def _samples_calls(variant_collection, dataset_id, samples):
    """Count all allele calls for a dataset in variants collection

    Accepts:
        variant_collection(pymongo.database.Database.Collection)
        dataset_id(str): id of dataset to be updated
        samples(list): list of dataset samples
    Returns:
        allele_count(int)
    """
    allele_count = 0

    for sample in samples:
        pipe = [
            {
                "$group": {
                    "_id": None,
                    "alleles": {"$sum": f"$datasetIds.{dataset_id}.samples.{sample}.allele_count"},
                }
            }
        ]
        aggregate_res = variant_collection.aggregate(pipeline=pipe)
        for res in aggregate_res:
            allele_count += res.get("alleles")

    return allele_count