DNBelab Single-cell VDJ Service – BGI Immune Repertoire | Verygenome

DNBELAB Single-Cell VDJ Sequencing

DNBelab single-cell V(D)J sequencing is BGI's high-throughput immunomics technology on the DNBelab C4 library system and DNBSEQ platform, profiling TCR/BCR diversity at single-cell resolution to trace clonal origin, expansion, and functional status. As a domestic benchmark, it breaks import-platform barriers with unbiased DNB-array capture, high throughput, sensitivity, and multi-modal compatibility; unlike bulk V(D)J, it avoids population averaging and captures rare immune clones, linkable to transcriptomics and protein markers. Applied in CAR-T efficacy, infectious disease, autoimmunity, and vaccines.

Principle Introduction

Based on 'high-density DNB array in-situ capture–targeted amplification–dedicated barcoding' without oil droplets: the DNB array electrostatically captures single T/B cells; V(D)J regions of TCR and BCR are amplified with specific primers while cell/molecular barcodes label each receptor transcript. After DNB library prep and DNBSEQ, barcodes assign reads per cell; assembly yields full V(D)J rearrangements, clonotypes, and expression, linkable to transcriptomes for a 3D 'clonotype–expression–function' map.

Literature

Published in Nature Methods, 'Integrative mapping of human CD8⁺ T cells in inflammation and cancer' used single-cell immune repertoire analysis via DNBelab single-cell V(D)J with transcriptomics to build a million-scale CD8⁺ T-cell reference atlas. Integrating 960k cells across 68 studies and 42 diseases, deep-learning model scAtlasVAE revealed heterogeneity and three exhausted subtypes with distinct TCR-sharing patterns between cancer and autoimmunity.

Sample Requirements

T/B-enriched suspension

1×10⁵–5×10⁶ cells/mL, ≥1 mL, serum-free + 0.04% BSA, 4°C; viability ≥85%, FACS-enriched.

Fresh immune tissue

≥0.1 g, buffer, 4°C (no freezing), 24 h.

Blood / PBMC

≥2 mL, EDTA/heparin, 4°C, 6 h; PBMC fresh, viability ≥90%.

Frozen immune cells

pellet ≥5×10⁶, immune freezing medium, liquid N2, dry ice; ≤3 months.

CAR-T

≥1×10⁶ cells, 4°C; viability ≥90%.

Deliverables

Sample QC

viability/purity, RNA integrity, V(D)J amplification, library QC (Q30≥90%).

Raw data

Fastq, barcode stats, QC, V(D)J amplification, DNB params.

Analysis

TCR/BCR clonotype annotation, diversity, expansion heatmap, V/J usage, functional association.

FAQ

What approaches can improve the capture efficiency of rare clones during single‑cell VDJ sequencing?

DNB array detects ≥0.05% rare clones; FACS pre‑enrich, more cells.

Why should repeated freeze‑thaw cycles be avoided and what are the corresponding solutions?

Causes viability drop, receptor degradation; use gradient freezing, process within 2 h.

How to realize VDJ data linkage with transcriptome profiles at single‑cell resolution?

DNBelab C4 dual assay shares cell barcode.

What risks does hemolysis bring to immune‑receptor sequencing and how to mitigate this problem?

Releases hemoglobin/nuclease, degrades receptors; gentle collection, anticoagulant, 6 h shipping, recollect if hemolyzed.

Single-Cell Omics