DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF DONOR CELL-FREE DNA IN THE CIRCULATION OF ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

[0001] This application claims priority benefit to U.S. provisional application No. 61/828,553, filed May 29, 2013, which application is herein incorporated by reference.

[0002] Using modern molecular biological techniques the detection of trace amounts of divergent genetic material in a single sample is feasible. This has potential applications for a number of conditions such as prenatal diagnosis, tumor diagnosis, and detection of transplant rejection. An increase of heart donor DNA in the circulation of stable heart transplant recipients during rejection episodes has been reported (Snyder, et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108:6229-6234, 2011). However, to be clinically useful the method used for the detection of graft DNA must not only be specific and sensitive, it must also have a rapid turn-around-time and be economically feasible to perform. The methods described to date are extremely time consuming and expensive to perform (Lo, Clin Chem 57:941-942, 2011).

[0003] Simplified methods to differentiate between DNA from donors and recipients can involve the use of single-nucleotide-polymorphisms (SNPs). One possibility is to interrogate both donor and recipient for certain SNPs and use those, where both SNPs are homozygous, but different in donor and recipient. However, this would require DNA from the donor to be available, which isn't always the case in the clinical setting, in particular if the transplantation was some years before. There is thus a need for sensitive, easily implemented techniques for early detection of transplant rejection.

[0004] Certain aspects of the invention are summarized below. The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described in this summary.

[0005] In one aspect, the invention provides a method of detecting transplant rejection in a patient based on the use of SNPs that have been investigated for their minor allelic frequency (MAF) where such frequencies are 0.2 or higher. In some embodiments, the MAF is 0.40 or higher. For example, assuming Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, a SNP with a MAF of ˜0.40 would show homozygosis in both donor and recipient 23%-25% of the time for each allele. The probability of both having a different allele (homozygous) is therefore ˜11.3% to ˜12.5%. In order to identify at least three such SNPs in Caucasians 30 to 35 different SNPs with the mentioned characteristics can be interrogated. In contrast, if unselected SNPs were employed, it can be estimated that over 3,000 assays are needed to achieve the same discriminating power, based on the overall median MAF of 0.023 reported for known human SNPs in Caucasians (e.g. for the Illumina HumanOmni5M bead chip).

[0006] Using such SNP comparisons, the amount of graft DNA released by an organ into the circulation can be assessed and used as a biomarker for organ integrity. In addition, once SNPs that differ between donor and recipient are identified only SNPs with the best sensitivity (e.g., homozygous in both but different in donor and recipient) need to be measured subsequently. The only limitation of such a method is the amount of DNA that is interrogated, which is mainly driven by the volume of blood that is analyzed. For example, it can be estimated that the number of genome equivalents in one milliliter of blood is about one thousand. If all molecules take part in a PCR reaction and the graft DNA accounts for 5% of cfDNA then there would be 50 such molecules in 1 mL of blood. The entire analysis of several different SNPs, therefore, when working with small samples, entails as a first step the random unbiased amplification of extracted cfDNA coming from a blood sample, e.g., typically a sample of at least 2 mL of blood. Such an amplification step can be done by several techniques, for the usually short apoptotic cfDNA (e.g., Beck et al., Clin Chem 55:730-738, 2009) a direct adaptor ligation is often most suitable (Lo et al., Sci Transl Med 2: 61ra91, 2010). Once the amplification adaptors are ligated, a moderate number of amplification cycles are performed (generally not more than 12 to 15) and the resulting library is cleaned from primers and adaptors and used as template for the SNP interrogations. If the initial sample size is not limited to a small sample, the amplification step, which is also referred to herein as a pre-amplification step, may be omitted.

[0007] Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides a method of detecting a SNP from a donor to monitor transplant status of a recipient receiving tissue from said donor, the method comprising: (a) identifying a SNP having a minor allele frequency of 0.20 or greater, often 0.30 or greater, or preferably 0.40 or greater, as homozygous in the recipient; (b) amplifying cell-free (cfDNA) from a serum or plasma sample obtained from the recipient at least 5 days after transplantation of material from the donor to generate a cf library; (c) performing a digital PCR reaction for the SNPs identified in (a) to detect the presence of an alternative allele for one or more of the SNPs, and (d) selecting a SNP where the alternative SNP allele is present in the cf library to monitor transplant status of the patient. Preferably, the SNP selected in (d) is homozygous in the donor, but may be heterozygous in the donor. Step (a) can be performed using any sample from the patient that would not contain donor material, for example, peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) obtained from the patient may be used to identify a suitable SNP. In alternative embodiments, step (a) is performed using the cfDNA library of step (b). Thus, in some embodiments, e.g., using a PBL sample from the patient to obtain DNA, step (a) may be performed before or after step (b) whereas in other embodiments, the amplified cfDNA library is generated first. In some embodiments, a suitable SNP to be evaluated for monitoring transplant status is a SNP set forth in Table 1. In some embodiments, at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or all of the SNPs set forth in Table 1 are evaluated to determine those SNPs that are homozygous in the recipient.

[0008] In another aspect, the invention provides a method of detecting a SNP from a donor to monitor transplant status of a recipient receiving tissue from said donor, the method comprising: (a) identifying that a SNP having a minor allele frequency of 0.20 or greater, often 0.30 or greater, or preferably 0.40 or greater, as homozygous in the recipient; (b) amplifying cell-free (cfDNA) from a blood sample, e.g., serum or plasma, obtained from the recipient 24 hours or less after transplantation of graft material from the donor to generate a cf library; (c) identifying a SNP having a minor allele frequency of 0.20 or greater, often 0.30 or greater, or preferably 0.40 or greater, as homozygous in the donor using the cf library of step (b); (d) performing a digital PCR reaction for the SNPs identified in (a) to detect the presence of the alternative allele for one or more of the SNPs in the donor, and (e) selecting a SNP where the alternative SNP allele is present in the donor. Step (a) can be performed using any sample from the patient that would not contain donor material, for example, peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) obtained from the patient may be used to identify a suitable SNP. In some embodiments, a suitable SNP is a SNP set forth in Table 1. In some embodiments, at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, or all of the SNPs set forth in Table 1 are evaluated to determine those SNPs that are homozygous in the recipient.

[0009] In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of detecting a SNP from a donor to monitor transplant status of a recipient receiving tissue from said donor DNA, the method comprising: (a) identifying a SNP having a minor allele frequency of 0.20 or greater, often 0.30 or greater, or preferably 0.40 or greater, as homozygous in a recipient using a DNA sample from the recipient from a source that is free of donor DNA, e.g., DNA obtained from a PBL sample from the patient; (b) identifying a SNP having a minor allele frequency of 0.20 or greater, often 0.30 or greater, or preferably 0.40 or greater, as homozygous in a recipient using a DNA sample obtained from donor cells or tissue; and (c) selecting a SNP that is homozygous in the recipient for which the donor is homozygous or heterozygous for the alternative allele. In some embodiments, SNP genotype is determined in recipient and/or donor DNA for at least 10, 20, 30, or 40 of the SNPs identified in Table 1. In some embodiments, the SNP evaluation may employ one or more probes having a sequence as shown in Table 1. SNPs for which the transplant material has a different allele for the SNP compared to the recipient can then be used for future determination of graft cfDNA percentage, e.g., in a digital PCR reaction.

[0010] In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of monitoring transplant rejection in a transplant recipient, the method comprising: obtaining a cfDNA sample from the patient; and detecting the presence or absence, or quantifying, a donor SNP allele for a SNP selected using a method as described herein. In typical embodiments, cfDNA samples are obtained from the patient at desired time points following transplantation and the level of the donor SNP allele is quantified.

[0011] In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of monitoring the status of a transplant in a transplant recipient to evaluate immunosuppressive therapy where the method comprises quantifying the amount of the donor allele SNP at desired time points and adjusting the immunosuppressive therapy, e.g., adjusting the amount of immunosuppressive drug. Thus, the lowest dose of an immunosuppressive drug can be identified for that individual patient.

[0012] In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of monitoring the status of a transplant in a transplant recipient, e.g., a liver transplant recipient, to determine changes in the transplant status related to reactivation of a virus, such as a hepatitis virus, where the method comprises quantifying the amount of donor SNP allele as described herein present in the blood of a transplant recipient.

[0013] In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of monitoring the status of a transplant in a transplant recipient to evaluate reperfusion injury to the transplant. In such embodiments, the amounts of graft cfDNA (GcfDNA) are determined over a time course, for example, a time course of days or weeks up to a month following transplant. In typical embodiments, GcfDNA is monitored over the first 7 days after engraftment.

[0014] In another aspect, the invention provides a method of determining the status of a transplanted organ where the organ is a marginal organ, wherein the method comprises determining the level of graft cfDNA present in the blood of a patient. In some embodiments, the method comprises determining the level of graft cfDNA over a course of seven days, or up to 30 days following transplant.

[0015] In additional aspects, the invention provides a method of evaluating the transplant status of a transplant recipient, the method comprising monitoring the level of graft cfDNA by assessing the amount of a donor SNP allele in a cfDNA sample obtained from the blood of a patient, typically where the SNP has a MAF of at least 0.20 or at least 0.30, and often at least 0.40, wherein the donor SNP allele is present in the donor and the recipient is homozygous for an alternative allele. The donor may be heterozygous or homozygous for the SNP allele. In some embodiments, quantifying the level of the donor SNP allele in the cfDNA sample comprises determining copy number of the donor SNP allele in the cfDNA sample. In some embodiments quantifying the level of the donor SNP allele in the cfDNA sample comprises determining the percentage of the donor SNP allele in the cfDNA sample. In some embodiments, the transplanted material is a marginal organ. In some embodiments, the cfDNA sample is from a blood sample, e.g., serum or plasma, that is obtained ten days or longer following transplant. In some embodiments, the cfDNA sample is obtained from a blood sample e.g., serum or plasma, obtained a year or longer following transplant. In some embodiments, the cfDNA sample is from a blood sample, e.g., serum or plasma, that is obtained within seven days of transplant. In some embodiments, monitoring the level of graft cfDNA in accordance with the invention further comprises adjusting an administration schedule or dosage or of one or more immunosuppressive drugs. In some embodiments, the donor material is a liver, heart, or kidney. In some embodiments, monitoring the level of graft cfDNA can be performed to monitor transplant damage that may arise from donor-specific antibodies in the blood of the recipient. Thus, in some embodiments, a method of the invention may further comprise detecting donor-specific antibodies in the blood of the recipient.

[0016] In a further aspect, the invention further provides use of a method of monitoring graft cfDNA using a SNP assay as described herein to detect transplant damage from various causes, including, but not limited to, reperfusion damage to the organ in a transplant recipient, liver damage from a reactivated hepatitis virus in a liver transplant recipient, transplant damage from donor-specific antibodies, or damage from a chronic transplant injury, e.g., chronic nephropathy in a kidney transplant or vasculopathy in a heart transplant. In some embodiments, the method of monitoring graft cfDNA using a SNP assay as described herein is used for determining a minimal effective immunosuppressive regimen.

[0027] The term “cell-free DNA” or “cfDNA” as used herein means free DNA molecules of 25 nucleotides or longer that are not contained within any intact cells. In the context of the current invention, “cfDNA” is typically evaluated in human blood, e.g., can be obtained from human serum or plasma.

[0028] A “single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) biomarker” in the context of this invention refers to a SNP where a recipient of a transplant is homozygous for one SNP allele and the donor has at least one alternative allele for that SNP. Such a SNP is a biomarker for donor material.

[0029] A “SNP profile” as used herein refers to the allele pattern, i.e., which alleles are present, in a sample.

[0030] A “graft” as used herein refers to tissue material, from a donor that is transplanted into a recipient. For example, a graft may be from liver, heart, kidney, or any other organ.

[0031] The term “primer” refers to an oligonucleotide that acts as a point of initiation of DNA synthesis under conditions in which synthesis of a primer extension product complementary to a nucleic acid strand is induced, i.e., in the presence of four different nucleoside triphosphates and an agent for polymerization (i.e., DNA polymerase or reverse transcriptase) in an appropriate buffer and at a suitable temperature. A primer is preferably a single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotide. The primer includes a “hybridizing region” exactly or substantially complementary to the target sequence, preferably about 15 to about 35 nucleotides in length. A primer oligonucleotide can either consist entirely of the hybridizing region or can contain additional features which allow for the detection, immobilization, or manipulation of the amplified product, but which do not alter the ability of the primer to serve as a starting reagent for DNA synthesis. For example, a nucleic acid sequence tail can be included at the 5′ end of the primer that hybridizes to a capture oligonucleotide.

[0032] The term “probe” refers to an oligonucleotide that selectively hybridizes to a target nucleic acid under suitable conditions. A probe for detection of the biomarker sequences described herein can be any length, e.g., from 15-500 bp in length. Typically, in probe-based assays, hybridization probes that are less than 50 bp are preferred.

[0033] The term “target sequence” or “target region” refers to a region of a nucleic acid that is to be analyzed and comprises the sequence of interest, e.g., a region containing a SNP biomarker.

[0034] As used herein, the terms “nucleic acid,” “polynucleotide” and “oligonucleotide” refer to primers, probes, and oligomer fragments. The terms are not limited by length and are generic to linear polymers of polydeoxyribonucleotides (containing 2-deoxy-D-ribose), polyribonucleotides (containing D-ribose), and any other N-glycoside of a purine or pyrimidine base, or modified purine or pyrimidine bases. These terms include double- and single-stranded DNA, as well as double- and single-stranded RNA. Oligonucleotides for use in the invention may be used as primers and/or probes.

[0035] A nucleic acid, polynucleotide or oligonucleotide can comprise phosphodiester linkages or modified linkages including, but not limited to phosphotriester, phosphoramidate, siloxane, carbonate, carboxymethylester, acetamidate, carbamate, thioether, bridged phosphoramidate, bridged methylene phosphonate, phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate, phosphorodithioate, bridged phosphorothioate or sulfone linkages, and combinations of such linkages.

[0036] A nucleic acid, polynucleotide or oligonucleotide can comprise the five biologically occurring bases (adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine and uracil) and/or bases other than the five biologically occurring bases. These bases may serve a number of purposes, e.g., to stabilize or destabilize hybridization; to promote or inhibit probe degradation; or as attachment points for detectable moieties or quencher moieties. For example, a polynucleotide of the invention can contain one or more modified, non-standard, or derivatized base moieties, including, but not limited to, N6-methyl-adenine. N6-tert-butyl-benzyl-adenine, imidazole, substituted imidazoles, 5-fluorouracil, 5 bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil, hypoxanthine, xanthine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5 (carboxyhydroxymethyl)uracil, 5 carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5 carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil, beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6 isopentenyladenine, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-methyladenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil, 5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D mannosylqueosine, 5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil, 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v), wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2 thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil, uracil-5-oxyacetic acidmethylester, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl)uracil, (acp3)w, 2,6-diaminopurine, and 5-propynyl pyrimidine. Other examples of modified, non-standard, or derivatized base moieties may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,001,611; 5,955,589; 5,844.106; 5,789,562; 5,750.343; 5,728,525; and 5,679,785, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Furthermore, a nucleic acid, polynucleotide or oligonucleotide can comprise one or more modified sugar moieties including, but not limited to, arabinose, 2-fluoroarabinose, xylulose, and a hexose.

[0037] “Repetitive sequences” refer to highly repeated DNA elements present in a genome. These sequences are usually categorized in sequence families and are broadly classified as interspersed repetitive DNA (see, e.g., Jelinek and Schmid, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 51:831-844, 1982; Hardman, Biochem J. 234:1-11, 1986; and Vogt, Hum. Genet. 84:301-306, 1990) or tandemly repeated DNA. Repetitive elements include satellite, minisatellite, and microsatellite DNA. In humans, interspersed repetitive DNA includes Alu sequences, short interspersed nuclear elements (SINES) and long interspersed nuclear elements (LINES), and endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). The categorization of repetitive elements and families of repetitive elements and their reference consensus sequences are defined in public databases (e.g., repbase (version 12.09)—Genetic Information Research Institute (Jurka et al., Cytogenet Genome Res 2005; 110:462-7)).

[0038] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a molecule” includes a plurality of such molecules, and the like.

[0039] The present invention is based, in part, on the discovery that SNPs having an allele frequency of 0.20 or greater, often 0.30 or greater, and preferably 0.40 or greater, for example, 0.44 or 0.45, or greater, can be surveyed in cfDNA obtained from a transplant patient to identity one or more of such SNP that can be used thereon as a biomarker to monitor rejection status of transplant material. A SNP biomarker identified in accordance with the invention is one for which the transplant recipient is homozygous for the allele and the donor material has an alternative allele. The methods of the invention do not require a separate sample from the donor to identity a SNP biomarker.

[0040] A SNP for use in determining a transplantation biomarker in accordance with the invention has a minor allele frequency of at least 0.20 or 0.30 and typically has a minor allele frequency of at least 0.40, 0.41, 0.42, 0.43, 0.44, or 0.45 or greater. Further, such a SNP is not contained within or directly adjacent to a repetitive element. A SNP that is not contained within or directly adjacent to a repetitive element” as used here means that the SNP is sufficiently removed from repetitive sequences such that primers can be designed that specifically amplify the SNP-containing target region. For example, a SNP that is not directly adjacent to a repetitive element may be at a distance of 50 base pairs or greater, upstream or downstream from a repetitive element.

[0041] Table 1 provides illustrative SNPs for use in the invention. The SNPs were identified from public databases (e.g, the websites hapmap.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov or www 1000genomes.org). Compilations can also be found for available SNP-arrays, e.g. at the Illumina website for SNPs used on the “HumanOmin5M” SNP chip. As appreciated by one of skill in the art alternative SNPs can be identified based on these criteria.

[0042] Allele frequency can vary within different populations. For example, allele frequency may be different in a Caucasian population, such as a Caucasian northern European population in comparison to an Asian population, such as a Japanese population. Accordingly, the determination of a SNP suitable for use for identifying a transplantation SNP biomarker as described herein may also take into account the genetic background information of the transplant recipient and donor with respect to minor allele frequency.

[0043] In typical embodiments, a SNP that can be used as a donor biomarker is identified in a sample obtained from the transplant patient without employing a separate sample from a donor. Thus, cfDNA from a patient can be used to identify a SNP biomarker for transplant tissue from a donor. The sample from the patient can be obtained at any given time following transplantation to evaluate donor SNPs.

[0044] In one embodiment, a blood sample, e.g., serum or plasma sample, from a patient can be evaluated at a later time frame after transplantation, typically at least five days after transplantation, to determine a SNP that can serve as a biomarker for transplantation. At such times, usually less than 10% of graft DNA is present in the cfDNA in a transplant recipient. In this embodiment, a blood sample from the recipient is used to isolate cfDNA. The cfDNA is then subjected to an amplification step to generate a cfDNA library. This initial amplification step to obtain cfDNA library is also referred to herein as a “pre-amplification”. Any amplification method can be used to generate the cfDNA library, including, but not limited to PCR. Additional amplification methods are described below. The number of rounds of amplification for this pre-amplification step is sufficient to obtain a quantity of cfDNA library that can be evaluated to identify a SNP from a donor. As an illustrative, non-limiting example, anywhere from 8 to 12 rounds may be performed, although other numbers of rounds may also be performed. The cf DNA is then assessed for pre-selected SNPs that can serve as biomarkers using primers and probes that amplify target regions containing SNPs that were identified as homozygous in the recipient. This analysis is performed using a digital PCR. Those SNPs that provide a signal for a SNP allele that was not identified in the recipient are selected as a transplant biomarker for that transplant patient. Two groups of percentages will be seen: the one that is twice as high as the other e.g., 2% vs 1% is homozygous in the donor transplant material whereas the lower percentage indicates that the SNP is heterozygous in the donor material. The homozygous SNPs are used preferentially for all other samples of the patient. Heterozygous SNPs may also be employed, but are less sensitive.

[0045] Any method can be used to determine SNPs that are homozygous in the transplant recipient, including array hybridization, quantitative PCR, sequencing, or an alternative method. In some embodiments, the recipient SNP genotype for SNPs having a minor allele frequency of 0.20 or greater, or 0.30 or greater, or preferably 0.40 or greater, in accordance with the invention, is determined using a pre-amplified cfDNA library as described above. In other embodiments, the SNP profile of the transplant recipient is performed using DNA obtained from peripheral blood leukocytes or other sample from the patient that is free of donor cells. Evaluation of the SNP profile of the recipient using the pre-amplified cfDNA library can employ, but is not limited to, a technique that is not as sensitive as digital PCR to identify recipient SNP alleles. Those SNPs that are homozygous in the patient are used in the analysis of the cfDNA library for donor SNP alleles as described above.

[0046] In some embodiments, SNP probes and primers that target one or more SNPs identified in Table 1, e.g., 10, 20, or 30, or more, SNPs identified in Table 1, are used to determine SNPs that are homozygous in the patient. In some embodiments, a SNP probe having a sequence shown in Table 1 is employed.

[0047] In some embodiments, the SNP profile for the donor transplant material can be determined using cfDNA isolated from a sample obtained early after transplantation, where much of the cfDNA, e.g., the majority of the cfDNA, is from the graft. In this embodiment, SNP biomarkers are identified using a blood sample obtained from the recipient typically less than one day following transplantation. The cfDNA isolated from the sample is pre-amplified as described above to obtain a cf library. SNPs that are homozygous in the graft are detected by real-time PCR, or an alternative method that does not require digital PCR, although digital PCR may also be employed. Homozygous SNPs are determined in the recipient. For example, DNA is isolated from a recipient sample, e.g., a PBL sample, and used to determine those SNPs that are homozygous. Any method can be used to assess the recipient for homozygous SNP alleles, including real-time PCR, a SNP array and the like. SNPs are then selected where the recipient and the transplant material, i.e., the donor, are each homozygous, but have different alleles for the SNP. These SNPs can be used as biomarkers for future measurements to assess transplant status. In some embodiments, SNP probes and primers that target one or more SNPs identified in Table 1, e.g., 10, 20, or 30, or more SNPs identified in Table 1, are used to determine SNPs that are homozygous in the patient. In some embodiments, a SNP probe having a sequence shown in Table 1 is employed.

[0048] As appreciated by one of skill in the art, when cfDNA is used to identify donor SNP alleles to serve as biomarkers, the recipient SNP profile is typically determined first so that only the SNPs that are homozygous in the transplant are surveyed in the cfDNA sample. However, these steps need not be performed in this order. For example, SNPs can be evaluated in the various samples in reactions performed concurrently.

[0049] SNPs may also be identified for use as a biomarker where samples from the patient and genetic material from the donor are both available. In this embodiment, DNA isolated from the transplant recipient and donor samples are evaluated for SNPs where the minor allele frequency is 0.20 or higher, typically 0.30 or higher, and preferably 0.40 or higher. In some embodiments, SNP profiles from the patient and donor samples are determined for at least 10, 20, 30, or 40 of the SNPs identified in Table 1. In some embodiments, the SNP evaluation may employ one or more probes having a sequence as shown in Table 1. SNPS where the transplant material and recipient are homozygous, but with different alleles, can then be used for future determination of graft cfDNA percentage.

[0050] Amplification reactions are performed on DNA obtained from nucleic acid samples isolated from various recipient or donor sources. For evaluation of samples where it is desired to have only recipient or donor cells present in the sample, peripheral blood leukocytes are conveniently used; however, any other sample from the recipient, or donor, may be employed. Pre-amplification reactions or amplification reactions that do not require the sensitivity of digital PCR can be performed using any number of well-known amplification techniques.

[0051] Exemplary references include manuals such as Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Ausubel, 1994-1999, including supplemental updates through 2013; Sambrook & Russell, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (3rd Ed, 2001). Although the methods typically employ PCR steps, other amplification protocols may also be used. Suitable amplification methods include ligase chain reaction (see, e.g., Wu & Wallace, Genomics 4:560-569, 1988); strand displacement assay (see. e.g., Walker et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:392-396, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,166); and several transcription-based amplification systems, including the methods described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,437,990; 5,409,818; and 5,399,491; the transcription amplification system (TAS) (Kwoh et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1173-1177, 1989); and self-sustained sequence replication (3SR) (Guatelli et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:1874-1878, 1990; WO 92/08800). Alternatively, methods that amplify the probe to detectable levels can be used, such as Qβ-replicase amplification (Kramer & Lizardi, Nature 339:401-402, 1989; Lomeli et al., Clin. Chem. 35:1826-1831, 1989). In some embodiment, DNA is amplified using adaptor-ligation and single primer PCR. Other available methods of amplification, such as balanced PCR (Makrigiorgos, et al., Nature Biotechnol, 20:936-9 (2002)) and isothermal amplification methods such as nucleic acid sequence based amplification (NASBA) and self-sustained sequence replication (Guatelli et al., PNAS USA 87:1874 (1990)). In some embodiments, multiplex reactions can be performed in which multiple target regions are amplified and detected in a single reaction.

[0052] Digital PCR is a technique where a limiting dilution of the sample is made across a large number of separate PCR reactions so that most of the reactions have no template molecules and give a negative amplification result. Those reactions that are positive at the reaction endpoint are counted as individual template molecules present in the original sample in a 1 to 1 relationship. (See, e.g., Kalina et al. NAR 25:1999-2004 (1997) and Vogelstein and Kinzler, PNAS 96:9236-9241 (1999); U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,440,706, 6,753,147, and 7,824,889.) Quantitative partitioning is assumed, and the dynamic range is governed by the number of containers available for stochastic separation. The molecules are then detected by PCR and the number of positive containers is counted. Each successful amplification is counted as one molecule, independent of the actual amount of product. In some embodiments, a digital PCR may be a microfluidics-based digital PCR. In some embodiments, a droplet digital PCR may be employed.

[0053] One of skill in the art can readily design primers and probes to target regions of a SNP of interest. As described above, a SNP that is evaluated as a potential transplant biomarker in accordance with the invention has a minor allele frequency of at least 0.20 or at least 0.30, and preferably at least 0.40, 0.41, 0.42, 0.43, 0.44, or 0.45, or greater. Such primers and probes are used to detect individual SNP alleles.

[0054] In some embodiments, SNP-specific amplification methods can be used (e.g., using SNP-specific amplification primers). In some embodiments, primers are used to amplify a target region and the SNP alleles are detected using probes specific for each allele. Oligonucleotides that are employed as primers and/or probes to detect biomarkers can be selected using methods well-known in the art. For example, PCR primers may be designed using standard primer design computer software techniques known to individuals skilled in the art. The variables considered during PCR primer design may include primer length, GC pair content, melting temperature, and size of the target nucleic acid amplified by the primer pair.

[0055] In one embodiment, the biomarker is identified by hybridization under sequence-specific hybridization conditions with a probe that targets the biomarker region (e.g., targets some unambiguously assigned portion of, the target biomarker) with or without a preceding amplification of DNA. Principals for designing such a probe are well known in the art.

[0056] A SNP transplant biomarker identified in accordance with the invention may be used to evaluate transplant rejection status in the recipient. Such an evaluation can be performed, e.g., using an amplification reaction to detect transplant biomarker in the cfDNA present in a blood sample from the patient. The cfDNA of the patient may be evaluated periodically, for example, over the course of days, weeks, months, or years, for SNP biomarkers in cfDNA to monitor the status of the transplant, i.e., whether there are signs of rejection or damage. If the percentage of graft cfDNA rises either higher than the mean, typically +2SD of values seen in uncomplicated courses, or shows a sustained increase, this is indicative of a rejection.

[0057] In order to detect the presence of the transplant biomarker, a blood sample is obtained from the patient at the desired time point following transplant. A cfDNA sample is obtained from the blood sample and is analyzed to determine the level of donor material by identifying the presence of donor SNP alleles in the cfDNA. Any method can be used to evaluate the sample. In typical embodiments, digital PCR, such as a microfluidics-based digital PCR or droplet-based PCR is employed. Other methods can be based on direct hybridization of detection probes (without prior amplification) or sequencing, e.g., sequencing of an amplicon defined in Table 1. For example, the SNP region is amplified by PCR and then the percentage of the minor allele is determined by amplicon sequencing. The percentage of donor cfDNA (also referred to as graft cfDNA) in the cfDNA sample can be determined. In other embodiments, the copy number of donor cfDNA is determined.

[0058] Analysis of graft cfDNA levels in the blood using a SNP analysis as described herein can be used to detect any kind of injury to or deterioration of transplant organ cells. For example, graft cfDNA analysis can be used to assess perfusion injury. Typically, monitoring graft cfDNA to determine the presence of reperfusion injury comprises monitoring cfDNA samples from the transplant recipient that are obtained soon after transplant, e.g., within 7 days of transplant. In the context of the present invention, the term “perfusion” is used interchangeably with “reperfusion”.

[0059] In some embodiments, damage that arises from reactivation of a virus infection, e.g., a hepatitis virus infection, can be assessed using a SNP graft cfDNA assay in accordance with the invention. In some embodiments, such methods further comprise identifying the presence of the virus, e.g., where the transplant is a liver, the presence of a hepatitis virus.

[0060] In some embodiments, evaluation of graft cfDNA in a transplant recipient using the methods described herein is employed to monitor the status of a donor organ that is a marginal organ. A “marginal organ” is an art-recognized term that describes an organ from a donor that has a medical history that does not meet the optimal history for organ donors, for example, the donor, may have one of the following criteria: extremes of age, adverse past medical history, etc. These criteria vary from organ to organ and depend on the patient history.

[0061] In some embodiments, graft cfDNA SNP analysis in accordance with the invention can be used to adjust an immunosuppressive regimen in a patient. For example, the lowest effective amount of an immunosuppressive drug regimen that achieves a level of graft cfDNA that is observed in stable transplant patients can be determined. Typically, monitoring the status of the graft to adjust an immunosuppressive regimen comprises monitoring cfDNA samples from the transplant recipient that are obtained at about ten days or two weeks or longer. Monitoring can be performed for an extended period of time of up to years at desired intervals.

[0062] In some embodiments, graft cfDNA analysis in accordance with the invention can be used to detect a solid organ transplant injury caused by donor-specific antibodies. A transplant recipient can be monitored over the course of years for such damage. In some embodiments, a method of the invention may further comprise detecting the presence of donor-specific antibodies circulating in the blood of the transplant recipient. Such antibodies are specific for the HLA type of the donor organ and can be detected using known assays. In some embodiments, a patient having such donor-specific antibodies may be additionally treated with immunosuppressive agents that suppress B cells.

[0063] The information obtained from the SNP biomarker analysis may be stored in a computer readable form. Such a computer system typically comprises major subsystems such as a central processor, a system memory (typically RAM), an input/output (I/O) controller, an external device such as a display screen via a display adapter, serial ports, a keyboard, a fixed disk drive via a storage interface and a floppy disk drive operative to receive a floppy disc, and a CD-ROM (or DVD-ROM) device operative to receive a CD-ROM. Many other devices can be connected, such as a network interface connected via a serial port.

[0064] The computer system may also be linked to a network, comprising a plurality of computing devices linked via a data link, such as an Ethernet cable (coax or 10BaseT), telephone line, ISDN line, wireless network, optical fiber, or other suitable signal transmission medium, whereby at least one network device (e.g., computer, disk array, etc.) comprises a pattern of magnetic domains (e.g., magnetic disk) and/or charge domains (e.g., an array of DRAM cells) composing a bit pattern encoding data acquired from an assay of the invention.

[0065] The computer system can comprise code for interpreting the results of a study to determine SNP transplant biomarkers or to evaluating the presence of one or more of the SNP transplant biomarkers identified in accordance with the invention to aid in prognosis. Thus in an exemplary embodiment, the biomarker analysis results are provided to a computer where a central processor executes a computer program for evaluating the one or more biomarkers.

[0066] The invention also provides the use of a computer system, such as that described above, which comprises: (1) a computer; (2) a stored bit pattern encoding the biomarker testing results obtained by the methods of the invention, which may be stored in the computer; (3) and, optionally, (4) a program for evaluating a biomarker.

[0067] The invention further provides methods of generating a report based on the detection of one or SNP transplant biomarkers for the patient.

[0068] Thus, the present invention provides systems related to the above methods of the invention. In one embodiment the invention provides a system for analyzing circulating cell-free DNA, comprising: (I) a sample analyzer for executing the method of analyzing circulating cell-free DNA in a patient's blood, serum or plasma as described in the various embodiments above; (2) a computer system for automatically receiving and analyzing data obtained in step (1) to provide a test value representing the status (presence or absence or amount, i.e., concentration or copy number) of a SNP transplant biomarker for the patient.

[0069] The computer-based analysis function can be implemented in any suitable language and/or browsers. For example, it may be implemented with C language and preferably using object-oriented high-level programming languages such as Visual Basic, SmallTalk, C++, and the like. The application can be written to suit environments such as the Microsoft Windows™ environment including Windows™ 8, Windows™ 7, Windows™ 98, Windows™ 2000, Windows™ NT, and the like. In addition, the application can also be written for the Macintosh™, SUN™, UNIX or LINUX environment. In addition, the functional steps can also be implemented using a universal or platform-independent programming language. Examples of such multi-platform programming languages include, but are not limited to, hypertext markup language (HTML), JAVA™, JavaScript™, Flash programming language, common gateway interface/structured query language (CGI/SQL), practical extraction report language (PERL), AppleScript™ and other system script languages, programming language/structured query language (PL/SQL), and the like. Java™- or JavaScript™-enabled browsers such as HotJava™ or Microsoft™ Explorer™ can be used. When active content web pages are used, they may include Java™ applets or ActiveX™ controls or other active content technologies.

[0070] The analysis function can also be embodied in computer program products and used in the systems described above or other computer- or internet-based systems. Accordingly, another aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program codes or instructions embodied thereon for enabling a processor to carry out the analysis and correlating functions as described above. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus create means for implementing the functions or steps described above. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory or medium that can direct a computer or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory or medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the analysis. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions or steps described above.

[0071] The following examples are provided by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize a variety of non-critical parameters that could be changed or modified to yield essentially similar results.

[0072] SNPs were selected from public databases considering those which show a known and validated minor allelic frequency of >40% in Caucasians and >45% over all reported ethnicities. As a next step, SNP that are in or directly adjacent to a repetitive element were eliminated. The remaining SNPs were then investigated for their usefulness in a probe hydrolysis assay. This was done in silico by using thermodynamic calculations (Schlitz & von Ahsen, Biotechniques 27:1218-1222, 1224, 1999) to optimize the binding differences for the two probes that hybridize to the two alleles at the desired temperature of 65° C. at standard PCR buffer conditions (e.g. 0.18 mol/L salt and 0.5 μmol/L DNA/primer). Because the slope of a dsDNA probe melting curve is mainly dependent on the enthalpy of the probes (Marky & Breslauer, Biopolymers 26:1601-1620, 1987), the latter dominates the selection for a maximized difference of free Gibbs energy between allele binding at a given condition. A total of 41 probe sets (Table 1) were designed with one probe for each of the two alleles where FAM and HEX were used in conjunction with BHQ1 as quencher. Respective PCR primers were designed to exhibit a Tm of 68° C. and a binding of >95% at 60° C.

[0073] Each of the assays was first optimized in a LightCycler480, using the ddPCR Supermix for Probes (Bio-Rad) and subsequently optimized for digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), which yielded slightly different cycling conditions. Two different annealing temperatures were established in order to maximize efficiency and differentiation of alleles.

[0074] Table 1 lists probes and other characteristics for each of the selected SNPs. Table 1 part A: Col. 1, SNP designation in Table 1; Col. 2, SNP name/reference; Col. 3, chromosome; Col 4, position on chromosome; Col. 5, minor allele frequency (MAF) (all populations); Col. 5, MAF, Caucasian; Cols. 6 and 7: illustrative primers for amplification of target region containing SNP; Col. 8, Annealing and Extension temperatures. Table 1 part B: Col. 1, SNP designation in Table 1; Col. 2, SNP (nucleotide change); Col. 3, length of amplicon containing SNP obtained with primers shown in part A, Cols. 6 and 7; Cols. 4-7, SNP probes and characteristics.

TABLE 1
part A
Short				MAF	MAF			Annealing &
Name	Name	Chr	Pos (Mb)	(all)	(Caucasian)	Forward primer	Reverse Primer	Extension °C.
S43	GA002729	2	217.6	47.1%	47.1%	gtctctgggggtctgttggcc	agaggaaggactcccaggggg	61
S46	kgp2846187	16	13.3	49.1%	49.1%	tccagcagaggaaatagtacttgc	agccacctggtctcctttca	59
S38	kgp3586059	10	71.6	48.6%	48.6%	tcaatcctcacaacttccctaaggg	agtgggagggaggtacagtga	61
S48	kgp3469073	16	87.7	48.8%	48.8%	ggggtgtggggtgaggga	gcgcggctggggtgttta	61
S50	kgp5728993	1	4.8	48.5%	48.5%	tcttgtcgaggctgccctgaaagg	acagagccggccggtcgc	61
S51	kgp7257211	15	96.7	48.8%	48.8%	ctgacccaattgtgtgtgcagagca	tcttgagcaccttaccagccttcaca	61
S53	kgp779610	8	104.2	48.7%	48.7%	tgtgggcagtctcactggagca	acccccagtgtggctctgct	59
S54	kgp8186648	7	7.8	49.4%	49.4%	acctgccccctagaaaactgct	gcagtactatactagaaacacatggcagc	59
S55	kgp9738136	18	3.8	49.7%	49.7%	cgccccaaattgcgcacaacca	acttccctcccaaccccaccact	61
S57	rs2523860	6	31	49.9%	49.9%	cagcctctggttccaggcct	ggagaatcccagaagcaggctga	59
S58	kgp10934323	2	47.9	49.9%	49.9%	gtgcagcccctgttcatgcct	catgccaggccaggggtgg	59
S59	kgp12078903	8	20.8	48.7%	48.7%	agaaagaaagaagcagggaagggac	tggagctaaaatgagcctgcgt	61
S63	kgp5942754	7	153.1	49.3%	49.3%	gctgttgctgcctcacaggt	agggcaaaggcaaatgcacca	61
S66	kgp7251638	11	80.8	50.0%	50.0%	accctgaccctcagttcctt	aagagcccttataaggtgtgagaaa	61
S67	kgp7882745	19	30.1	43.5%	43.5%	atgaagagtaagcggggccg	cggacccatttcacccacca	61
S68	kgp88374	8	105.4	46.7%	46.7%	ggacactcactggggcctct	aggactgaaactagaagaaaaggtcgg	59
S70	rs6436409	2	224.4	49.1%	49.1%	tggcccagttagaaggtgtgga	cggccacccatcctggagat	61
S77	rs2072042	16	1	49.7%	49.7%	gggcctcagttctagacgagt	gtttccgtgaagtaggcgct	61
S78	kgp12502655	7	55	49.1%	49.1%	aggcagaactaaacgttggctt	tgcggaacagtgacaatttgttc	59
S79	rs11103106	9	138.5	49.7%	49.7%	cagggagtgctttactgaggca	actcaaacacggagctgggc	59
S80	kgp3747074	6	3.5.7	50.0%	50.0%	aacttagctgctcttgcttcagt	gtacctgccttaactcagtatgatctt	61
S82	rs10228737	7	4.2	49.7%	49.7%	tttgcacttgacgcaccagc	ccgaggcagaggaaggaagtg	61
S83	rs13317873	3	150.9	49.7%	49.7%	ggttttgcttctgatgatccctct	agcattgtgtagggactggtaaatt	61
S84	rs10164176	18	44.8	49.3%	49.3%	ccccaaactaagtacctaatcactcgt	ccaaggggagcatccaccat	61
S85	rs251022	5	140.9	49.9%	49.9%	acacacacacacgcaattcgg	atgagctgaggtgggtgctg	61
S86	rs12096438	1	25.9	50.0%	50.0%	gtctccctccccaaaggtgc	gccaacctcaaggggcagtt	59
S87	rs10734083	10	131	49.9%	49.9%	ggcatctgaattcaagctttggtc	ttcttctagttggtctggtaggct	61
S88	kgp187715	19	41.1	49.7%	49.7%	tggttattgttactaggtccccacc	agaataagcaagatgttggcagtgag	61
S90	kgp5357482	22	25.5	49.6%	49.6%	tggttgaacgtccacagaagga	caagcacacgtggctgctc	59
S91	rs2298065	X	44	49.6%	49.6%	gcagagggaagagaagaggca	gcagtagataactctggctttcagc	59
S92	kgp5971873	5	149.6	48.8%	48.8%	gtgagcagaatccaagcttcagc	ccccaccctcataacaaccctc	61
S94	rs7072759	10	18.6	49.1%	49.1%	ctggggcagagtggagagtc	atccacctctgaacccagcc	61
S96	kgp5873854	15	70.7	49.7%	49.7%	tcccaggctccaggtcagat	ggatcaatgtggctgctccct	61
S97	kgp9771053	18	8.6	49.6%	49.6%	agccctgcacactcacttacc	tggcattcagatcatcaggcttct	59
S99	rs12064796	1	20.1	49.6%	49.6%	ggcaaagtgggcaagggtct	gcctcctaaagcttgagccaca	61
S102	kgp1474040	13	27.6	49.4%	49.4%	aacagtggcagccctcttgt	acacttggttcatggggtIgtg	59
S103	rs4632826	5	141.9	49.3%	49.3%	agctttcttgcttctgcccca	gggtgccattgcccagagat	61
S105	rs1265094	6	31.1	49.1%	49.1%	accccaagaggctttatagggg	ccttcccaacgggtttgacc	61
S107	kgp4246032	9	28	49.9%	49.9%	cttcccttgcccctcttcca	gctctgtggatccctggag	59
S108	rs11610836	12	113.2	49.0%	49.0%	acactcctgctgcgtgtctg	ttcctccccaccactcccat	61
S110	rs13185616	5	13.7	49.7%	49.7%	ggtcctaccgaggtgggtga	cattgccaaggacagagggaga	61
B
Length of							AG-Non-Matching
Short		Amplicon			ΔG-Matching Allele**	Allele**
Name	SNP	(bp)	Probe_A*	Probe_B*	ProbeA	ProbeB	ProbeA	ProbeB
S43	C > G	100	tggagacgggtccgCagag	tggcacaggtgctctCcgg	-1.19	-1.57	2.33	1.54
S46	C > G	90	ctgggagagaaagaacaaaCagcat	catttccccaaatgctCtttgttct	-0.08	-0.19	3.61	3.25
S38	C > G	90	aaaagggggtggtgtCaatgtc	agggactgacattCacaccacc	-0.04	-0.80	2.59	1.83
S48	C > G	91	cgggagccctgcgCtttg	tttccatgacaaaCcgcaggg	-1.59	-0.09	2.74	4.08
S50	C > G	91	cggttttcgctcCcgtgaa	agtccatttcacgCgagcg	-0.32	-0.30	3.74	4.18
S51	C > G	106	ctttagctgccaagaaggatCagag	agaatgtgtgttctcactctCatcct	-0.63	-0.66	2.00	1.96
S53	C > G	107	aggCctgggtggagaagt	ccagCccttgtctcaaaagcc	-0.42	-0.13	3.58	3.87
S54	C > G	171	atgaaaccaagcagtaCtgtggaat	accaacaaattccacaCtactgct	-0.13	-0.17	4.38	4.33
S55	C > G	98	acttctcagcaacagCctgga	ctctggaaattcatccagCctgt	-0.52	-0.44	3.48	3.56
S57	C > G	107	cactcacgtttgggatacttCgtttc	cccagtaaggaatggagaaacCaagta	-0.14	-0.26	3.45	3.32
S58	C > G	87	attacaggcatgagCcaccg	caaggcacggtgCctcat	-0.40	-0.06	3.60	3.94
S59	C > G	92	attacatagcttatcaCttgcagagcc	actcctggctctgcaaCtgat	-0.08	-0.24	4.42	4.26
S63	C > G	103	aactggaagtaacacCtgcacca	cttgactcttggtgcaCgtgt	-0.42	-0.17	3.97	4.48
S66	C > G	98	aggatattgctagagtggagtCagaac	accactgttatttgttctCactccact	-0.13	-0.82	2.50	1.81
S67	C > G	86	cccgacccttaacCtcccc	tggagagggttggggaCgtta	-0.12	-0.39	4.27	4.26
S68	C > G	105	agacaCttgtgggactcagaagg	acaaCtgtctcctgctgtcct	-0.49	-0.43	4.01	4.07
S70	C > G	97	accctcctgtactgCgcac	acagtgaaggtgtgcCcagt	-0.66	-0.60	3.82	3.47
S77	T > C	96	atgctcagcacacAgggga	cactgcttccccCgtgtg	-0.18	-0.03	2.80	4.10
S78	A > G	88	atgcAgctttggcatgaggt	atgccaaagcCgcatattttctct	-0.29	-0.54	2.68	3.58
S79	A > G	98	ggcagcaggtgccAagca	aggcattactgctCggcacc	-0.17	-1.12	2.47	2.40
S80	A > G	96	cccagcaggaaagcgAgtc	aagtaagaatcagacCcgctttcc	-0.53	-0.04	2.06	3.70
S82	T > C	79	tgcAatgagagcagaggcct	catCgcagccctcctgca	-0.04	-0.19	2.60	3.33
S83	T > C	116	atacActctgttgttgagtgccac	cagagCgtatgtatgaagtccagagt	-0.02	-0.16	2.86	4.02
S84	T > C	96	cccaCgggaggaatgtctttg	cccAtgggacttctggcc	-0.69	-0.25	2.55	1.89
S85	A > G	94	acacaAagtggcctcccg	acaGagtggcctcccgat	-0.15	-0.24	2.15	2.34
S86	T > C	95	aggaaagaaacctttcAgatgtcagt	tgaggattaactgacatcCgaaaggt	-0.06	-0.31	2.92	3.81
S87	T > C	94	aggcttgtacactCtccccc	acactgggatgggggaAagt	-0.35	-0.61	2.56	1.69
S88	C > G	95	aggacatattggggaggCtgac	ctggaagccaaagtcaCcctc	-0.76	-0.36	3.56	3.82
S90	A > C	89	cagTgccctctgccaggaa	gggcCctgcctgagcatag	-0.49	-0.51	2.51	3.39
S91	A > C	96	cctcctcacccaaaattttagt	tggggTgaggaggactgga	-0.28	-0.03	3.62	2.98
S92	A > G	149	ccCgcagttgcacagcttg	actgcAggccacaaggtg	-0.71	-0.09	3.42	2.89
S94	A > G	83	aggacActgcagctgtgg	cagCgtcctctgtgctacct	-0.06	-0.50	2.82	3.69
S96	T > C	81	tctccgcccttctgagatgc	agggcAgagactctggact	-0:1	-0.19	3.99	2.79
S97	A > G	83	ccatcaggtgctggcActc	tgcaggga agagCgccag	-0.55	-0.28	2.33	3.91
S99	A > G	96	ttggggccaGgtacctgg	tggggccaAgtacctggt	-0.31	-0.02	2.26	2.62
S102	C > G	80	tggccttatctttggccctaaCatg	aggcacatcctacatCttagggc	-0.97	-0.58	2.72	2.85
S103	T > C	143	ccctggggccatcaGgtt	ccctggggccatcaAgttt	-1.22	-0.52	1.35	2.12
S105	A > G	96	ccactgggctggCccctc	agtggaggagggAccagc	-1.66	-0.26	2.14	2.24
S107	T > C	76	aggttgtgtgaaAgtgccct	agccctcagggcacCttca	-0.12	-0.32	2.52	3.20
S108	T > C	96	ggtcccagctggtCgtgg	atgctccccacAaccagct	-0.70	-0.81	2.81	1.83
S110	A > C	90	tttggtagggaaggaactcCcaat	atcagtggccattgTgagacc	-0.15	-0.25	3.75	2.76

[0075] For initial assay establishment and optimization, genomic DNA and cfDNA were extracted from EDTA-anticoagulated blood collected from healthy volunteers. Within one hour after collection, plasma was separated from the cells by centrifugation (2500×g for 10 min at 4° C., followed by a second centrifugation of the plasma at 4000×g for 20 min at 4′C to remove any cell debris. DNA from both the plasma (>1 mL) and the harvested buffy coat was extracted with the Roche Total Viral Acid Extraction Kit using manufacturer's instructions. The results reported here were from samples that were drawn under an IRB approved protocol with informed consent.

[0076] Samples were either from patients early (<4 months) after transplantation (Liver: LTx, n=6) or from stable outpatients during the later maintenance course after transplantation of liver (LTx, n=9), heart (HTx, n=8), and Kidney (KTx, n=9).

[0077] Typically, about 1,000 to 1,500 genome copies are expected to be present in one mL of blood. The recovery if 2 mL EDTA plasma is used, therefore, is about 4,000 to 6,000 copies. If 2% are to be detected in a quantitative manner, the required number of fragments for testing of several SNPs can only be achieved if a pre-amplification is performed. For this purpose, we used the NEBNext Ultra DNA Library Prep Kit (New England Biolabs), since this gave the best efficiency at amounts as low as 5 ng of DNA, which reflects the usual amount of cfDNA, when samples as given above. We amplified the ligated cfDNA to 1,100 ng on average (SD: 325) using a maximum of 11 PCR cycles using real-time monitoring of library amplification in a LightCycler480 (Roche Applied Sciences).

[0078] ddPCR reactions were prepared using the ddPCR Supermix for Probes (Bio-Rad). Each reaction contained 30 ng or 100 ng of the cfDNA library as template, 900 nmol/L of each primer and 250 nmol/L of each probe. Droplets were generated using the QX100 droplet generator (Bio-Rad) according to the manufacturer's protocols. The cycling conditions were: 95° for 10 min, 50× (94° for 30 sec, 950/610 for 1 min), 980 for 10 min. Droplets were read in the QX100 droplet reader and analyzed using the software Quantasoft version 1.3.2.0 (Bio-Rad). For the quantification of the minor allele fractional abundance, the embedded “Rare Event Detection” calculation was used, which basically takes the underlying Poisson distribution into account to calculate the template molecule concentration of either allele. These values are then used to express the minor allele in percent of the total concentration.

[0079] We first investigated how sensitive the methods were in terms of the limits of detection of minor amounts of one allele. To do so, known amounts of genomic DNAs with known genotypes per SNP were mixed at a minor allele concentration of 2%. The intra-assay precision was determined in series of 9 repetitions in one run to calculate a coefficient of variation (CV). FIG. 1 illustrates CV profiles for 13 of the SNP assays. It can be seen that even at a 2% minor allele content a CV of <15% (range 4%-14%) was achieved, which is comparable to the theoretical obtainable CV as based on the number of droplets positive for the minor allele (151 SD: 54). The reported CVs were sufficient for the purpose of graft DNA detection. The recovery of the spiked in 2% was on average 1.87% (94% of spiked value) over the thirteen SNP assays with a standard deviation of 0.24% (13%).

[0080] FIG. 2 illustrates a procedure deployed to determine the graft DNA content in the recipients' circulation. In order to select those SNPs for each recipient that gives the highest theoretical sensitivity, one sample was tested for all SNPs on one LightCycler480 run. SNPs heterozygous in the recipient were eliminated from the consecutive ddPCRs. If multiple samples from one patient were to be tested, only one sample was used for this pre selection step. This yielded on average 17 (SD: 4) useful SNP assays for each of the tested recipients (n=32).

[0081] The ddPCRs of the clinical samples were performed using 30 ng (LTx samples) or 100 ng (HTx and KTx samples) of the cfDNA library per well, which translated to about 0.5 and 1.5 copies per droplet respectively. FIG. 3 show the results for stable liver, kidney and heart transplant recipients with no signs of rejection. A total of 10 different ddPCR assays were performed for the LTx patients, and a total of 16 different ddPCR assays were performed for the KTx and HTx patients. The number of informative assays used to determine the graft cfDNA content is given below the abscissa. The percentage of graft DNA in the circulation of liver recipients was lower than 10% in all patients. The average amount of graft DNA was 3.7% (SD: 2.9%) in the LTx group (n=10). The KTx (n=9) and HTx (n=8) average graft DNA contents with 1.2% (SD: 1.2%) and 0.9% (SD: 1.1%) are lower. The higher amount in LTx compared to the other organs may reflect the higher regeneration rate that is usually seen for hepatocytes compared to other e.g. heart and kidney cells.

[0082] In the early (acute) phase after LTx the detected amount of graft cfDNA was very different from the stable phase, most probably reflecting the ischemia/reperfusion damage and the recovery from that. We analyzed samples within 5 hrs after re-establishing blood flow to the donated organ. FIG. 4 shows the time course of the graft cfDNA in this patient, who later had excellent recovery of graft function. During the early post-engraftment phase graft DNA was the vast majority of the cfDNA (up to >95%), but then decreased with an approximate half-life of 24 hours. Five patients were followed early after LTx. Of these, 3 had no severe reported complications or rejection episodes during the first 3 months. The total ddPCR assay performed were 12 for LTx1, 16 for LTx3, and 18 for LTx6. The results of five different informative assays were used to determine the graft cfDNA content. The percentage of graft cfDNA was always <15% from day 10 onwards if no complications occurred.

[0083] In contrast, one patient had some presumed early rejection episodes that were proven by biopsy at day 42 after LTx. A total of 16 ddPCR assays were performed for this patient. Five different informative assays were averaged in order to obtain the graft cfDNA content. FIG. 5 displays the time course of the conventionally used sensitive rejection markers bilirubin and AST (aspartate aminotransferase) together with the percentage of graft cfDNA in this patient. After having an initial graft cfDNA value of ˜15% on day 7, the values increased and never returned to values seen in the uncomplicated patients during the entire observation period. Moreover, this percentage was markedly increased on day 32, several days before the conventional parameters suggested possible rejection.

[0084] This example thus illustrates the identification of SNPs to evaluate transplant status and demonstrated that there was a significant increase of graft cfDNA that preceded AST and bilirubin elevations in a case of LTx rejection. Thus, a cost effective technique was developed that can determine relative amounts of graft DNA in cfDNA of LTx patients in one working day. This technique makes graft cfDNA a promising biomarker for early detection of rejection, potentially enabling more timely therapeutic intervention.

[0085] Where the ratio of graft to host cfDNA has analytical advantages by eliminating disturbing variables, such as DNA extraction efficiency, variablities in host cfDNA may obfuscate the view on the engrafted organ. The early phase after transplant was used as model to compare the percentage or absolute plasma concentration of GcfDNA is a more valuable graft integrity measure.

[0086] Blood samples from patients after liver (LTx), heart (HTx) and kidney (KTx) were drawn according to IRB approved protocols. Samples (288) from 23 LTx were included for evaluation of the potency to measure copy numbers of GcfDNA in the initial post-operative phase. For the cfDNA extraction investigations, pools from normal volunteers were used.

[0087] EDTA-whole blood was drawn and processed within 4 hours. For LTx patients, cfDNA tubes (9 mL) Streck Inc. were used for a subset of samples. Extraction of cfDNA from 1-2.5 ml of plasma was performed using the High Pure Viral Extraction Large Volume Kit (Roche) according to the manufacturer's instructions, but without the addition of carrier RNA.

[0088] For the in-assay assessment of the extraction yield, an artificial DNA (referred to as a “spike” in the example) was added to samples in a known quantity. The spike consisted of a non-human derived 320 bp DNA that was cloned into a pGEM-T vector (Promega) and produced using Phusion polymerase (NEB) with m13 primers. The resulting product was cleaned using AMPure XP (Beckman-Coulter) purification and stored in a 1,400,000-fold concentration of the final spike dilution used for extraction. Prior to each extraction, the spike was diluted and 20 μL were added to the plasma just prior to adding the protease and binding buffer. This resulted in an approximate amount of 5,000 spike copies per mL of plasma.

[0089] For the quantification of total cfDNA, two non-SNP-specific assays of single copy genes were used in ddPCR together with the quantification of the internal standard in one assay. 20 μl of the spike-dilution used for the respective extraction was diluted to a final volume of 50 μL using H₂O three times and each independent dilution was measured in ddPCR duplicates. The cfDNA was corrected for the PCR length based efficacy of 98 bp and 90 bp, based on the published size distribution (Beck, et al. Clin Chem 55:730-38, 2009). A second primer set of 223 bp and 224 bp that targets the same genetic regions was used to assess the presence of longer DNA fragments in the cfDNA extracts. The ratio between cp/mL determined using the long amplicon assays versus the short amplicon assays was calculated as a measure of necrotic DNA content. The GcfDNA was the calculated by multiplying the GcfDNA [%] with the cfDNA [cp/mL] divided by the extraction efficiency of the internal standard.

[0090] GcfDNA [%] was measured as described (Beck et al., Clin Chem 59:1732-41, 2013) on a QX100/200 system, which was used for all other described ddPCR assays throughout the study.

[0091] When GcfDNA measured as copies/ml were compared with those values expressed as percentage, a correlation of r=0.81 was observed in samples from LTx patients from day 6 post surgery onward. (FIG. 6). The closest value that would be comparable to the 10% delimiter used in the percentages was defined as being 3,000 cp/mL for LTx patients from day 6 post surgery onward.

[0092] Immunosuppression minimization requires tools to assess the minimal necessary exposure in individual patients. Drug concentrations and conventional markers are not precise predictors for this purpose. Therefore, in the present study a new practical and cost-effective method for determination of graft-derived cell-free DNA (GcfDNA) was investigated as a sensitive marker of graft injury after liver transplantation (LTx).

[0093] Methods: GcfDNA was quantified (n=171) using droplet digital PCR assay in N=12 adult patients predominantly during the early phase (days 8-30) after LTx to determine the amount of graft DNA. Values obtained in patients with various causes of graft dysfunction (i.e. hepatitis C infection [HCV+], cholestasis, low tacrolimus concentrations, and rejection) were compared to a published cut-off (10%) from a historical control group (N=10) of stable adult LTx patients without any clinical or laboratory indications of graft dysfunction or rejection.

[0094] The results showed that subtherapeutic tacrolimus levels<8 μg/L, HCV+, and rejection episodes, but not cholestasis, were associated with significantly elevated GcfDNA. Furthermore, significant elevations of GcfDNA were observed 4-6 days before acute rejection was diagnosed.

[0095] In an attempt to optimize the immunosuppressive therapy, the GcfDNA values in LTx patients were compared with the determined Tacrolimus levels at the same time point (Oellerich et al., Ther Dug Monit 36:136-140, 2014). It can be shown that sub-therapeutic Tacrolimus blood levels are associated with both elevated GcfDNA (%) as well as GcfDNA (cp/ml) values. In an extension of the report by Oellerich et al, to evaluate 260 sample, the separation was found to be slightly better with the absolute (cp/mL) determinations (FIGS. 7 and 8), if a Tacrolimus blood level of 6.7 μg/mL was used. Both ways (percentage and copy number) of GcfDNA determinations were useful as an aid in guiding the immunosuppressive drug therapy towards the needed minimal blood level, where no injury is detectable. When stratified over time, the total predictive accuracy as defined by the sum of the samples that are >the delimiter of GcfDNA and <the delimiter of Tacrolimus and <the delimiter of GcfDNA and >the delimiter of Tacrolimus, divided by all samples, a slightly better trend was seen for the cp/mL expression. The limit of GcfDNA (cp/ml) depends on the time after LTx, as the needed Tacro level to control the immune system is (FIG. 9).

[0096] These results show that GcfDNA is suitable for the rapid, specific, and early detection of graft injury after LTx and is a useful measure of individual responses to immunosuppressive therapy. Accordingly, the method can be used for the assessment of lowest effective immunosuppressant exposure in minimization strategies.

[0097] During the initial phase after transplantation, it is assumed that an initial damage is due to cold organ procurement with consecutive warm reperfusion. During cold preservation it is likely that a certain number of hepatocytes will enter a necrotic state and cannot survive the reperfusion phase, which is mostly dominated by apoptotic processes that are initiated during cold storage. An assessment of the severity of this early damage is difficult by conventional liver function tests (LFT), since the hepatocytes are both the production side as well as the affector cells of the damage. Further, the disparity between the number of potential organ recipients and the number of available donor organs has resulted in the increasing use of organs from marginal donors. This example demonstrates the associations found between the clinical course and quantified graft-derived cell-free DNA (GcfDNA) as biomarker of graft integrity in a liver transplant (LTx) patient who received a marginal donor liver and the severity of early damage due to reperfusion.

[0098] The effect of early damage can be quantified by the determination of the GcfDNA (cp/mL), which shows a clear reduction over the first week after LTx. FIG. 10 shows the results obtained from an analysis of a marginal donor in comparison to the range seen in 14 other patients. The LTx of this marginal organ did show a good initial outcome and function, which is predicted by the rapid decrease of GcfDNA at the lower end of the whole group. In addition, the amount of necrosis of the graft can be assessed by estimating the length of the cfDNA, which is short if released by apoptotic cell damage and longer if of necrotic origin. By comparing the amount of cfDNA determined with a digital droplet PCR of short length with those determined with a PCR directed to a longer target, an apoptotic index can be defined. The higher that value is, the more cfDNA is of necrotic origin. FIG. 11 shows the time course during the first days after LTx.

[0099] A comparison of the AUC (d1-d5) of GcfDNA percentage and concentration with cold ischemia time, warm ischemia time, age of donor and recipient as well as AST in a multivariate regression showed a better F-value with absolute GcfDNA (F=5.8; p<0.05) compared to percentages (F=0.8; p=0.6).

[0100] The disparity between the number of potential organ recipients and the number of available donor organs has resulted in the increasing use of organs from marginal donors.

[0101] Overall in the initial phase after LTx the absolute level of GcfDNA was an effective predictor of ischemia % reperfusion damage, with the capability of assessing the initial graft function and, importantly, the function over time if marginal organs are engrafted.

[0102] These results indicate that GcfDNA determinations can be used to monitor early graft recovery and subsequent damage as well as responses to therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, GcfDNA was an immediate and sensitive indicator of compromised graft perfusion. This test can be used as a “liquid biopsy” to assess the integrity of the transplanted organ, especially in recipients of marginal donor livers.

[0103] All accession numbers, patents, patent applications, and other published reference materials cited in this specification are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for their disclosures of the subject matter in whose connection they are cited herein.