ARS | Publication request: A single nomenclature and associated database for alleles at the MHC class II DRB1 locus of sheep: IPD-MHC-OLA

Submitted to: Immunogenetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 5, 2011
Publication Date: January 5, 2011
Citation: Hoesing, L.M., Ballingall, K.T., Robinson, J., Marsh, S.G., Stear, M. 2011. A single nomenclature and associated database for alleles at the MHC class II DRB1 locus of sheep: IPD-MHC-OLA. Immunogenetics. 139-0039.2011.0137.

Interpretive Summary: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II is an important molecule for an effective immune response to a variety of pathogens. There are many different genes that comprise MHC class II. One specific gene is MHC class II DRB1, and there are numerous forms of this gene within different breeds of sheep. A standard nomenclature and database was developed for MHC class II DRB1 in this manuscript. The Immuno Polymorphism Database (IPD-MHC) has been created and currently accomodates 63 MHC class II DRB1 gene variants. This database forms the basis for examining new MHC class II DRB1 gene variants, and offers information on DRB1 gene variants in distinct breeds of sheep.

Technical Abstract: The development of standardised nomenclatures with associated databases containing reference sequences for alleles at polymorphic loci within the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) has been facilitated by the development of the Immuno Polymorphism Database (IPD-MHC). Recently, included within IPD-MHC is information on allelic diversity within sheep species (IPD-MHC-OLA). Here, we present the first report of progress in populating the sheep IPD-MHC database with alleles at the class II MHC DRB1 locus. The sequence of 63 Ovar-DRB1 alleles within 24 allelic families is now held within the database, each meeting the minimum requirement of a complete second exon. These sequences are derived from a combination of genomic and cDNA based approaches and represent the most extensive collection of validated alleles at the sheep DRB1 locus yet described. While these 63 alleles probably represent only a fraction of the DRB1 allelic diversity in sheep species worldwide we encourage the research community to use the official allelic nomenclature and to contribute allelic sequences to the database via its web-based submission tool. In time, the IPD-MHC-OLA resource will underpin population based MHC genotyping studies and help to simplify meta-analyses of multi-source data from wild and domestic sheep populations.