Single-Cell TCR/BCR Sequencing
What Is Single-Cell TCR/BCR Sequencing?
Single-Cell TCR/BCR Sequencing is an advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS) service that captures full-length T-cell receptor (TCR) or B-cell receptor (BCR) sequences from individual immune cells. Using droplet-based technology, this service also simultaneously profiles gene expression, providing a powerful link between receptor identity and immune cell function.
By integrating immune repertoire sequencing with transcriptomics, researchers gain a deep, single-cell view into immune diversity, clonal expansion, and cell states—enabling more precise insights into the immune response.
Advantages of Single-Cell TCR/BCR Sequencing
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Clonal Resolution at the Single-Cell Level: By pairing receptor sequences with individual cells, this method enables precise tracking of T- and B-cell clones, revealing clonal expansion, lineage relationships, and immune dynamics that bulk sequencing can’t capture.
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Integrated Immune Profiling: Single-cell TCR/BCR sequencing links receptor identity to each cell’s full transcriptome, allowing researchers to connect clonotype with phenotype — such as activation state, exhaustion, cytokine profile, or differentiation stage.
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Detection of Rare or Emerging Clones: High sensitivity at the single-cell level makes it possible to identify low-frequency but biologically important clones, including early responders, memory precursors, or therapy-resistant populations across disease states and treatment timelines.
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Applications Across Immunology & Therapeutics: This approach supports studies in cancer immunotherapy, infectious diseases, autoimmunity, vaccine development, and antibody discovery, enabling deeper mechanistic insight and more targeted therapeutic strategies.
This dual-modality approach is used in immunology, oncology, vaccine development, and infectious disease research to investigate how immune cells behave, respond, and evolve over time.
Applications include:
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Characterizing TCR or BCR diversity in autoimmune or cancer samples
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Tracking clonal expansion in response to vaccination or infection
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Profiling exhausted or activated immune cell phenotypes
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Linking receptor usage to gene expression at the single-cell level
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Discovering novel biomarkers of immunotherapy response
What is Single-Cell TCR/BCR Sequencing Used For?
Single-Cell TCR/BCR Sequencing with AUGenomics
Sample Submission
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Sample types accepted: Fresh or frozen PBMCs, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), lymph node samples, spleen, or other immune tissues
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Recommended input: ≥1 million viable cells preferred for full repertoire coverage; minimum 100,000 cells accepted
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Sequencing specifications:
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Paired-end 150 bp reads
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Immune repertoire enrichment (V(D)J) + 5’ gene expression libraries
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Target ≥5,000 cells/sample post-QC
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Please refer to our Shipping Guidelines for project-specific guidance.
Turnaround Time
4–6 weeks from sample QC to data delivery.
Expedited options are available depending on project scope and sequencing depth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the difference between this and bulk repertoire sequencing?
A: Bulk sequencing provides an overview of receptor diversity, but single-cell sequencing links each TCR/BCR to the cell’s unique gene expression profile—essential for functional interpretation.
Q: Can I request TCR or BCR sequencing only, without gene expression?
A: Yes. While the standard pipeline includes both modalities, we can tailor the workflow to include just TCR or BCR profiling based on your research needs.
Q: Is this service compatible with frozen PBMCs?
A: Yes. Cryopreserved PBMCs are suitable as long as cell viability is preserved after thawing.
Q: Which platform do you use?
A: We use the 10x Genomics Single Cell Immune Profiling system, optimized for high-throughput V(D)J + transcriptome capture.
Got more questions? Contact our team and get a free consultation anytime. info@augenomics.com
Glossary of Terms
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TCR/BCR Sequencing: The process of identifying complete T- or B-cell receptor gene sequences to assess immune diversity
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Clonotype: A unique combination of V(D)J gene segments defining a T- or B-cell clone
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PBMCs: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells, including lymphocytes and monocytes
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Transcriptome: All RNA transcripts present in a single cell, used to assess function and identity
