Grail, Inc.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Haiqiang Zhang

Kwan Chee Chan

Rossa Wai Kwun Chiu

Yuk-Ming Dennis Lo

Peiyong Jiang

Wai Kei Lam

Lu Ji

Jiaen Deng

Tsz Kwan Sin

Techniques are provided for analyzing circular DNA in a biological sample (e.g., including cell-free DNA, such as plasma). For example, to measure circular DNA, cleaving can be performed to linearize the circular DNA so that they may be sequenced. Example cleaving techniques include restriction enzymes and transposases. Then, one or more criteria can be used to identify linearized DNA molecules, e.g., so as to differentiate from linear DNA molecules. An example criterion is mapping a pair of reversed end sequences to a reference genome. Another example criterion is identification of a cutting tag, e.g., associated with a restriction enzyme or an adapter sequence added by a transposase. Once circular DNA molecules (e.g., eccDNA and circular mitochondrial DNA) are identified, they may be analyzed (e.g., to determine a count, size profile, and/or methylation) to measure a property of the biological sample, including genetic properties and level of a disease.

Determining linear and circular forms of circulating nucleic acids

Provided herein are methods and systems for identifying chimeric nucleic acid fragments, e.g., organism-pathogen chimeric nucleic acid fragments and chromosomal rearrangement chimeric nucleic acid fragments. Also provided herein are methods and systems relating to determining a pathogen integration profile or a chromosomal rearrangement in a biological sample and determining a classification of pathology based at least in part on a pathogen integration profile or a chromosomal rearrangement in a biological sample. In certain aspects of the present disclosure, cell-free nucleic acid molecules from a biological sample are analyzed.

Nucleic acid rearrangement and integration analysis

Growing community of inventors

Hong Kong, China

Haiqiang Zhang