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Title: UPDATED NOMENCLATURE FOR THE CHICKEN MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY (B AND RFP-Y) COMPLEX

Author
item MILLER, M - CITY OF HOPE-DUARTE CA
item Bacon, Larry
item Hunt, Henry
item HALA, K - UNIV OF INNSBRUCK-AUSTRIA
item EWALD, S - AUBURN UNIV-AUBURN AL
item KAUFMAN, J - IAH-COMPTON UK
item ZOOROB, RIMA - CNRS-VILLEJUIF FRANCE
item BRILES, W - N.ILLINOIS UNIV-DEKALB IL

Submitted to: Immunogenetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/21/2004
Publication Date: 7/15/2004
Citation: Miller, M.M., Bacon, L.D., Hala, K., Hunt, H.D., Ewald, S.J., Kaufman, J., Zoorob, R., Briles, W.E. 2004. 2004 Nomenclature for the chicken major histocompatibility (B and Y) complex. Immunogenetics. 56:261-279. Available: http://springerlink.metapress.com/app/home/journal.asp?

Interpretive Summary: The nomenclature for the set of genes influencing the chicken's immune response is inadequate and out of date with regard to our current knowledge. This paper represents the collaborative effort of scientists working in the field of chicken immunogenetics to standardize the nomenclature of this important genetic system. The paper describes a nomenclature system that is compatible with previous work in the field and, more importantly, will provide the structure for future scientific discoveries for years to come. The new system corrects several inadequacies inherent in the current systems and categorizes all the known associated antigen presenting genetic systems in chicken lines world wide. The new system also corrects inadequacies of computer data base searching inherent in the current system.

Technical Abstract: The first standard nomenclature for the chicken major histocompatibility (B) complex published in 1982 is no longer adequate for describing chicken MHC variability. Considerable progress has been made in defining the genes that underlie this polymorphism. Allelic sequences for MHC genes are accumulating at an increasing rate without a standard system of nomenclature in place. The recommendations presented here were derived in workshops held during ISAG (International Society of Animal Genetics) and AIRG (Avian Immunology Research Group) meetings. A nomenclature for loci and alleles has been developed that can be applied to existing and newly defined haplotypes including recombinant haplotypes. A list of the current standard B haplotypes is provided with corresponding reference stock, allele designations, and GenBank numbers for corresponding MHC class I and class II' sequences.