Perform QIAseq Multimodal Analysis

The Perform QIAseq Multimodal Analysis (Illumina) template workflow is intended for the analysis of QIAseq Multimodal RNA and DNA samples generated using the combined lab protocol.

Note that the QIAseq Multimodal Panels are designed against genome build hg19 for the DNA panel and hg38 for the RNA panel. BED files are provided in the respective genome build. However, the template workflow requires that reference data for both DNA and RNA is for the same genome build. The two QIAseq Multimodal Reference Data Sets provided by the Reference Data Manager are for genome build hg38, where the reference data for the DNA panel has been converted to hg38 as described below.

For custom panels, the DNA panel BED file needs to be imported against hg19, after which it should be converted to hg38 using the tool Convert Annotation Track Coordinates. If many regions are lost during conversion, it can cause reads to be discarded that would have otherwise mapped to the lost target regions. To avoid such issues, a copy of the template workflow can be used, containing only the analysis of the DNA reads, and the workflow should be run using the imported BED file against hg19.

The workflow is built by combining variant calling from the Identify QIAseq DNA Somatic Variants (Illumina) workflow, and fusion detection from the Perform QIAseq RNAscan Fusion XP workflow, with some minor adjustments. Specifically, two tools to further annotate variants have been added:

The annotations added by these tools are used to filter away variant calls that most likely origin from RNA contamination and variants appearing within repeat or homopolymer regions.

The workflow can be run with the Reference Data Set QIAseq Multimodal Panels hg38. This set contains Catalog Panel Primers and Target Regions that have been lifted to the hg38 reference sequence. You can either download the reference data set before starting the analysis or download the default data set during execution of the workflow.

The Perform QIAseq Multimodal Analysis (Illumina) template workflow can be found at:

        Template Workflows | Biomedical Workflows (Image biomedical_twf_folder_open_16_n_p) | QIAseq Sample Analysis (Image qiaseqrna_folder_closed_16_n_p) | Other QIAseq workflows (Image qiaseq_workflows_folder_closed_16_n_p) | Perform QIAseq Multimodal Analysis (Illumina) (Image qiaseq_dna_rnafusions_16_n_p)

Double-click on Perform QIAseq Multimodal Analysis (Illumina) to run the workflow.

If you are connected to a CLC Server via the CLC Workbench, you will be asked where you would like to run the analysis. We recommend that you run the analysis on a CLC Server when possible.

The panel in the left-hand side of the dialog allows you to keep track of the steps, you will be going through before being able to launch the analysis.

First, specify the DNA, and in the next dialog, the RNA sequencing reads that should be analyzed (figures 15.5 and 15.6). To run the workflow with multiple samples, see Running multimodal workflows in batch using metadata.

Image multimodaldnaselection
Figure 15.5: Select the DNA sequencing reads by double-clicking on the file name or by clicking once on the file name and then on the arrow pointing to the right-hand side.

Image multimodalrnaselection
Figure 15.6: Select the RNA sequencing reads by double-clicking on the file name or by clicking once on the file name and then on the arrow pointing to the right-hand side.

The following dialog helps you set up the relevant Reference Data Set. If you have not downloaded the Reference Data Set yet, the dialog will suggest the relevant data set and offer the opportunity to download it using the Download to Workbench button. (figure 15.7).

Image selectrdsmultimodal
Figure 15.7: The relevant Reference Data Set is highlighted; in the text to the right, the types of reference needed by the workflow are listed.

Note that if you wish to Cancel or Resume the Download, you can close the template workflow and open the Reference Data Manager where the Cancel, Pause and Resume buttons are available.

If the Reference Data Set was previously downloaded, the option "Use the default reference data" is available and will ensure the relevant data set is used. You can always check the "Select a reference set to use" option to be able to specify another Reference Data Set than the one suggested.

In the next three dialogs, you are asked to select the DNA and RNA primers and the DNA target regions from the available catalog panels. Select the appropriate catalog number from the drop-down list. For custom datasets, usually only one option is available.

In the Map Reads to Reference dialog, it is possible to configure masking. A custom masking track can be used, but by default, the masking track is set to GenomeReferenceConsortium_masking_hg38_no_alt_analysis_set, containing the regions defined by the Genome Reference Consortium, which serve primarily to remove false duplications, including one affecting the gene U2AF1. Changing the masking mode from "No masking" to "Exclude annotated" excludes these regions.

In the Detect and Refine Fusion Genes dialog, it is possible to change the Promiscuity threshold, i.e., the maximum number of different fusion partners reported for a gene. You can also check for exon skippings by enabling the "Detect exon skippings" option, as well as check for fusions with novel exon boundaries by enabeling the "Detect fusions with novel exon boundaries" option. This dialog is shown in figure 15.8

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Figure 15.8: The Detect and Refine Fusion Genes dialog.

In the "QC for Target Sequencing" dialog, you can modify the Minimum coverage needed on all positions in a target for this target to be considered covered. For somatic calling we recommend setting this no lower than 100x.

The dialog for Copy Number Variant Detection allows you to specify a control mapping against which the coverage pattern in your sample will be compared in order to call CNVs. If you do not specify a control mapping, or if the target regions files contains fewer than 50 regions, the Copy Number Variation analysis will not be carried out.

Please note that if you want the copy number variation analysis to be done, it is important that the control mapping supplied is a meaningful control for the sample being analyzed. Mapping of control samples for the CNV analysis can be done using the workflows described in Create QIAseq DNA CNV Control Mapping workflows.

A meaningful control must satisfy two conditions: (1) It must have a copy number status that it is meaningful for you to compare your sample against. For panels with targets on the X and Y chromosomes, the control and sample should be matched for gender. (2) The control read mapping must result from the same type of processing that will be applied to the sample. One way to achieve this is to process the control using the workflow (without providing a control mapping for the CNV detection component) and then to use the resulting UMI reads track as the control in subsequent workflow runs.

Image multimodalcnv
Figure 15.9: The Copy Number Variation Detection dialog. Here three control samples have been selected. In practice it is recommended to either use a matched control sample, or to use at least five control samples. Increasing the number of samples beyond this does not typically improve results.

The parameters for variant detection are not adjustable and have been set to generate an initial pool of all potential variants. These are then passed through a series of filters to remove variants that are suspected artifacts. Variants failing to meet the (adjustable) thresholds for quality, read direction bias, location (low frequency indels within homopolymer stretches), frequency or coverage would not be included in the filtered output.

Some filters only remove alternative alleles - and not reference alleles - as this potentially leads to wrong interpretation of variants by the VCF exporter where such variants could be misinterpreted as hemizygote when the reference allele is missing.

Finally, in the last dialog, choose to Save the results of the workflow and specify a location in the Navigation Area before clicking Finish to launch the analysis.

Launching using the QIAseq Panel Analysis Assistant

The workflow is also available in the QIAseq Panel Analysis Assistant (see QIAseq Panel Analysis Assistant) under Multimodal.

When running from the assistant, it possible to only perform the DNA or RNA analysis.


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