The T cell receptor is the natural receptor of the HLA-peptide complex and interacts directly with MHC molecules, notably their CDR regions.  The goal of this project will be to combine analysis of TCR and HLA in the context of disease, vaccination/immune alterations and populations.  We would expect samples to be CD4 or CD8 T cells and to have full HLA class I and class II typing by NGS.

Required NGS HLA loci: HLA-A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQB, HLA-DQA, DPA, DPB
Optional NGS HLA Loci: MICA, MICB

The Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) is one of the most polymorphic gene systems present in the human genome and due to this high polymorphism, the golden standard for typing at the allele level has been and still is sequence based typing. Since sequencing strategies have mainly focused on identification of the peptide binding groove, therefore the majority of HLA alleles lack full length sequence information.

The goal of this project is to extend the sequences of as many incompletely covered HLA alleles as possible by full length unambiguous Sanger Sequencing. Although NGS approaches are currently implemented in several laboratories, many… Read More

The application of NGS-HLA typing to screen susceptibility to certain diseases could be useful to further refine and pinpoint the causative HLA polymorphism. One of the goals of the 17th IHIWS disease component is to collect NGS HLA-disease association data conducted worldwide on autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, cancers, and identify additional genetic determinants predisposing to disease. Investigators may submit both family and population based NGS HLA data or samples only.

Anthropological studies by NGS of full-length HLA genes to confirm and further characterize alleles and haplotypes identified in unrelated subjects from populations of interest. Subjects should be previously HLA typed at any level (serology, DNA). Investigators may submit samples only or samples and NGS data.

Project leader: Harriet Noreen (harrietnoreen@hotmail.com)
Project Leader: Steven J Mack (sjmack@chori.org)

Anthropological study of families by NGS of full-length HLA genes to determine haplotype segregation in multiple populations. Samples from family quartets consisting of two parents and at least two non-HLA identical children or family trios consisting of one parent and at least two non-HLA identical children are required. The families should be previously HLA typed at any level (serology, DNA). Investigators may submit samples only or samples and NGS data.

Project Leader: Medhat Askar (Medhat.Askar@BSWHealth.org)
Kazutoyo Osoegawa, PhD (kazutoyo@stanford.edu)

NGS of full-length HLA genes typing to confirm and further characterize alleles identified as unusual haplotypes and compare the frequency of these to haplotypes identified from the family studies project in multiple populations. The subjects and families should be previously HLA typed at any level (serology, DNA).

Project leader: Harriet Noreen (harrietnoreen@hotmail.com)

Anthropological NGS studies to confirm and further characterize HLA alleles identified by non- NGS typing methods as novel or rare/very rare (Non-CWD based on Mack et al 2013). Samples from subjects carrying alleles of interest and when available, samples from family quartets consisting of two parents and at least two non-HLA identical children or family trios consisting of one parent and at least two non-HLA identical children are required.

Project leader: Medhat Askar (Medhat.Askar@BSWHealth.org)
Derek Middleton, PhD (Derek.Middleton@rlbuht.nhs.uk)

NGS of full-length HLA genes typing of a reference panel of Cell Lines collected historically by the previous workshops. The panels will consist of various number of Cell lines depending on the specific objective, such as performance validation for the 17th IHIWS or for accreditation by the various certification boards.

Project leader: Tami Vayntrub (Tamara.Vayntrub@stanford.edu)