The tool, described in Nature Genetics, is called Immune Lymphocyte Estimation from Nucleotide Sequencing (ImmuneLENS). It enables researchers to calculate the proportion of T cells and B cells (types of immune cells) from whole genome sequencing (WGS) data for the first time.
WGS uses a blood sample to create a complete record of an individual’s DNA, the genetic instructions that determine who they are. By understanding these instructions, scientists can find out important information such as how many immune cells a person has, if there are any changes in their genes, and how their body is combating disease. This can be helpful for studying genetic illnesses such as cancer.
The team used ImmuneLENS to analyze over 90,000 WGS samples from the 100,000 Genomes Project, a study led by Genomics England and NHS…