SpecHLA enables full-resolution HLA typing from sequencing data

Reconstructing diploid sequences of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, i.e., full-resolution HLA typing, from sequencing data is challenging. The high homogeneity across HLA genes and the high heterogeneity within HLA alleles complicate the identification of genomic source loci for sequencing reads. Here, we present SpecHLA, which utilizes fine-tuned reads binning and local assembly to achieve accurate full-resolution HLA typing. SpecHLA accepts sequencing data from paired-end, 10×-linked-reads, high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), Pacific Biosciences (PacBio), and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). It can also incorporate pedigree data and genotype frequency to refine typing. In 32 Human Genome Structural Variation Consortium, Phase 2 (HGSVC2) samples, SpecHLA achieved 98.6% accuracy for G-group-resolution HLA typing, inferring entire HLA alleles with an average of three mismatches fewer, ten gaps fewer, and 590 bp less edit distance than HISAT-genotype per allele. Additionally, SpecHLA exhibited a 2-field typing accuracy of 98.6% in 875 real samples. Finally, SpecHLA detected HLA loss of heterozygosity with 99.7% specificity and 96.8% sensitivity in simulated samples of cancer cell lines.