview of the capabilities of Jetson Xavier NX, we conducted experiments in various scenarios and for all available power modes. The results of the study confirm that Jetson Xavier NX can serve as an energy-efficient, performant, and portable device for running real-time metagenomic experiments, especially in places with limited network connectivity, as it supports fully offline workflows. We also noticed that a lot of tools are not optimized to run on such Edge devices, and we see a great opportunity for future development in that area.