Identification of a novel HLA-DPB1 allele, DPB1*9701, by sequence-based typing

This report describes the identification of a novel DPB1 allele, DPB *9701, found in an Italian Caucasian individual. The new allele was detected by human leukocyte antigen sequence-based typing carried out to investigate the role of genetic factors in determining the outcome of hepatitis C virus infection. DPB1*9701 was identical to DPB1*0501 except for a single-nucleotide substitution at codon 43 (GGG --> TGG). This nucleotide change is a non-synonymous mutation and results in the amino acid substitution glycine (G) --> tryptophan (W). The nucleotide sequence has been deposited in GenBank under the accession number AY033075, and denominated DPB1*9701 by the official World Health Organization Nomenclature Committee.