The 2024 IPD-MHC database update: a comprehensive resource for major histocompatibility complex studies.

Area of Science:

• Immunogenetics
• Bioinformatics
• Comparative Genomics

Background:

• The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a highly polymorphic genomic region crucial for immune responses.
• Non-human MHC sequences are essential for understanding immune system evolution and function.
• Existing repositories often lack comprehensive data or advanced analytical tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the latest version of the IPD-MHC database, an expanded repository for non-human MHC sequences.
• To introduce new tools for data visualization, comparison, and structural analysis.
• To facilitate the study of MHC evolution and function across diverse species.

Main Methods:

• Manual curation and nomenclature of MHC alleles by the Comparative MHC Nomenclature Committee.
• Inclusion of over 18,000 MHC alleles from 125 species, organized taxonomically.
• Integration of predicted tertiary structures for over 8,000 alleles.
• Development of tools for comparing allele variation at single residue resolution.

Main Results:

• The IPD-MHC database now hosts over 18,000 curated MHC alleles across 125 species and eleven taxonomic groups.
• A new cetacean section (Cetacea Leukocyte Antigens - CeLA) has been added.
• Predicted tertiary structures and comparative visualization tools are now available for thousands of alleles.
• The database links curated nomenclature with advanced analytical capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The updated IPD-MHC database provides a significantly enhanced resource for immunogenetic and evolutionary studies.
• New features support detailed analysis of MHC polymorphism within and between species.
• The repository serves as a critical hub for non-human MHC data, nomenclature, and analysis.