Identification of new HLA-C alleles by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide typing: Cw*0314 and Cw*1511*

In this article, we report two new human leukocyte antigen-C (HLA-C) alleles, HLA-Cw*0314 and Cw*1511, which were identified during routine tissue typing of donors for the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and Australian Cord Blood Bank. HLA-Cw*0314 shows six codon changes in exon 3 compared to Cw*030401 and shares some sequence homology with Cw*07 alleles. Cw*1511 has two nucleotide changes compared with Cw*150201 in exon 2, both resulting in amino acid changes in the protein sequence.

New HLA-B alleles detected by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide typing: HLA-B*0725, B*0728, and B*3808

Three novel alleles, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*0725, B*0728, and B*3808, were discovered during routine genotyping of samples for the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry and Australian Cord Blood Bank. The new alleles contain amino acid changes in the antigen-binding site of the expressed HLA protein, which may alter the antigen-binding properties of the functional protein.

Detection of a novel HLA-A allele by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide typing: HLA-A*0252

Anew human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I allele, HLA-A*0252, has been found during routine typing of samples for the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry. A*0252 differs from A*020101 at four codon positions, with all the new polymorphisms resulting in an amino acid change. The amino acids involved are located in the antigen-binding region of the HLA protein.

A new HLA-B allele, B*1565, identified in three unrelated samples

Anew human leukocyte antigen-B allele, B*1565, has been identified during routine typing of cord blood samples. Subsequently, two individuals from the same family as the first cord blood sample plus two unrelated Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry samples have been found to carry this novel allele.

Novel HLA-DRB1 alleles revealed by sequencing based typing, DRB1*04053 and DRB1*1143

We report the discovery of two HLA-DRB1 alleles by sequencing based typing (SBT). DRB1*04053 differs from previously reported DRB1 alleles by a single synonymous nucleotide substitution, resulting in a unique polymorphism at codon 93. DRB1*1143 differs from previously identified DRB1 alleles by a single non-synonymous nucleotide substitution, resulting in a polymorphism observed in other DRB1 and DRB3 alleles1.

Six new HLA class I alleles detected by PCR-SSO genotyping

This paper describes six new alleles; A*0240, A*2614, B*3924, B*4425, Cw*0807 and Cw*12023, which were discovered during routine genotyping with sequence specific oligonucleotides (SSO's). Five of the new alleles have changes in residues which belong to the antigen binding site of the HLA protein. These new variants may have altered antigen binding properties and may cause differential immunological responses that could affect transplantation outcome1.

Identification of two new HLA-DRB1 alleles, DRB1*1138 and DRB1*1344

Two new HLA-DRB1 alleles have been identified by sequencing based typing (SBT). HLA-DRB1*1138 and DRB1*1344 were discovered after following up ambiguous results involving unusual alleles after DRB1 generic typing.

Description of a novel HLA-DRB1 allele, DRB1*1207

A new DRB1 allele has been identified during routine HLA-DRB1 generic typing with sequence specific oligonucleotides. The new allele was confirmed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and subsequently sequenced. This showed the novel allele, named HLA-DRB1*1207, was similar in sequence to DRB1*12011, except for codon 69 of exon 2.

Identification of sequence errors in HLA-DRB1*0801 and HLA-DRB1*12011

We report the identification of previously unrecognised errors in the nucleotide sequences of two long established HLA-DRB1 alleles, DRB1*0801 and DRB1*12011. The errors were detected during development of sequencing based typing (SBT) methods for the HLA-DRB1 locus and were confirmed by sequencing cell lines from the 10th International Histocompatibility Workshop (IHW).

PCR-RFLP typing detects new HLA-DRB1 alleles: DRB1*13022, DRB1*1336 and DRB1*1435

It is difficult to resolve all heterozygous combinations of the HLA-DRB1*03, *08, *11, *12, *13 and *14 allele group in a one-step generic HLA-DRB1 typing system. Therefore, it is common to employ a secondary technique utilizing group-specific primers to amplify this group of alleles separately from the other HLA-DRB1, -DRB3, -DRB4 and -DRB5 alleles. This paper describes a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method for broad typing of the HLA-DRB1*03, *08, *11, *12, *13 and *14 alleles which, as well as being time-efficient and cost-effective, has so far allowed the detection of 10 new alleles. The new alleles were identified after following up unusual or novel PCR-RFLP patterns. Of the 10 novel alleles found so far with this method, seven have been described previously while three, DRB1*13022, DRB1*1336 and DRB1*1435, are presented here.

Routine HLA-B genotyping with PCR-sequence-specific oligonucleotides (PCR-SSO) detects eight new alleles: B*0807, B*0809, B*1551, B*3529, B*3532, B*4025, B*5304 and B*5508

This paper describes eight new alleles (B*0807, B*0809, B*1551, B*3529, B*3532, B*4025, B*5304 and B*5508) that have been found by routine HLA-B genotyping with sequence-specific oligonucleotides (SSOs). All of the new alleles have variations which cause changes in residues that occur within antigen binding pockets and T-cell recognition sites of the antigen. The new polymorphisms within these new alleles may affect the nature and specificity of peptide binding and cause differential T-cell activation, which may have an affect in transplantation.

A new HLA-A*02 allele, A*0234, detected by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP)

A novel HLA-A*02 allele, A*0234, was identified in a potential unrelated bone marrow donor typed by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Positive reactions obtained upon testing with PCR-SSP did not fit any known combination of alleles indicating the possible presence of a novel allele. Sequencing of clones from this individual revealed the presence of a novel allele, HLA-A*0234. The sequence of exons 2, 3 and part of exon 4 showed that A*0234 differed from A*02011 by a single nucleotide in exon 2 at position 282 (C to G). The nucleotide substitution results in an amino acid change at residue 70 (Histidine to Glutamine) in the alpha1 domain.

New DRB1* alleles (HLA-DRB1*1135, DRB1*1430 and DRB1*1433) and a confirmatory sequence (DRB1*1133)

Three new DRB1 alleles (DRB1*1135, DRB1*1430 and DRB1*1433) and a confirmatory sequence (DRB1*1133) have been identified after following up unusual or novel polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) patterns during routine typing of the DRB1*03,*08,*11,*12,*13 and *14 allele groups. Of the new alleles found and described in this paper, two alleles were initially detected by the PCR-RFLP method which produced unexpected restriction polymorphism (DRB1*1133 and DRB1*1135) while the remaining two were found after following up rare allele typings from this technique (DRB1*1430 and DRB1*1433).

Confirmation of the detection of HLA-A*0104N in a family: a PCR-SSP reaction for the allelic detection of HLA-A*0104N

The allele A*0104N has been detected in a family with a patient requiring a bone marrow transplant. The allele was found as a consequence of a discrepant result when family members were typed using serology and polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). Serological typing gave an apparent HLA-A 'blank' while PCR-SSP revealed the presence of an A*01 allele in three family members who were serologically negative for A1. Sequencing-based typing (SBT) was then used to establish that the allele was A*0104N. A PCR-SSP reaction was subsequently designed and used for the allelic detection of A*0104N. The study highlights the potential risks involved if molecular technology is used for typing, unless all non-expressed alleles are specifically detected.

New HLA class II alleles in the Indonesian population

This paper describes two new class II alleles of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), DRB1*1431 and DRB3*0303, that have been found in the Indonesian population. In addition, the identification of DRB1*0819 is presented as a confirmatory report.

HLA-DR2 haplotypic diversity in populations of South-East Asia, northern China, Melanesia and Australian aborigines using PCR-RFLP for DRB1, DRB5, DQA1 and DQB1. A novel DRB1 allele: DRB1*16022

The polymorphism of the human leucocyte antigen HLA-DR2 and the heterogeneity of HLA-DR2 class II-related haplotypes (HLA-DRB1-DRB5-DQA1-DQB1) were investigated in four populations of east and south-east Asia (SEA) and five Melanesian populations using TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification-based techniques PCR-RFLP and sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) typing. The haplotype DRB1*1502-DRB5*0101-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0601 was common in Malaysians, Javanese, Thursday Islanders, Madang, Goroka and the Australian Aborigines, while DRB1*16021-DRB5*0101-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0502 was common in the Thai and Thursday Islanders. DRB1*1501-DRB5*0101-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602 was present at a high frequency in Northern Chinese, Goroka, Watut and Australian Aborigines. The study describes four rare or unusual haplotypes: HLA-DRB1*1501-DRB5*0101-DQA1*0101-DQB1*0601, DRB1*1502-DRB5*0101-DQA1*0101-DQB1*0502, DRB1*1502-DRB5*0102-DQA1* 0102-DQB1*0502 and DRB1*1501-DRB5*0101-DQA1*0101/2-DQB1*0503; the latter two were confirmed by segregation in two Javanese families. A new DR2 allele, initially detected by PCR-RFLP and confirmed by DNA sequencing as DRB1*16022 (previously designated DRB1*16Madang), was seen in a Madang individual. A new HLA-DR2 TaqI RFLP subtype, locally designated as DR15U, is also described. This RFLP subtype segregated in a Javanese family and correlated with a typically SEA haplotype, DRB1*1502-DRB5*0102-DQA1*0101-DQB1*0501. The allele HLA-DR16Thai, determined by TaqI DRB RFLP, was found by PCR-RFLP and SSO typing to correlate with a unique SEA haplotype, HLA-DRB1*16021-DRB5*0101-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0502, and was observed in the Thai, Malaysian, Thursday Islander, Javanese and Northern Chinese populations.

Evolution of MHC class I loci in marsupials: characterization of sequences from koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

We demonstrate that koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) MHC class I constitutes a variable multigene family. A total of nine partial exon 2 and 3 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I sequences are presented, including six sequences from at least three loci from one koala. Variation was detected by examination of sequences from a number of individuals and family groups. The koala is the second marsupial species characterized to date, and comparisons reveal approximately 80% similarity with sequences from the red necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus). The latter sequences represent at least two, and probably three, different loci. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that all koala sequences are more related to one another than they are to any of the wallaby loci. This indicates that the koala sequences are probably not orthologous to the wallaby genes, and thus represent a new class I gene family. In addition, marsupial gene families cluster away from human gene families, supporting a different origin of MHC genes for marsupials and eutherians.

Low genetic variability of the koala Phascolarctos cinereus in south-eastern Australia following a severe population bottleneck

Genotyping of koalas at CA-repeat microsatellite loci has revealed significant differences in the levels of allelic diversity (A) and expected heterozygosity (H(E)) between populations from north-eastern and south-eastern Australia. In the 10 populations studied, allelic diversity ranged from 8.0 in the Nowendoc population to 1.7 in the Kangaroo Is. population, and values of H(E) ranged from 0.831 in the Nowendoc population to 0.331 in the Kangaroo Is. population. Data from pooled populations revealed koalas from the north-eastern region had significantly higher levels of allelic diversity (A = 11.5 +/- 1.4) than those from south-eastern Australia (A = 5.3 +/- 1.0). Furthermore significantly higher heterozygosity levels were found in the north-eastern (H(E) = 0.851) vs. the south-eastern (H(E) = 0.436) regions of Australia. Following a near-extinction bottleneck in the 1920s, mainland Victorian and Kangaroo Is. koalas have been involved in an extensive program of relocations. The source populations of the relocated animals were islands in Westernport Bay, which were founded by very few individuals in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The significantly lower levels of variation between south-eastern Australian populations suggests that human intervention has had a severe effect on levels of genetic diversity in this region, and this may have long-term genetic consequences.