Polymorphism of human HLA-DRB1 antigens generated by genetic exchange between DR2 (DRB1*15011) and DR6 (DRB1*1405) alleles:: a novel DRB1 allele (DRB1*1437) identified in a Paiwan tribe member of Taiwan

We report herein the identification of a new DRB1 allele using sequence-based typing (SBT). This novel allele, HLA-DRB1 *1437, was found in an aboriginal individual from the Paiwan tribe in the southern part of Taiwan. This individual was typed by SET method as having an HLA genotype of HLA-A*02021/0203, HLA-B*5011/3902. HLA-DRB1*11011/1437, HLA-DRB3*0202/0202, and HLA-DPB1*0501/1301. This new allele differs from DRB1*1309 in the 5'-end nucleotide sequence of polymorphic exon 2 at codon 16 (CAT --> CAA; H16Q), codon 37 (AAC --> TTC; R37F), codon 47 (TTC --> TAC; F47Y), and codon 58 (GCC --> GCT; both specify alanine), By sequence comparison, it was found that this new allele has a 5'-end sequence (from amino acid residues 7 to 66) identical to that found in the DRB1*1405 allele and a 3'-end sequence (from amino acid residues 58 to 94) identical to that found in the DRB1*15011 allele, Both DRB1*1405 and DRB1*15011 alleles have been identified among the Paiwan members.