HLA Classifier

Add human leukocyte antigen (HLA) context to propel your research

Foreign antigens are presented to T cells by protein complexes called major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) that are coded for by HLA genes. HLA type plays an important role in driving T cell selection and in shaping T cell repertoires. The importance of a person’s HLA type in transplant research is well understood, as is the association of specific HLA alleles to common diseases. New research is emerging that explores the link between HLA and diseases susceptibility, response to immunotherapy, and more. By adding the HLA Classifier to samples processed using the immunoSEQ® TCRB Assay, researchers can unlock new understanding of immune repertoire dynamics in the context of HLA type.

How does the HLA Classifier work?

We have developed the immunoSEQ HLA Classifier to infer a sample’s HLA type based on the T-cell receptor (TCR) profile. The HLA Classifier uses machine learning to provide a positive or negative call for 145 HLA genes and alleles. This unique tool is based on T-cell receptor sequencing data generated from Adaptive’s partnership with Microsoft and our Antigen Map project from ~4,000 HLA typed samples.

To develop the HLA Classifier, blood and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples were TCR-sequenced to identify patterns or signals correlated with specific HLAs. The HLA Classifier compares TCR sequences found in a sample to a database of TCRs known to be associated with a certain HLA type. It runs hundreds of models to infer the HLA alleles most likely expressed in the sample.

The insights researchers gain from the HLA Classifier can enable them to study a sample’s immune repertoire in the context of HLA type and assess the role HLA plays in the susceptibility to or protection from disease.

Applications of the HLA Classifier

Understanding the T-cell repertoire in the context of HLA type has applications in many research areas, including infectious disease, autoimmune disease, and oncology. Additionally, previously sequenced blood and PBMC samples can be analyzed with the HLA Classifier to reexamine existing data.

HLA Classifier specifications

How is the data delivered in Analyzer?

HLA Classifier results are attached as a separate file to your Analyzer workspace and available for download from the Analyzer Home page.

Results pinned to Workspace.