JP5952480B2 - Nucleic acid information processing apparatus and processing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for processing nucleic acid information.

  There are an enormous number and types of genes in biological systems such as biological populations, individuals, biological tissues, and cells, and their products influence each other and remain there. Conventionally, the presence or variation of individual genes has been analyzed individually using an experimental technique that examines one gene in one experiment, as represented by Southern blotting and Northern blotting, but DNA (Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid ) With the advent of microarrays (for the sake of convenience, this is treated as synonymous with DNA chips in the present application), the presence or amount of genetic information and the expression level are comprehensively and comprehensively captured through a single physical and physiological experiment. It became possible. On the other hand, along with the progress of the genome project that had begun prior to this, a group of devices called next-generation sequencers in which the number of DNA fragments that can be analyzed in parallel has increased by an order of magnitude for practical use in DNA sequencing technology It has become. With the device group, the number of DNA fragments and the number of bases that can be analyzed by one-time operation of the next-generation sequencer have increased dramatically. Such a technique is described in Patent Document 1.

JP 2010-193832 A

  However, although the above-described DNA microarray is a very useful experimental tool as described above, it is considered that there are three problems. The first point is that the result of frequency analysis of similar sequences using a DNA microarray does not have 100% reproducibility and cannot be said to have high accuracy. The second point is that in the experiment using a DNA microarray, the amount of the target molecule hybridized to the probe molecule can be measured, but the base sequence information of the target molecule cannot be obtained. Which part of the base sequence of the target molecule is hybridized to each probe base, whether the base sequence of the hybridized part is 100% identical to the base sequence of the probe molecule, whether there is a mismatch, Detailed information, such as where it is, cannot be obtained only by hybridization experiments using DNA microarrays. The third point is that the DNA microarray and the target nucleic acid used in the DNA microarray experiment cannot be reused in the same state.

  In view of such a conventional technique, an object of the present invention is to easily obtain a hybridization result using a probe set having no expiration date corresponding to a DNA microarray.

  For example, the nucleic acid information processing device according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores first base sequence information including information on a plurality of base sequences and second base sequence information including information on the plurality of base sequences; One-to-one threshold receiving means for receiving information for specifying a threshold value of similarity and a base sequence included in the first base sequence information as a target and a base sequence included in the second base sequence information as a probe For each combination, the hybridization means for specifying the similarity and the start position and the end position of the similar portion, and the number of the targets for which the specified similarity is equal to or greater than the threshold are counted for each probe, and stored in the storage unit. Similar base sequence counting means for storing, wherein the hybridization means specifies the similarity and the start position and end position of the similar portion. In the method, the one or a plurality of the targets are used to identify a combination in which all of the base sequences of the one probe are associated with each other without omission, and the similar base sequence counting means is associated with the one or more targets without omission. In addition, the number of the probes is counted and stored in the storage unit.

  Also, for example, a method of nucleic acid information processing by a nucleic acid information processing device, wherein the nucleic acid information processing device includes first base sequence information including information on a plurality of base sequences and second information including information on a plurality of base sequences. A storage unit for storing the base sequence information, and a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is included in the first base sequence information and a threshold receiving step for receiving information specifying a threshold value of similarity A hybridization step for identifying a similarity and a start position and an end position of a similar portion for a one-to-one combination with a base sequence as a target and a base sequence included in the second base sequence information as a probe, and Performing a similar base sequence counting step of counting the number of targets whose similarity is equal to or greater than the threshold for each probe and storing the same in the storage unit, In the hybridization execution step, in the process of specifying the similarity and the start position and end position of the similar portion, the combination that matches all of the base sequences of one probe with one or more targets is specified. In the similar base sequence counting step, the number of the probes associated without omission by the one or a plurality of the targets is counted and stored in the storage unit.

  By applying the present invention, it is possible to easily obtain a hybridization result using a probe set having no expiration date corresponding to a DNA microarray.

It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the nucleic acid information processing method of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the hybridization process of the nucleic acid information processing method in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the hybridization process in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of the virtual hybridization process of the nucleic acid information processing method in this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a target fragment memory | storage part. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a probe memory | storage part. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a similarity memory | storage part. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a hybridization result storage part. It is a figure which shows the data structure of a cluster storage part. It is a figure which shows the hardware constitutions of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of a clustering process. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of a clustering process. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of a virtual hybridization process. It is a figure which shows the process flow of a complete hybrid specific process. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of a target comparison process. It is a figure which shows the example of a clustering process screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a clustering process result screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a clustering process result screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a clustering process result screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a virtual hybridization process result screen. It is a figure which shows the example of a virtual hybridization process result screen. It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of a target comparison process. It is a figure which shows the example of the process result screen of a target comparison process. It is a figure which shows the example of the process result screen of a target comparison process. It is a figure which shows the target counting method in a virtual hybridization process.

  The cause of the first problem of the above technique is the error in the number of probe molecules immobilized on the substrate or substrate for each probe, each array, and each production lot, the error in the probe arrangement, and the error in the physicochemical conditions for each hybridization. This is thought to be due to the overlap. The error in the number of immobilized molecules for each probe and each array is that when immobilizing the probe DNA to the substrate or substrate, the immobilization efficiency of the instrument, enzyme, or chemical reaction varies from probe to probe and from array to probe. This is considered to be due to the difference in the number of spots of molecules fixed for each spot between the arrays.

  In addition, the error for each hybridization is the temperature, pH, ionic strength, formamide concentration, probe chain length, probe amount, target DNA concentration, probe and / or target nucleic acid in hybridization and subsequent DNA microarray washing. Since it is difficult to precisely reproduce all physicochemical conditions such as whether double-stranded or single-stranded for each hybridization, it is considered that one of the conditions differs for each hybridization.

  Since it is very difficult to always make all these conditions exactly the same in each experiment, it is considered that the reproducibility of the frequency analysis result of the similar base sequence using the DNA microarray is not 100%. In reality, when analysis is performed by the technique, the analysis must be performed using an approximate value such as an average value of a plurality of experimental results.

  In a first embodiment according to the present invention to be described later, hybridization is performed virtually, that is, as processing on a computer, using electronic information of a base sequence. Therefore, there is no room for the physicochemical conditions in the above hybridization, and no error or the like occurs. Therefore, the first problem can be solved.

  The cause of the second problem of the above-described technique is that in the experiment of the DNA microarray, the amount of the target nucleic acid hybridized to the probe can be measured, but the base sequence information of the target nucleic acid cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, we pick up the probe sequences that have obtained interesting experimental results, and based on them, newly recover nucleic acids having a high base sequence similarity to the probe base sequence from the target and determine the base sequence. Further, it takes time and effort to proceed with the analysis.

  In an embodiment according to the present invention to be described later, hybridization is virtually performed using electronic information of a base sequence. Therefore, the details of the results in the above hybridization are clear and will not be unclear. Therefore, the second problem can be solved.

  Regarding the third problem of the above technique, since there is no completely identical target, the same target cannot be obtained again, and the number of DNA microarrays to be created at one time is limited. After using up, it is necessary to create a different DNA microarray again. This work is time-consuming and expensive, and at the same time causes the above-mentioned first problem that an error occurs between production lots.

  In the embodiment according to the present invention to be described later, the hybridization is performed virtually using the electronic information of the base sequence, that is, as a process on the computer, and therefore the storage of the target itself is not questioned. Alternatively, it is relatively easy to duplicate and reproduce the base sequence of the same target. Therefore, the third problem can be solved.

  Below, 1st embodiment which concerns on this invention is described using FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of processing of nucleic acid information using a nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 as an example of the first embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a flow of frequency analysis of similar base sequences and comparison of nucleic acid information in a digital DNA chip (DNA microarray based on digital data).

  Import data 1 includes sequence data, which is target fragment base sequence information output from the sequencer, and DNA chip experimental data obtained by experiments using a DNA chip. The processing function 2 of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 performs processing using the imported sequence data, DNA chip experiment data, and the database 3 that stores various analysis results as described below using these data.

  Processing function 2 includes a function for clustering sequence data in accordance with the flow of analysis, a base sequence list of probes based on the clustered data, and setting of their virtual plane arrangement A digital DNA chip design function for designing a digital DNA chip, a virtual hybridization function for capturing the target fragment base sequence information output from the sequencer, and analyzing the similarity to the base sequence list of the probe and its frequency, A function for comparing the frequency analysis results of a plurality of similar base sequences in any combination of hybridization results, imported DNA chip experiment data, or a combination of virtual hybridization results and DNA chip experiment data, Obtain.

  The processing function 2 also has a function of outputting various analysis results by the above functions and displaying them on a computer screen. The data to be output includes the target fragment group shown in the output data 4, the clustering result, the probe group, the probe base sequence virtual arrangement list, the virtual hybridization result, the comparison analysis result, and the like.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of the hybridization process of the nucleic acid information processing method. Specifically, in FIG. 2, the analysis 13 by the DNA microarray and the analysis 14 by the digital DNA chip are organized by a preparation operation 10, a frequency analysis 11 of similar base sequences, and a result 12 obtained. .

  In the analysis using the DNA microarray, as the target preparation operation 10, material collection, DNA extraction, and DNA amplification are performed. Also, as a probe preparation operation, a probe sequence list is created to create a probe DNA, and a DNA microarray is created. Then, in the frequency analysis 11 of the similar base sequence, so-called hybridization between the target DNA and the DNA microarray is performed.

  The hybridization utilizes the property that a single-stranded base sequence provided in the DNA microarray and a complementary single-stranded base sequence form a complementary strand by hydrogen bonding. In addition, not only a complementary strand but a single strand of a target having the same base sequence as that provided in the DNA microarray is also acquired as a positive reaction. Result 12 is the number of cluster members per probe.

  In the analysis 14 using a digital DNA chip, as a target preparation operation 10, material collection, DNA extraction, and target fragment group generation are performed. The target fragment is identified by identifying the base sequence data with a sequencer. In addition, as a probe preparation operation, a probe group is created. In creating a probe group, data of a target fragment group created in the past may be reconstructed, or data such as an existing genome database, such as Genomics & Genetics At The Sanger Institute (http: // www. data of various databases of Sanger.ac.uk/genetics/), data of databases of VAMPS (Visualization and Analysis of Microorganization Structures) (public of http://vamps.mbl.edu), etc. You may use the database etc. which each research institution manages independently. Then, in the frequency analysis 11 of similar base sequences, virtual hybridization is performed in which one-to-one matching between the base sequence data of the target fragment and the base sequence data of the probe group is performed.

  Virtual hybridization uses base complementarity to match the base sequence of the probe group in a complementary manner for each base sequence of the target fragment and based on similarity to the base sequence of the probe group instead of being complementary. Process and identify the corresponding combination. The obtained result 12 includes the number of cluster members for each probe and the base sequence information of all target nucleic acid fragments. Moreover, the base sequence information used as the probe group is not lost and can be used again.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of hybridization processing in the flow of frequency analysis of similarity using a DNA microarray.

  In general, in the hybridization treatment, a hybridization experiment based on the degree of complementarity between each probe and the target nucleic acid molecule is performed using the labeled target nucleic acid solution 21 and the DNA microarray 22. At this time, in a hybridization experiment using a DNA microarray, physicochemical conditions (temperature, pH, ionic strength, formamide concentration, probe chain length, probe for each experimental unit in the hybridization and subsequent DNA microarray washing step are performed. Threshold, target nucleic acid concentration, probe and / or target nucleic acid is double stranded or single stranded, etc.).

  When a hybridization experiment is performed, a reaction result such as a DNA microarray 23 after hybridization is obtained. When the portion 24 of the DNA microarray is enlarged, the probe DNA fragment 28 is fixed to the probe spot region 27 of the substrate 26 of the DNA microarray as shown in the enlarged view 25 of the hybridization result of the portion of the DNA microarray. . When the complementarity between the probe DNA fragment and the target nucleic acid fragment is higher than the complementarity threshold defined by the above physicochemical conditions, the probe DNA fragment and the target nucleic acid fragment form a duplex. By this action, a physicochemical result is obtained in which the intensity of the labeling signal varies from spot to spot according to the number of molecules of the hybridized labeled target nucleic acid fragment 29.

  Hybridization using a DNA microarray usually requires approximately one day because a washing operation is performed after hybridization for several hours to overnight. In the analysis by the DNA microarray, information 30 of the approximate number of target fragments (information represented by the signal intensity 32) that forms a double strand for each probe 31 is obtained.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of virtual hybridization processing in the flow of similarity frequency analysis using a digital DNA chip.

  In the virtual hybridization process, a nucleic acid fragment list 41 including one or a plurality of base sequences 43 specified by all fragment IDs 42 included in the target and a probe including one or a plurality of base sequences 46 specified by the probe ID 45 On the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100, matching processing 47 is performed in which the base sequence information of all probes in the base sequence list 44 is checked on a one-to-one basis for each base. At this time, it is determined over the entire probe fragment whether there is a match or mismatch for each base pair in the target and probe fragment, and whether or not the combination is to form a complementary strand, and the match condition number in the probe fragment ( The similarity threshold is defined by the total match rate, the longest continuous match base number, the longest continuous match rate, and the like.

  The similarity value calculated by performing the matching process 47 and collating the base sequence of the probe with the base sequence of the target nucleic acid 1: 1 by the above-described method is greater than the similarity threshold value defined by the numbers as described above. For the base sequence of the target nucleic acid showing a high value, the nucleic acid information processing device 100 identifies a cluster that is a set of fragments having similar base sequences represented by the probe ID 51, and clusters in the virtual hybridization result table 50. Add processing 48 to add as a member is performed. Specifically, the nucleic acid information processing device 100 increments the cluster member number 52, adds the target fragment ID 42 as the cluster member fragment ID 53, and sets the target base sequence 43 as the cluster member base sequence 54. to add.

  For the target nucleic acid base sequence for which the calculated similarity value is lower than the similarity threshold value, the nucleic acid information processing device 100 uses the base sequence cluster of the matching partner probe in the virtual hybridization result table 50. In addition, the matching partner is changed 55 (the base of a different probe ID is used as the matching partner), the base sequence of the probe to be verified is changed, and the matching process 47 is performed again. The nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 uses the virtual hybridization result table 50 for the base sequence of the target nucleic acid that has not become a cluster member of the base sequence of any probe even after completing the matching process 47 with the base sequences of all probes. Not a negative group.

  Thus, when the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 determines the assignment destination of the base sequence of the target nucleic acid to be collated to a cluster of base sequences of any probe or a reaction negative group, the collation pair change 56 is performed, A new pair of target nucleic acid base sequence and probe base sequence to be collated is selected, and processing such as matching processing 47 is performed. When the above operation is repeated for all the base sequences of the target nucleic acid, the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 counts the number of base sequences of the target nucleic acid entered in the cluster for each probe ID 51 in the virtual hybridization result table 50. To calculate the number of cluster members.

  Virtual hybridization using a digital DNA chip can be considered to be completed within a few hours at the longest, even if it greatly depends on the calculation performance of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus. Therefore, it is highly possible that the processing time can be shortened by using a digital DNA chip.

  The frequency of similar base sequences as described above is analyzed, and the information obtained as a final result is a fragment belonging to a cluster of target fragments having a predetermined similarity to the base sequence for each probe in the analysis using a digital DNA chip. And the total base sequence information of all fragments of the target obtained in the target preparation stage.

  FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100. The nucleic acid information processing device 100 includes a control unit 110, a storage unit 130, an output display unit 140, an input reception unit 150, and a communication processing unit 160. The control unit 110 includes an input processing unit 111, an output processing unit 112, a probe generation unit 113, a target fragment generation unit 114, a hybridization unit 115, a complete hybrid identification unit 116, a fragment comparison unit 117, a cluster A control unit 118, a similarity analysis unit 119, and a cluster classification unit 120 are provided.

  The input processing unit 111 receives input information transmitted from a client terminal (not shown) (for example, a personal computer equipped with a Web browser) via the communication processing unit 160. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the input processing unit 111 may receive input information via the input device 101 described later.

  The output processing unit 112 transmits output information to the client terminal via the communication processing unit 160. The output information includes the target fragment group, clustering result, probe group, probe base sequence virtual arrangement list, virtual hybridization result, comparative analysis result, and the like shown in FIG. The output processing unit 112 may output output information via the output device 106 described later.

  The probe generation unit 113 generates probe information corresponding to the digital DNA chip using the base sequence data. Specifically, the probe generation unit 113 assigns a probe ID serving as an identifier to information on existing digital DNA chips and base sequence data used as other probes, and assigns a probe set ID to which the probe ID belongs. The block position corresponding to the information for specifying the position on the DNA microarray and the spot position for specifying the position on the block are sequentially assigned. And the probe production | generation part 113 matches the chain length (base number) of the base sequence data, and the information which specifies a base sequence, and stores them in the probe memory | storage part 132 mentioned later. The probe generation unit 113 converts base sequence data provided in a predetermined data format used in an existing software package such as FASTA or BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) into a predetermined data format. It may be a thing. FASTA is software capable of searching a base sequence database or an amino acid database using bioinformatics using a base sequence query or a protein amino acid sequence query to determine the similarity. In the FASTA, the base sequence is described in a description format called FASTA format in which the base sequence information is recorded in plain text. In the present embodiment, BLAST refers to an algorithm for performing sequence alignment of DNA base sequences or protein amino acid sequences by bioinformatics. In addition, a program that implements the algorithm is also called BLAST in accordance with a general name. For example, when a BLAST searches a genome sequence database using an unknown base sequence, a sequence group with high similarity, its similarity, a match rate, and a start position / end position of a match portion In addition, the start position / end position of the matching portion on the target base sequence can be extracted.

  The target fragment generation unit 114 associates information on a series of base sequences constituting a target read by a sequencer or the like with a fragment ID that identifies the base sequence from other base sequences, and stores the information in the target fragment storage unit 131 described later. Store. Specifically, a unique identification number or the like is assigned to each base sequence data output from the sequencer and stored in the target fragment storage unit 131.

  The hybridization unit 115 performs virtual hybridization. Specifically, the hybridization unit 115 is a combination in which the similarity between the base sequence of the target fragment stored in the target fragment storage unit 131 and the base sequence of the probe stored in the probe storage unit 132 is equal to or greater than a threshold value. And the number of target fragments whose similarity is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold for each probe ID and the number of complete hybrids identified by the complete hybrid identification unit 116 are counted. Note that the similarity in this embodiment is a general concept, and is measured by a similarity rate, an alignment rate, or the like.

  Based on the result of the similarity analysis, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 extracts and connects the matching portion data, and sets all the base sequences from the start position to the end position of the probe base sequence to a predetermined value or more. A base sequence having a similarity is specified. Specifically, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 receives the base sequence of the partially matching target fragment including the base sequence of the target fragment whose similarity with the probe base sequence is equal to or greater than a predetermined value from the similarity storage unit 133. Extracted as matching part data, sequentially connected based on the start position and end position of matching, and if it is possible to connect to the end position of the probe base sequence, the sequence of the connected matching part data is specified as a complete hybrid.

  The complete hybrid identification unit 116 identifies the matched portion data as a complete hybrid when the similar portion between one matched portion data and the probe base sequence is all of the probe base sequence.

  In addition, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 is not limited to such a process, and for example, the matching part data that is partially matched from the start / end end of the probe toward the center is connected, and the matching part data is connected without a gap. In this case, the concatenated matched portion data set may be specified as a complete hybrid.

  That is, the complete hybrid identification unit 116, when the similar part between one matching part data and the probe base sequence is all of the base sequence of the probe, or a plurality of target fragments virtually hybridized to the base sequence of the probe If the similar parts of the nucleic acid fragment to the base sequence of the probe are joined together without gaps, and if the entire similar part to the base sequence of the probe contains all of the probe base sequence, the matching part data is completely hybridized. It can be said that it is specified as

  The fragment comparison unit 117 performs target comparison processing for comparing two different target fragment sets. For example, the fragment comparison unit 117 is configured to obtain result information about two different target fragment groups that have undergone virtual hybridization using the same probe set, for example, target fragments extracted from seawater collected at different times in the same sea area. Identify and output the difference in the number of cluster members for the same probe.

  The cluster control unit 118 performs a clustering process for classifying target fragments into a predetermined number or less of cluster groups. The cluster control unit 118 performs grouping according to the degree of similarity between the target fragments within the target fragment group to be classified into clusters to form a cluster. Specifically, the cluster control unit 118 forms a group by gradually lowering the similarity threshold until the number of received clusters is less than or equal to the upper limit number, and ends the classification into cluster groups when the number is less than or equal to the upper limit number. When the cluster control unit 118 gradually decreases the similarity threshold value and reaches a predetermined value (for example, 1.0E + 01), the cluster control unit 118 fixes the threshold value below that value without lowering the threshold value, and thereafter If the similarity between representative sequences is greater than or equal to a threshold, clusters are merged.

  The similarity analysis unit 119 identifies the similarity between the two base sequence data. Specifically, the similarity analysis unit 119 specifies the similarity rate, the alignment rate, and the start position and end position of the similar portion of the two base sequence data according to the complementarity of the bases. That is, in principle, when a complementary base corresponding to the base of one base sequence data is included in the other base sequence data, whether or not the base adjacent to those bases also corresponds complementarily. Determine whether. This is repeated until an uncorresponding base appears, and the correspondence between different base pairs is similarly determined, and the corresponding portion is identified as a similar portion. A combination having a long distance between the start position and the end position of the similar portion is data similar to the base sequence data. Note that the similarity analysis unit 119 determines not only the complementary correspondence of bases but also the identity of bases to determine the similarity. That is, the similarity analysis unit 119 determines that a series of base sequences included in one base sequence data (eg, target) is more than a predetermined similarity with a series of base sequences included in the other base sequence data (eg, probe). If it has a degree, it can be said that the series of base sequences on one side is a similar part to the other base sequence data. It is conceivable to use an existing algorithm such as BLAST to specify the similarity.

  The cluster classification unit 120 classifies the target fragment into a plurality of clusters according to the similarity. Specifically, the cluster classification unit 120 provides one cluster represented by one fragment from the target fragments, and determines whether other fragments have a predetermined degree of similarity or more with the representative fragment of the cluster. In the case where the degree of similarity is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the cluster belongs to the cluster. If there is no similarity higher than a predetermined level, the cluster classification unit 120 determines the similarity with the representative fragment of that cluster if there is another cluster, and if it has a higher similarity than the predetermined level, Make them belong. For a fragment that does not have a predetermined degree of similarity with any of the other clusters, the cluster classification unit 120 provides a new cluster with the fragment as a representative fragment.

  The storage unit 130 stores a target fragment storage unit 131, a probe storage unit 132, a similarity storage unit 133, a hybridization result storage unit 134, and a cluster storage unit 135. The storage unit 130 may be a storage device or the like that is fixedly installed in the nucleic acid information processing device 100, or may be an independent storage device or the like.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the target fragment storage unit 131 includes a fragment ID 1311 that includes information for identifying a fragment, and base sequence information 1312 that is information on the base sequence of the fragment specified by the fragment ID 1311.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the probe storage unit 132 includes a probe set ID 1321 including information for identifying a probe set (digital DNA chip) to which the probe belongs, a probe ID 1322 including information for identifying the base sequence of the probe, and a probe ID 1322. The chain length 1323, which is the number of base sequences specified in, the base sequence information 1324, which is information on the base sequence of the probe specified by the probe ID, and the base sequence of the probe specified by the probe ID are the probe set. A block position 1325 for specifying a rough arrangement position on the digital DNA chip specified by the ID 1321 and a spot position 1326 for specifying a detailed arrangement position in the block are included.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the similarity storage unit 133 includes a fragment ID 1331 including information for identifying a base sequence of a fragment that is one of the objects whose similarity is analyzed, and a probe that is a partner whose analysis is the similarity Of the probe ID 1332 including information for identifying the base sequence of the fragment, the base sequence of the fragment identified by the fragment ID 1331, the base sequence of the probe identified by the probe ID 1332, the alignment rate 1334, The start position 1335 on the fragment that is the start position of the similar part on the base sequence, the end position 1336 on the fragment that is the end position of the similar part on the base sequence of the fragment, and the start of the similar part on the base sequence of the probe Starting position 1337 on the probe that is the position, and the base sequence of the probe Including the end position 1338 on the probe which is the end position of the similar portions of the upper and.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the hybridization result storage unit 134 is a storage unit that stores information on the result of virtual hybridization. For each probe ID 1341 that includes information for identifying the base sequence of the probe, the similarity is a predetermined threshold value. The frequency 1342 indicated by the number of fragments as described above is stored in association with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the cluster storage unit 135 includes, for each cluster ID 1351 including information identifying a group of target fragments classified by the clustering process, a representative fragment ID 1352 including information identifying a fragment representing the cluster, The representative fragment base sequence information 1353, which is information on the base sequence of the representative fragment, is stored. Further, the cluster storage unit 135 stores, for each cluster ID 1351, a fragment ID 1354 including information for identifying a fragment belonging to the cluster, and base sequence information 1355 that is information on the base sequence of the fragment.

  The output display unit 140 outputs various information such as GUI or CUI of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100. The input receiving unit 150 receives input of GUI or CUI operation information.

  The communication processing unit 160 connects to another device via a network (not shown), receives information transmitted from the other connected device, and transmits information to the other connected device.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the nucleic acid information processing device 100 according to the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the nucleic acid information processing device 100 is, for example, a dedicated hardware device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a computer such as a highly versatile PC (personal computer), a workstation, a server device, various mobile phone terminals, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) may be used.

  The nucleic acid information processing device 100 includes an input device 101, an external storage device 102, an arithmetic device 103, a main storage device 104, a communication device 105, an output device 106, and a bus 107 that connects the devices to each other. Have

  The input device 101 is a device that receives input from, for example, a keyboard, mouse, touch pen, or other pointing device.

  The external storage device 102 is a nonvolatile storage device such as a hard disk device or a flash memory.

  The arithmetic device 103 is an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  The main storage device 104 is a memory device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The communication device 105 is a wireless communication device that performs wireless communication via an antenna, or a wired communication device that performs wired communication via a network cable.

  The output device 106 is a device that performs display, such as a display.

  The storage unit 130 of the nucleic acid information processing device 100 is realized by the main storage device 104 or the external storage device 102.

  In addition, the input processing unit 111, the output processing unit 112, the probe generation unit 113, the target fragment generation unit 114, the hybridization unit 115, the complete hybrid identification unit 116, and the fragment comparison unit 117 of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100. The cluster control unit 118, the similarity analysis unit 119, and the cluster classification unit 120 are realized by a program that causes the arithmetic device 103 of the nucleic acid information processing device 100 to perform processing.

  This program is stored in the main storage device 104 or the external storage device 102, loaded onto the main storage device 104 for execution, and executed by the arithmetic device 103.

  Further, the output display unit 140 of the nucleic acid information processing device 100 is realized by the output device 106 of the nucleic acid information processing device 100.

  Further, the input receiving unit 150 of the nucleic acid information processing device 100 is realized by the input device 101 of the nucleic acid information processing device 100.

  The communication unit 160 of the nucleic acid information processing device 100 is realized by the communication device 105 of the nucleic acid information processing device 100.

  The above is the hardware configuration of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100. Note that the hardware configuration and the configuration of the processing unit and the like of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 are not limited to the above examples, and may include different configurations such as different parts that can be replaced.

  For example, the input processing unit 111, the output processing unit 112, the probe generation unit 113, the target fragment generation unit 114, the hybridization unit 115, the complete hybrid identification unit 116, and the fragment comparison unit 117 of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100. The cluster control unit 118, the similarity analysis unit 119, and the cluster classification unit 120 are classified according to the main processing contents in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration of the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the way of classifying the components and their names. The configuration of the nucleic acid information processing device 100 can be classified into more components depending on the processing content. Moreover, it can also classify | categorize so that one component may perform more processes.

  Further, each functional unit of the nucleic acid information processing device 100 may be constructed by hardware (ASIC, GPU, etc.). Further, the processing of each functional unit may be executed by one hardware or may be executed by a plurality of hardware.

  [Description of Operation] Next, the flow of clustering processing performed by the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts showing the clustering process. The clustering process is started when a clustering process execution request via a Web browser or the like is received from a client terminal such as a PC (not shown) via the network.

  First, the cluster control unit 118 configures an input screen for cluster setting values (similarity threshold value and cluster upper limit number). Then, the output processing unit 112 transmits the configured screen to the request source of the execution request (step S001). Specifically, the cluster control unit 118 configures an input screen for E-value, array length, and the upper limit number of clusters as the similarity threshold, and the output processing unit 112 transmits the configured screen to the requester of the execution request. To do.

  The input processing unit 111 accepts input regarding the similarity threshold and the upper limit number of clusters (step S002). Specifically, the input processing unit 111 receives the E-value and the array length, and the upper limit number of clusters transmitted as parameters from the Web browser of the client terminal.

  The cluster control unit 118 converts all of the base sequence data of the target fragment to be clustered that has been designated by the input processing unit 111 or the like into data that can be handled by the BLAST software (step S003). Specifically, the cluster control unit 118 converts all of the base sequence data (for example, a format that can be processed by the FASTA software) of the target fragment to be clustered that has been designated by the input processing unit 111 or the like into the BLAST software. Convert to data in a format that can be processed with.

  Then, the cluster classification unit 120 selects a target fragment that does not belong to the cluster (step S004). Specifically, the cluster classification unit 120 selects one target fragment that does not belong to any cluster and has not been subjected to cluster classification processing from a target fragment group in a data format that can be processed by the FASTA software. .

  Next, the cluster classification unit 120 determines whether there is an unselected existing cluster (step S005). Specifically, the cluster classification unit 120 determines whether or not an unselected cluster remains among the existing clusters formed by the clustering process.

  When there is an unselected existing cluster (in the case of “Yes” in step S005), the cluster classification unit 120 identifies the unselected existing cluster and sets the representative sequence of the cluster to the selected state. (Step S006).

  Then, the similarity analysis unit 119 identifies the similarity between the selected representative sequence and the selected target fragment (step S007). Specifically, similar to the BLAST software, the similarity analysis unit 119 performs similarity between both sequences (similarity, alignment rate, start and end positions of similar parts on the target fragment, and similar parts on the probe base sequence). Are specified and stored in the similarity storage unit 133. In this process, the similarity analysis unit 119 specifies the similarity using the similarity threshold received in step S002.

  Then, the cluster classification unit 120 determines whether or not the identified similarity is equal to or greater than a similarity threshold (step S008). Specifically, the cluster classification unit 120 determines whether or not the similarity between the representative sequence selected in step S007 and the selected target fragment is equal to or higher than the similarity threshold received in step S002. To do.

  If it is not equal to or higher than the similarity threshold value (in the case of “No” in step S008), the cluster classification unit 120 returns control to step S005 in order to specify the similarity with the representative fragment of another cluster.

  If the threshold is equal to or greater than the similarity threshold (“Yes” in step S008), the cluster classification unit 120 causes the target fragment and fragments in the cluster belonging to the target fragment to belong to the cluster to which the selected representative sequence belongs (step S009). . More specifically, when there is a cluster to which the target fragment to which the degree of similarity is compared belongs, the cluster classification unit 120 compares the degree of similarity of the target fragment with all of the fragments belonging to the cluster. Be assigned to an existing cluster represented by a representative sequence. At that time, for the target fragment whose affiliation has changed, the cluster classification unit 120 deletes the target fragment from the cluster to which the target fragment belongs.

  Then, the cluster classification unit 120 stores the cluster information in the cluster storage unit 135 (step S010). Specifically, the cluster classification unit 120 stores information in the fragment ID 1354 and the base sequence information 1355 of the cluster storage unit 135 for all of the fragments that belonged in step S009. Note that when there is no newly assigned fragment, the cluster classification unit 120 does not need to store information in the cluster storage unit 135, and thus does not perform any particular processing.

  Then, the cluster classification unit 120 determines whether or not unassigned target fragments remain (step S011). Specifically, the cluster classification unit 120 determines whether target fragments that do not belong to any cluster remain in the target fragment group.

  When the unaffiliated target fragment remains (“Yes” in step S011), the cluster classification unit 120 returns the control to step S004.

  If no unaffiliated target fragment remains (in the case of “No” in step S011), the cluster control unit 118 advances the process to step S013 described later.

  In the above-described determination in step S005, when there is no unselected existing cluster (in the case of “No” in step S005), the cluster classification unit 120 newly establishes a cluster having the target fragment as a representative sequence (step S012). Specifically, the cluster classification unit 120 stores information about the target fragment in the representative fragment 1352 and the representative fragment base sequence information 1353.

  Then, the cluster control unit 118 determines whether or not the number of clusters is greater than the upper limit number of clusters (step S013). Specifically, the cluster control unit 118 counts the number of cluster IDs 1351 stored in the cluster storage unit 135, and compares the number with the cluster upper limit number received in step S002. When the number of clusters is equal to or less than the upper limit number of clusters (in the case of “No” in step S013), the cluster control unit 118 ends the clustering process.

  When the number of clusters is larger than the upper limit number of clusters (in the case of “Yes” in step S013), the cluster control unit 118 collects representative sequences of each cluster and creates a target fragment (step S014).

  Then, the cluster control unit 118 sets E-Value, which is a similarity threshold, to 1.0E + 10 times (step S015), and returns the control to step S003. By doing so, the similarity can be relaxed to determine the similarity between the cluster representative sequences, and the clusters can be integrated to keep the number below the upper limit. When E-Value is set to 1.0E + 10 times, when E-Value exceeds 1.0E + 01 which is a predetermined value, the cluster control unit 118 sets E-Value to 1.0E + 01, Control is returned to step S003.

  The above is the flow of the clustering process. According to the clustering process, the nucleic acid information processing device 100 can cluster target fragments based on the specified similarity threshold and the upper limit number of clusters. That is, it can be said that the targets can be classified so that the degree of similarity of the targets is not less than a predetermined value. In the cluster obtained by the clustering process of the present embodiment, the homology interval between representative sequences is more than a certain distance. In this case, it can be said that when a target including various organisms is classified into clusters, a cluster group in which the homology interval is almost constant can be obtained according to the law of large numbers. This is a probe with a certain degree of similarity, such as when conducting experiments to grasp the tendency of the base sequence composition to change over time, targeting targets that include organisms with unknown base sequences. It is effective when you want to.

  Next, the flow of the virtual hybridization process performed by the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the virtual hybridization process. The virtual hybridization process is started when a virtual hybridization process execution request via a Web browser or the like is received from a client terminal such as a PC (not shown) via the network.

  First, the probe generation unit 113 converts existing digital DNA chip information into a BLAST data as a probe sequence (step S101). Specifically, the probe generation unit 113 assigns a probe ID serving as an identifier to information on existing digital DNA chips and base sequence data used as other probes, and assigns a probe set ID to which the probe ID belongs. The block position corresponding to the information for specifying the position on the DNA microarray and the spot position for specifying the position on the block are assigned. And the probe production | generation part 113 matches the chain length (base number) of the base sequence data, and the information which specifies a base sequence, and stores them in the probe memory | storage part 132 mentioned later. Then, the probe generation unit 113 converts existing digital DNA chip information and base sequence data used as other probes into a predetermined data format used in the BLAST software package.

  And the input process part 111 receives the input of a similarity threshold value (E-Value and arrangement | sequence length) (step S102). Specifically, the output processing unit 112 transmits and displays an input screen of a predetermined similarity threshold value to the client terminal, and the input processing unit 111 accepts the input similarity threshold value.

  Then, the hybridization unit 115 analyzes the degree of similarity with the probe sequence (for example, the representative sequence for each cluster) for each fragment sequence based on the information previously stored in the target fragment storage unit 131 by the target fragment generation unit 114. (Step S103). Specifically, the hybridization unit 115 delegates the processing to the similarity analysis unit 119 for all combinations of the target fragment base sequence and the probe base sequence, and uses the similarity and the target fragment base sequence. And the start position and end position of the similar part on the probe base sequence are specified, respectively.

  Then, the hybridization unit 115 stores the result of analyzing the similarity in the similarity storage unit 133 (step S104).

  The hybridization unit 115 counts, for each probe, the number of fragments having a similarity equal to or higher than the similarity threshold from the similarity analysis result, and stores it in the hybridization result storage unit 134 (step S105).

  The above is the flow of the virtual hybridization process. According to the virtual hybridization process, the nucleic acid information processing device 100 can count the number of target fragments having a similarity equal to or higher than a specified similarity threshold for each probe base sequence. That is, when the probe base sequence is a representative sequence of clusters, it can be said that the frequency for each cluster can be specified for the base sequence contained in the target. Moreover, the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 can specify the degree of similarity and its part for all combinations of targets and probes by the virtual hybridization process. In step S105 of the above process, the hybridization unit 115 counts a series of base sequences determined to be complete hybrids by the complete hybrid identification process described later for each probe, and stores them in the hybridization result storage unit 134. It may be. Thereby, it can be said that an appropriate frequency can be obtained even when the fragment is more fragmented than the probe sequence.

  Next, the flow of complete hybrid identification processing performed by the nucleic acid information processing device 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the complete hybrid identification process. The complete hybrid identification process is performed after the virtual hybridization process because the process is performed using the result of the virtual hybridization process. Alternatively, it is started when a request for execution of the complete hybrid identification process via a Web browser or the like is received via a network from a client terminal such as a PC (not shown).

  First, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 extracts matched portion data from the similarity storage unit 133 (step S201). The matched portion data includes completely matched portion data. In the present embodiment, the matched portion data is a target having a similar portion in which the degree of similarity with the probe sequence is a predetermined value or higher among the target fragments (that is, a similar portion showing a predetermined similarity with the probe sequence). This is base sequence data of a fragment. The completely matched portion data is base sequence data of a target fragment that includes only a similar portion that shows a perfect match with the probe sequence among the target fragments.

  The complete hybrid identification unit 116 extracts one unprocessed item from the extracted matched portion data in ascending order of the start position on the probe and sets it as a query (step S202). Specifically, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 sorts the matching portion data extracted in step S201 in ascending order of the starting position 1337 on the probe, and the sorted starting matching portion data and the start position of the similar portion are probed. An attempt is made to extract an unprocessed one of the matching partial data identical to the start position 1337 above as a query. At this time, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 further determines that the end position of the similar portion of the matching portion data (that is, the end position 1336 on the fragment) is the end position of the matching portion data (that is, the last position of the fragment). ) Only target fragments (that is, including completely matched partial data) are extracted.

  The complete hybrid identification unit 116 determines whether or not the query has been extracted (step S203). If extraction is not possible (if “No” in step S203), the complete hybrid identification unit 116 ends the complete hybrid identification process.

  When the query can be extracted (in the case of “Yes” in step S203), the complete hybrid identification unit 116 matches the end position (end position 1336 on the fragment) of the similar part of the base sequence of the query. It is determined whether or not it is the probe end position (end position 1338 on the probe) (step S204).

  If it is the probe end position (“Yes” in step S204), the complete hybrid identification unit 116 stores the searched series of queries as a complete hybrid in a predetermined area of the storage unit 130 (step S205). ). Then, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 returns the control to step S202.

  If it is not the end position of the probe (in the case of “No” in step S204), the complete hybrid identification unit 116 determines that the end position of the similar part of the matched part data of the query (that is, the start position 1336 on the fragment) It is determined whether or not it is the end position of the matching partial data (that is, the last position of the fragment) (step S206). If it is not the end position of the matching partial data, the matching partial data searched in step S206 and Reselects another matching portion data as a query (step S207), and returns control to step S204. If it is the end position of the matching part data, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 searches for the matching part data starting from the position next to the end position of the query (step S208). At this time, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 further determines that the start position of the similar portion of the matched portion data (that is, the start position 1335 on the fragment) is the start position of the matched portion data (that is, the start position of the fragment). Only target fragments (that is, including completely matched partial data) are extracted.

  Then, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 determines whether there is matching partial data hit as a result of the search (step S209). If there is no matching part data hit (in the case of “No” in step S209), the complete hybrid identification unit 116 returns the control to step S202.

  When there is a hit matching part data (“Yes” in step S209), the complete hybrid identification unit 116 extracts one hit matching part data as a query (step S210). Then, the complete hybrid identification unit 116 returns the control to step S204.

  The above is the flow of the complete hybrid identification process. According to the complete hybrid identification process, the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 combines all or one of a plurality of pieces of coincidence portion data (similar portion includes a completely coincident portion fragment covering the entire fragment length) from the start position to the end position of the probe. A base sequence having a degree of similarity greater than or equal to a predetermined value can be identified. That is, even if the base fragment length of the target fragment is short, the accuracy of virtual hybridization can be maintained to a certain degree. In addition, the complete hybrid identification process is not limited to the above. For example, when a plurality of target fragments having similar portions overlapping with respect to a portion of similar portions on the probe are combined, a base sequence that completely matches the probe is identified as a complete hybrid. You may do it. By doing so, it is possible to allow complete hybridization by a plurality of target fragments in which a part of similar parts overlap (that is, there are overlapping parts).

  This point will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a target counting method in the virtual hybridization process in the present embodiment.

  In this embodiment, three types of target counting methods are assumed. The first is the counting method 501 in units of target fragments as described above. This is a method of counting in units of hybridized target fragments, that is, a method of simply counting the number of target fragments containing similar parts. The second is the counting method 502 in the linear connection unit as described above. This is a method of counting the number of sets of a plurality of target fragments in which similar parts of target fragments are connected without gaps. For example, if similar parts of three target fragments are connected without a gap, and if they are similar to a probe, a set of the three target fragments is counted. The third is the counting method 503 in the unit of connection as described above. This is a method of counting the number of sets of a plurality of target fragments in which a part of similar parts of a plurality of target fragments are linked together. This is different from the counting method 502 in the unit of linear connection, and is a method of counting even a pair in which similar parts partially overlap when connecting target fragments. That is, it can be said that the counting method 502 in the unit of linear connection is a counting method that allows some errors.

  Next, a flow of target comparison processing performed by the nucleic acid information processing device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing target comparison processing. The target comparison process is started after the virtual hybridization process because the process is performed using the result of the virtual hybridization process. Alternatively, it is started when a request for execution of the complete hybrid identification process via a Web browser or the like is received via a network from a client terminal such as a PC (not shown).

  First, the input processing unit 111 accepts designation of two virtual hybridization results using the same probe set (step S301). Specifically, the input processing unit 111 designates two hybrid hybridization results using the same probe set, that is, the designation of the hybridization result storage unit 134 of different target fragment groups obtained by performing virtual hybridization on the same probe group. Accept.

  The fragment comparison unit 117 extracts the received virtual hybridization result information (step S302). Specifically, the fragment comparison unit 117 reads the received information from the two hybridization result storage units 134.

  Then, the fragment comparison unit 117 identifies the difference in the virtual hybridization result for each identical probe (step S303). Specifically, the fragment comparison unit 117 specifies the number of cluster members for each common probe and subtracts the other from one to obtain the difference.

  The fragment comparison unit 117 specifies the ratio of the virtual hybridization results for each identical probe (step S304). Specifically, the fragment comparison unit 117 specifies the number of cluster members for each common probe, and obtains the ratio of one to the other.

  The output processing unit 112 outputs the difference and ratio of the virtual hybridization result for each identical probe (step S305). Specifically, the output processing unit 112 outputs the difference and the ratio of the number of cluster members obtained in step S304 and step S305 for the common probe.

  Further, the output processing unit 112 outputs the virtual hybridization results arranged in the order of the ratio for each probe (step S306). Specifically, the output processing unit 112 outputs common probes arranged in descending order of the ratio of the number of cluster members. Of course, the output processing unit 112 may output the data by arranging them in ascending order of the ratio of the number of cluster members.

  The above is the flow of the target comparison process. According to the target comparison process, it is possible to easily compare components between two targets. In the target comparison process, a plurality of similar base sequences may be used in any combination of virtual hybridization results, imported DNA chip experimental data, or a combination of virtual hybridization results and DNA chip experimental data. The frequency analysis results can be compared. As described above, the result of the virtual hybridization process is information obtained by numerical data such as the number of fragments for each probe, and the result of the DNA chip experiment data is a result of obtaining a relative value of the fluorescence intensity of the fluorescent dye. Because of this, it is difficult to simply compare the two. Therefore, in the target comparison process, the fragment comparison unit 117 calculates the ratio of the count value for each probe with respect to the total number of fragments for the virtual hybridization result, and the result of the DNA chip experiment data indicates the fluorescence intensity of the entire chip. Alternatively, the ratio of the fluorescence intensity for each probe may be obtained and compared.

  The first embodiment according to the present invention has been described above. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the probe base sequence and the target base sequence can be virtually hybridized. In addition, a cluster can be formed from the target base sequence by clustering, and a probe base sequence can be created based on the cluster. In addition, the results of hybridization to the same probe can be compared to show the difference. For example, for target fragments extracted from seawater collected at different times in the same sea area, changes in the number of cluster members for the same probe can be output. This can show changes over time in the structure of nucleic acid base sequences contained in the same sea area, so for example, statistics of changes in specific components are taken to predict signs of occurrence of a predetermined abnormality (red tide, etc.) In particular, it can be used.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the base sequences of all nucleic acids to be analyzed are determined, and the analysis of the types and frequencies of the nucleic acid base sequences contained in the material is all performed on the computer. By performing the analysis, it is not necessary to obtain the base sequence information of the target fragment again at the time of the next analysis, unlike the case where the frequency analysis of similar base sequences is performed by an experiment using a DNA microarray.

  In addition, there is a possibility that an experimental error will occur in the process of determining the base sequence, but since there is no error in the frequency analysis of similar base sequences based on the determined base sequence information, the frequency analysis of similar base sequences obtained by virtual hybridization As long as a combination of the same list of probe base sequences and a set of base sequences of target fragments is used, highly accurate data with 100% reproducibility can be obtained.

  In addition, in the frequency analysis of similar base sequences by experiments using DNA microarrays, the GC content rate and sequence characteristics of probe DNA differ individually, so the degree of similarity in actual hybridization is different for each probe even within the same microarray. It is different and it is very difficult to correct the difference. However, by performing all of the virtual hybridization only by information analysis on a computer, as described above, the degree of similarity between the probe base sequence and the base sequence of the target nucleic acid fragment can be determined using the target fragment relative to the entire probe base sequence. The coincidence rate of the base sequence and / or the length of the coincident base sequence of the base sequence of the target fragment with respect to the probe base sequence can be defined by any fixed numerical value.

  In addition, complete hypothetical hybridization is obtained only when a result having a similarity of a predetermined level or more over the entire probe base sequence is obtained by joining nucleic acid fragments contained in one or more targets. By analyzing the frequency as positive and analyzing the frequency, the degree of similarity to the probe base sequence can be increased and analyzed.

  Of these, the analysis of whether or not nucleic acid fragments contained in multiple targets that have similarities across the entire probe base sequence can be joined is a complex process, so it has been an experiment in the past. However, this can be easily done. For example, such an analysis technique is very effective when analyzing the type and frequency of a nucleic acid contained in a target having a certain degree of similarity over a specific gene or region.

  In addition, the base sequence of the target fragment is unknown in experiments using a DNA microarray, but in the analysis using a digital DNA chip, the entire base sequence of all target fragments is determined at the stage of preparation work. A list of probe base sequences can be created any number of times from a list of base sequences under arbitrary conditions. Therefore, if they are used, virtual hybridization can be performed any number of times for a list of new probe sequences that are always 100% reproducible. This is because the experiment using a DNA microarray consumes a target nucleic acid for each experiment, so there is a limit to the number of times that an experiment using a DNA microarray having a new probe base sequence can be performed. It is.

  In addition, clustering is performed by sequentially analyzing the presence or absence of a predetermined degree of similarity to the reference nucleic acid fragment one fragment at a time. The time required for clustering can be greatly reduced because the number of operations for determining the presence or absence of similarity for clustering can be greatly reduced rather than determining the presence or absence of similarity between nucleic acid fragment base sequences beyond a predetermined value. The computer capacity required for clustering can be reduced.

  Further, when classifying clusters, the upper limit of the number of clusters can be arbitrarily determined with the number of fragments included in the target as the maximum value. The size of the cluster can be adjusted depending on how the upper limit is determined. As a result, for example, when this cluster classification method is used for metagenomic analysis, classification is performed by determining the upper limit of the number of clusters, so that the classification level of the cluster is the size of the cluster corresponding to the classification of the species, the classification of the genus It is possible to adjust the size of the cluster corresponding to the degree of the class, the size of the cluster corresponding to the degree of the classification of the family, and the like, and the summary of the classification result of the analysis target becomes easy to understand.

  Further, if a list of probe base sequences is created from a list of base sequences of nucleic acid fragments included in the target under arbitrary conditions, a new list of probe base sequences can be quickly created with a computer having a small capacity.

  In addition, as described above, the types and frequencies of nucleic acids contained in a plurality of targets are analyzed by virtual hybridization using the same list of probe base sequences, and the number of cluster members for each probe is determined between the plurality of targets. By comparing and extracting clusters with different numbers of clusters and members between targets, all the information analyzed by virtual hybridization can be analyzed with 100% reproducibility for differences in the types and frequencies of nucleic acids between targets. This compensates for the drawback that the reproducibility of the result of the hybridization and the comparison data between a plurality of targets derived therefrom cannot be made 100% in the analysis by the experiment using the DNA microarray.

  In addition, if a method for comparing and analyzing the types and frequencies of nucleic acids contained in multiple targets by virtual hybridization is used for analyzing targets collected in time series, the number of cluster members per probe with 100% reproducibility. Therefore, the accuracy of grasping the current state of such changes and predicting future trends can be improved as compared with the analysis by the DNA microarray.

  The analysis using the digital DNA chip can also be used for analysis of individual organisms, parts, tissues, cells, or combinations thereof. Furthermore, the digital DNA chip is easy to integrate because a list of base sequences of all nucleic acid fragments contained in the target is prepared for all targets. Therefore, it is possible to perform a digital DNA chip analysis at a new step by integrating the analysis results, such as integrating analysis results of a plurality of cells and re-analyzing as a tissue or site.

  Moreover, the comparison of the analysis results by the digital DNA chip can be used for any analysis of a plurality of living organisms, sites, tissues, cells, and mixtures thereof. Also in this case, the result of the comparative analysis is 100% reproducibility.

  The comparison between the analysis results of the digital DNA chip can be used for any analysis of liquid, solid, or gas containing a biological material including a plurality of living organisms, sites, tissues, cells, and mixtures thereof. For example, structural analysis of microbial populations living in seawater in a specific sea area and analysis of changes thereof apply. Also in this case, the result of the comparative analysis is 100% reproducibility.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described concretely based on embodiment, it is not limited to this, A various change is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the similarity analysis process is performed by an existing technique such as BLAST software, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the similarity analysis may be performed using another algorithm capable of performing the similarity analysis. By doing so, more flexible analysis can be performed. In the above embodiment, the analysis result of the similarity and the result of the virtual hybridization process are mainly stored in a database or the like. The result may be displayed. By doing so, it becomes possible to visually check the progress of the process, and it becomes easy to predict the time required until the end of the process.

  Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 is an apparatus having dedicated hardware, but is not limited thereto, and may be implemented in, for example, a sequencer that reads genetic information. By doing in this way, hardware equipment can be simplified.

  In addition, the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 in the above-described embodiment is not only a transaction target as a device, but can also be a transaction target in units of program parts that realize the operation of the device.

  Below, the Example concerning this invention is described concretely. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

  In this example, the base sequence of microbial DNA in seawater is determined by a DNA sequencer, a list of probe base sequences is created by clustering using the information, and all bases of microbial DNA in seawater determined by the DNA sequencer are used. Analysis was performed by performing virtual hybridization between the sequence and the list of probe base sequences. In addition, comparison was made of the results of virtual hybridization of two sets of target fragments of microbial DNA in seawater to digital DNA chips each named “Y022L08_C10000_chip”.

  First, work was performed to obtain target base sequence data from the base sequences of the DNA of all microorganisms present in seawater in a specific sea area. Water DNA Isolation Kit (manufactured by MO BIO Laboratories, Inc.) from about 21 liters of seawater collected at the coast near Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama and filtered with glass fiber filter paper (manufactured by Whatman, binder-free, pore size 0.7 μm) 20 μg of genomic DNA was extracted using an UltraClean with 0.22 μm Water Filter kit).

  This genomic DNA solution is concentrated about 3 times using Microcon YM-100 (Millipore), and Ribonuclease (DNase free) Solution (Nippon Gene) at a final concentration of 10 μg / ml at room temperature. RNA digestion was performed for 1 hour.

  Next, Phenol / Chloroform / Isoamyl alcohol (25: 24: 1, manufactured by Nippon Gene) was added to the genomic DNA solution in an equal amount and slowly mixed at room temperature for 5 minutes. The solution layer was separated by centrifuging for 5 minutes, and the operation of recovering the aqueous layer solution was performed twice. An equal amount of chloroform (special grade reagent manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was added to this aqueous layer solution, and after slowly mixing at room temperature for 5 minutes, the solution layer was centrifuged at 20,400 g at 20 ° C. for 5 minutes in a micro high speed centrifuge. The operation of separating and recovering the aqueous layer solution was performed twice.

  To this aqueous layer solution, 3M Sodium Acetate (Nippon Gene) was added and mixed to a final concentration of 0.2M, and ethanol (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, reagent special grade, 99.5%) was further added to the aqueous layer solution. Two times the amount was added and ethanol precipitation was performed at −20 ° C. for 2 hours. This was centrifuged at 20,400 g at 4 ° C. for 20 minutes in a micro high-speed centrifuge to recover genomic DNA, and ethanol (made by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, reagent special grade, 99.5%) was used as a distributed water (Deionized) manufactured by Nippon Gene. , Sterile) with 500 μl of a solution diluted to a final concentration of 70% and dried.

  The obtained genomic DNA was dissolved in 100 μl of TE (Nippon Gene, pH 8.0) to obtain 5 μg of genomic DNA. Of these, 500 ng was used, and a target for base sequence determination was prepared according to the manual for the sequencer GS FLX Titanium of Roche Diagnostics, and the bases of all DNA fragments contained in this target were prepared using GS FLX Titanium. The sequence was determined. The base sequence was divided into two sections for the entire sampler analysis of the sequencer. GAC. 454Reads. fna and 2. GAC. 454Reads. It was named fna. The combination of these is the maximum sequence result for one batch using GS FLX titanium.

  As a result, as a base sequence satisfying the quality of the base sequence recommended by Roche Diagnostics Co., Ltd. GAC. 454Reads. 1. fna, base sequence data of 293,720,669 bases for 661,821 fragments; GAC. 454Reads. In fna, base sequence data of 261,548,803 bases for 619,241 fragments and a base sequence of 1,281,062 total fragments and 555,269,472 bases in total were obtained.

  In order to analyze this data with the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 using a digital DNA chip, the data is imported into the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100, and in order to create a list of probe base sequences for virtual hybridization, Using only the data with 100 or more bases in one fragment, clustering processing was performed by the BLAST method, and probe generation processing was performed. The set of probe base sequences can be created by this method because base sequence data of all nucleic acids contained in the target exists, which is a great advantage of the analysis method using a digital DNA chip.

  The output in the middle of clustering is illustrated in FIGS. First, 1. GAC. 454Reads. fna and 2. GAC. 454Reads. The base sequences of 551, 980, 508 bases, 1,235, 592 fragments in combination with fna were clustered with the goal of 10,000 clusters, and the results in Table 200 shown in FIG. 17 were obtained.

  The table 200 includes display target items of the target fragment group 201, item 202, and data 203. The number of nucleic acid fragments 211, the total number of bases 212, the shortest nucleic acid fragment chain length 213, the longest nucleic acid fragment chain length 214, the average nucleic acid fragment chain length 215, method 216 as a clustering condition, target cluster number 217, iterative clustering number 218, transition of similarity threshold and number of clusters 219 to 221, cluster file name 222, cluster number 223, representative sequence chain length minimum 224, representative The maximum sequence chain length 225, the average representative sequence chain length 226, etc. are displayed. For each display item, the cluster control unit 118 acquires a predetermined value and causes the output processing unit 112 to display it.

  In this example, the E-value threshold was first set to 1.0E-30 and clustering was performed using the BLAST method. The number of clusters obtained was 482,014. Thus, cluster representative sequences were clustered by raising the threshold of E-value to 1.0E-20. As a result, the number of clusters obtained was 445,858. Since this is higher than the target upper limit of 10,000, clustering was repeated after lowering the E-value threshold to 1.0E-10, 1.0E + 00, and further 1.0E + 01. However, the number of clusters obtained was 29,463, which was not less than the target upper limit. Therefore, the value of E-value was fixed to 1.0E + 01, and clustering was repeated until the obtained cluster was 10,000 or less. A total of 8,224 clusters were obtained by clustering a total of 6 times, and the cluster set of the clustering result was named “Y022L08_C10000”.

  The clusters included in this cluster set are shown in a table 250 that lists the outline of each cluster name 252 shown in FIG. The table 250 includes a cluster name 252, a representative sequence chain length 253, and a cluster sequence number 254 for each cluster ID 251. Therefore, the representative base sequence chain length 253 and the number of fragments belonging to each cluster (the number in the column of the number of cluster sequences 254, which corresponds to the number of binding fragments) can be listed. In this embodiment, since there are many clusters, only a part of the table 250 is displayed in FIG.

  Next, all the representative base sequences of the above cluster set “Y022L08_C10000” are registered as a set of probe base sequences for virtual hybridization in a file of a digital DNA chip named “Y022L08_C10000_chip”, and the arrangement of two-dimensional virtual probes It was determined. FIG. 19 shows a probe base sequence virtual arrangement list 260 as a result. The probe base sequence virtual arrangement list 260 includes information that is substantially the same as the contents of the probe storage unit 132.

  The probe base sequence virtual arrangement list 260 virtually indicates a position where the probe base sequence “Y022L08_C10000_chip” is virtually arranged in a rectangular shape on a flat DNA chip substrate. That is, the positions of 8,224 types of probe base sequences are first divided into 24 rows and 4 columns of blocks, and the positions within the blocks are further divided into 8 rows and 12 columns and specified. In this example, since the number of probe base sequences is large, only a part of the table is shown in FIG.

  Detailed information on the base sequences of the probes virtually arranged two-dimensionally is displayed as detailed information 270 for each probe as illustrated in FIG. The detailed information 270 includes, for each probe ID 271 that identifies a probe, a probe name 272 that is the name of the probe, a cluster sequence number 273 that is the number of base sequences of the cluster to which the probe belongs, and a representative that is the sequence chain length of the probe. The sequence chain length 274 and the representative base sequence 275 which is the base sequence of the probe are included.

  Next, from the base sequence data set which is the target fragment stored in the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100, 1. GAC. 454Reads. fna and 2. GAC. 454Reads. Two files of fna were selected, and virtual hybridization between a data set obtained by combining both files and “Y022L08_C10000_chip” was performed by setting the E-value threshold to 1.0E.

  The obtained virtual hybridization result file is named “Y022L08_C10000_chip_vs_454 seawater data” and displayed in two formats as shown in FIG. 21 and FIG. The virtual hybridization result table 280 of FIG. 21 displays “Y022L08_C10000_chip_vs_454 seawater data” as a table of the number of binding fragments for each probe. The virtual hybridization result table 280 includes a virtual hybridization file name 281, a probe ID 282, a probe name 283, a block 284 for specifying the position of the probe on the digital DNA chip, and a position in the block. Spot 285 and a bound fragment number 286, which is the number of fragments similar to the probe. In this example, since there are many probe base sequences, only a part of the table is displayed.

  Further, an image 300 of “virtual hybridization image” in FIG. 22 is a pseudo-image display of this result in accordance with the image image of the DNA microarray. In the image 300, the probes in the probe sequence list “Y022L08_C10000_chip” are displayed from the top to the bottom of FIG. 22 in order from the probe base sequence with the smallest probe ID number. The brighter the spot, the greater the number of target nucleic acid fragments that are virtually hybridized to the probe base sequence virtually placed at that position. 10,326 target nucleic acid fragments were virtually hybridized to the probe having the largest number of virtual hybridized target fragments.

  In this example, the analysis of the 1: 1 similarity between the target nucleic acid fragment and the probe base sequence in the virtual hybridization is performed brute force, the length of the target fragment is longer than the probe chain length, and the base sequence is extended over the entire probe. Each time a probe with a perfect match was identified, the probe was counted as virtually hybridized. Therefore, each of the different sites in the target nucleic acid fragment is counted a plurality of times as being virtually hybridized with different probes.

  In this example, the time required to create the probe base sequence list “Y022L08_C10000_chip” by clustering using the base sequence data of the microorganisms in seawater imported to the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 is Xeon X5520 as the CPU. It is about 30 hours using a grid computer composed of five computers each having two quad cores 2.26 GHz and having a RAM memory of 8 GB, and “Y022L08_C10000_chip” and 1. GAC. 454Reads. fna and 2. GAC. 454Reads. The total time required for virtual hybridization with the file obtained by combining the two files of fna was about 30 minutes on the same computer.

  In an experiment using a DNA chip, it is necessary to chemically synthesize all the probe DNAs according to the list after creating a list of probe base sequences, and fix them on the DNA chip substrate or its material. The work usually requires several days. On the other hand, in the virtual hybridization of the present embodiment, only by creating a list of probe base sequences, the data can be used as it is for virtual hybridization, and the labor and time required for preparing a DNA chip are unnecessary. In addition, compared with the case where hybridization by experiments using a DNA chip usually takes about one night, the time required for virtual hybridization by information processing using a computer is only about 30 minutes.

  Next, 1. GAC. 454Reads. fna and 2. GAC. 454Reads. The resulting file seawater 20101217_454 file 1 and seawater 20101217_454 file 2 obtained by virtually hybridizing the two target fragment groups of fna to the probe group “Y022L08_C10000_chip”, respectively, the number of target fragments virtually hybridized to the same probe Are compared and displayed as shown in the summary table 400 of FIG. The summary table 400 includes an item 401, a file number 402, a virtual hybrid file name 403, file creation source data 404, and a frequency comparison probe number 405. This comparative analysis took only 10 minutes.

  FIG. 24 shows a result display screen 410 in which the results are rearranged in the order of probes having the largest number of virtual hybridization fragments in the seawater 20101217_454 file 1. The result display screen 410 includes a probe ID 411, a block 412, a spot 413, a virtual hybridization fragment number 414 similar to the probe, a frequency difference 415 between files, and a frequency ratio 416 between files. Here, the inter-file frequency ratio 416 is a relative value after normalizing the number of virtual hybridization fragments 414 for each probe in the two data files for correction between the two data of the seawater 20101217_454 file 1 and the seawater 20101217_454 file 2. And the ratio of the relative values for each probe is obtained. In this example, since the number of probe base sequences is large, only a part of the screen is displayed in FIG. In the result display screen 410, as shown in the second column from the right end of FIG. 24 (inter-file frequency difference 415), the difference between the numbers of virtual hybridization fragments for each probe in the two virtual hybridization results is shown. The frequency difference and the inter-file frequency ratio (here, the second decimal point), which is the ratio of the number of virtual hybridization fragments for each probe in the two virtual hybridization results as shown in the rightmost column (inter-file frequency ratio 416). Is displayed).

  In the result display screen 410, by rearranging the data in descending order of frequency difference, it is possible to detect a probe fragment having a large difference in the number of existing two virtual hybridization results. In addition, as shown in the result display screen 420 in FIG. 25, if the data is rearranged and displayed again in descending order of the inter-file frequency ratio, probe fragments having a large ratio of existing numbers can be detected from the two virtual hybridization results. The result display screen 420 is basically the same as the result display screen 410 of FIG. 24 except that an ascending order number 421 for making the results easier to see is added and the middle part of the entire table is displayed. In this example, since the number of probe base sequences is large, only a part of the result display screen 420 is displayed in FIG.

  As a comparison file, for example, a virtual hybridization result obtained with a target fragment group of seawater at a certain date and time at point A and a virtual hybridization result obtained with a target fragment group of seawater at another date and time at the same point A If selected, it can be said that it is possible to extract the base sequence of the probe fragment whose abundance and ratio change greatly with the time transition of the point A. Further, if target fragments obtained at different points are compared with each other, it can be said that the base sequences of probe fragments whose abundance varies greatly depending on the points can be extracted. In addition, when comparing the number of virtual hybridization fragments between multiple target fragments with the frequency difference or frequency ratio, for example, if the numerical value is corrected as a parameter such as the ratio of the amount of DNA extracted from seawater per unit volume, more It is thought that an accurate comparison can be made.

  As described above, the base sequence information is analyzed on the computer by the nucleic acid information processing apparatus 100 using the digital DNA chip created according to the embodiment of the present invention, so that time and labor can be greatly saved, and similar bases can be saved. Sequence frequency analysis could be performed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Import data, 2 ... Processing function, 3 ... Database, 4 ... Output data, 100 ... Nucleic acid information processing apparatus, 101 ... Input device, 102 ... External storage Device 103, arithmetic unit 104, main storage device 105, communication device 106, output device 107, bus 110, control unit 130, storage unit 140 ... output display unit, 150 ... input reception unit, 160 ... communication processing unit

Claims (22)

A storage unit that stores first base sequence information including information on a plurality of base sequences and second base sequence information including information on the plurality of base sequences;
Threshold receiving means for receiving information for specifying a similarity threshold;
For the one-to-one combination with the base sequence included in the first base sequence information as the target and the base sequence included in the second base sequence information as the probe fragment, the similarity and the start position and end of the similar portion A hybridization means for specifying the position;
Similar base sequence counting means for counting the number of the targets whose identified similarity is equal to or greater than the threshold for each fragment of the probe, and storing the same in the storage unit;
With
In the process of specifying the similarity and the start position and the end position of the similar part, the hybridization means specifies a combination in which all of the base sequences of one of the probe fragments are associated with each other by one or a plurality of the targets. And
The similar base sequence counting means counts the number of fragments of the probe associated with the one or more targets without omission, and stores them in the storage unit,
The threshold acceptance means determines whether or not the combination of each target pair in the fragment of the target and the probe is a combination to form a complementary strand, and whether or not it is a combination to form a complementary strand. The threshold of similarity is defined by the number of
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus characterized by that. The nucleic acid information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The hybridization means, when a series of base sequences contained in the base sequence of the target corresponds to a series of base sequences contained in the base sequence of the probe fragment, Similar to the probe fragment,
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus characterized by that. The nucleic acid information processing device according to claim 1 or 2,
The similar base sequence counting means includes:
a) The similarity is equal to or higher than the threshold, and the number of the targets corresponding to the portion from the start position to the end position of the probe fragment is similar to the base sequence of the probe fragment. ,
b) When two or more similar parts of the target having the similarity equal to or higher than the threshold are linked, the number of sets of binding targets that form a base sequence corresponding to the base sequence of the fragment of the probe;
For each fragment of the probe and store in the storage unit,
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus characterized by that. The nucleic acid information processing device according to claim 3,
The similar base sequence counting means relates to the binding target,
For the target that is the tip of the connection, the end position of the similar part of the target is the end position of the target,
The target at the rear end of the connection is that the start position of the similar part of the target is the start position of the target,
The target connected between the target that is the leading end of the connection and the target that is the rear end, the start position and end position of the similar part of the target are the start position and end position of the target,
Each of the targets that satisfy the above is identified and connected, and specified as a set of the combined targets.
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus characterized by that. The nucleic acid information processing device according to claim 3,
The similar base sequence counting means includes:
Among the targets whose similarity is equal to or greater than the threshold, for the target whose portion from the start position to the end position of the target base sequence is a similar portion, the target whose start position is the position next to the end position of the similar portion Multiple
A target having a similar part in which the start position of the similar part of the target is the start position of the fragment of the probe is defined as the tip of the connection;
Counting the number of sets of binding targets for each probe fragment, with the target having a similar part whose end position of the similar part of the target is the end position of the fragment of the probe as the rear end of the connection;
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus characterized by that. The nucleic acid information processing device according to claim 4 or 5,
The similar base sequence counting means includes:
In the connection process, even if similar parts of the target to be connected overlap,
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus characterized by that. The nucleic acid information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising:
Result designation accepting means for accepting designation of two different result information obtained as a result of hybridization with the same second base sequence information for two different first base sequence information;
Output means for outputting a difference in the number of targets for fragments of the same probe included in the two specified result information;
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus comprising: The nucleic acid information processing device according to claim 7,
One of the two different first base sequence information is base sequence information obtained from a predetermined target obtained at a different time from the other.
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus characterized by that. The nucleic acid information processing device according to claim 8,
The predetermined object is a mixture of biological materials including a plurality of biological individuals, sites, tissues, cells, and mixtures thereof.
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus characterized by that. The nucleic acid information processing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein
The predetermined object is an object collected at a predetermined geographical location;
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus characterized by that. A nucleic acid information processing method using a nucleic acid information processing apparatus,
The nucleic acid information processing apparatus comprises:
A storage unit that stores first base sequence information including information on a plurality of base sequences and second base sequence information including information on a plurality of base sequences, and a processing unit,
The processor is
A threshold acceptance step for accepting information for identifying a threshold of similarity;
For the one-to-one combination with the base sequence included in the first base sequence information as the target and the base sequence included in the second base sequence information as the probe fragment, the similarity and the start position and end of the similar portion Performing a hybridization step for identifying a position;
A similar base sequence counting step of counting the number of the targets for which the identified similarity is equal to or greater than the threshold for each fragment of the probe, and storing the same in the storage unit;
Carried out
In the hybridization step, in the process of specifying the similarity and the start position and end position of the similar portion, a combination in which all of the base sequences of one of the probe fragments are associated with one or more of the targets without omission Identify
In the similar base sequence counting step, the number of fragments of the probe correlated without loss by the one or more targets is counted, and stored in the storage unit,
In the threshold acceptance step, it is determined whether there is a match or mismatch for each base pair in the fragment of the target and the probe, and a combination that should form a complementary strand, over the entire fragment of the probe, and the match in the probe fragment The threshold of similarity is defined by the number of conditions.
Nucleic acid information processing method characterized by the above. The nucleic acid information processing method according to claim 11,
In the hybridization step, when a series of base sequences contained in the base sequence of the target corresponds to a series of base sequences contained in the base sequence of the fragment of the probe, the base sequence portion of the target is used as the probe. A similar part to the fragment of
Nucleic acid information processing method characterized by the above. The nucleic acid information processing method according to claim 11 or 12,
In the similar base sequence counting step,
a) The similarity is equal to or higher than the threshold, and the number of the targets corresponding to the portion from the start position to the end position of the probe fragment is similar to the base sequence of the probe fragment. ,
b) When two or more similar parts of the target having the similarity equal to or higher than the threshold are linked, the number of sets of binding targets that form a base sequence corresponding to the base sequence of the fragment of the probe;
For each fragment of the probe and store in the storage unit,
Nucleic acid information processing method characterized by the above. The nucleic acid information processing method according to claim 13,
In the similar base sequence counting step, for the binding target,
For the target that is the tip of the connection, the end position of the similar part of the target is the end position of the target,
The target at the rear end of the connection is that the start position of the similar part of the target is the start position of the target,
The target connected between the target that is the leading end of the connection and the target that is the rear end, the start position and end position of the similar part of the target are the start position and end position of the target,
Each of the targets that satisfy the above is identified and connected, and specified as a set of the combined targets.
Nucleic acid information processing method characterized by the above. The nucleic acid information processing method according to claim 13,
In the similar base sequence counting step,
Among the targets whose similarity is equal to or greater than the threshold, for the target whose portion from the start position to the end position of the target base sequence is a similar portion, the target whose start position is the position next to the end position of the similar portion Multiple
A target having a similar part in which the start position of the similar part of the target is the start position of the fragment of the probe is used as the tip of the connection;
Counting the number of sets of binding targets for each probe fragment, with the target having a similar part whose end position of the similar part of the target is the end position of the fragment of the probe as the rear end of the connection;
Nucleic acid information processing method characterized by the above. The nucleic acid information processing method according to claim 14 or 15,
In the similar base sequence counting step,
In the connection process, even if similar parts of the target to be connected overlap,
Nucleic acid information processing method characterized by the above. The nucleic acid information processing method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, further comprising:
A result designation accepting step for accepting designation of two different result information obtained as a result of hybridization with the same second base sequence information for two different first base sequence information;
An output step of outputting a difference in the number of the targets for the same probe fragment included in the two specified result information;
The nucleic acid information processing method characterized by implementing. The nucleic acid information processing method according to claim 17,
One of the two different first base sequence information is base sequence information obtained from a predetermined target obtained at a different time from the other.
Nucleic acid information processing method characterized by the above. The nucleic acid information processing method according to claim 18, comprising:
The predetermined object is a mixture of biological materials including a plurality of biological individuals, sites, tissues, cells, and mixtures thereof.
Nucleic acid information processing method characterized by the above. The nucleic acid information processing method according to claim 18 or 19,
The predetermined object is an object collected at a predetermined geographical location;
Nucleic acid information processing method characterized by the above. The nucleic acid information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
Display means for coloring and displaying a display color according to the number of combinations of the targets associated with the target without omission, for each of the probe fragments arranged in a predetermined order in a two-dimensional planar shape,
A nucleic acid information processing apparatus comprising: The nucleic acid information processing method according to any one of claims 11 to 20,
The nucleic acid information processing apparatus comprises:
A display step of coloring and displaying a display color according to the number of combinations of the targets associated with the target without omission, for each of the probe fragments arranged in a predetermined order in a two-dimensional planar shape,
The nucleic acid information processing method characterized by implementing.