Harlan Robins | Adaptive Biotechnologies | Seattle, WA

Adaptive Biotechnologies performs immune profiling of T cell and B cell receptors using ImmunoSEQ technology. The ImmunoSEQ system combines the capabilities of ultrahigh-throughput DNA sequencing with a proprietary multiplex PCR methodology and a powerful bioinformatics software suite to provide exceptionally deep access to T cell and B cell repertoires.

The laboratory at Adaptive Biotechnologies, managed by Dr. Robert Livingston and Dr. Mark Reider, is currently undergoing CLIA certification. The laboratory is equipped with 2 Illumina HiSeq platforms and 1 Illumina MiSeq platform to accommodate client samples.

The protocol for T cell receptor sequencing remains unchanged since the laboratory started receiving samples for the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) study. Quality control samples (positive and negative) are processed with every multiplex PCR and high-throughput sequencing run. From November 2011 to April 2012, this core received 142 ITN DNA samples for TCRβ sequencing. All 142 DNA samples were successfully sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq platform and analyzed using the ImmunoSEQ analyzer software.

Adaptive Biotechnologies will continue to perform ultrahigh-throughput DNA sequencing as needed for commercial and research clients. Currently, the laboratory sequences human TCRβ, TCRγ and IgH, and mouse TCRβ. In the future, the laboratory plans to add a TCRα assay for humans.