Mysteries of the Amerindians

Several South, Central and North American Indian populations have been characterized over the past 9 years. A summary is given here. Very few major antigens have been found, namely A2, A9, A28 and Aw31 and B5, B15, Bw16, Bw35 and B40. However, several known splits of these antigens have been identified, and new variants are also likely. Immunogenetic analyses of the Amerindians should be able to provide clues both to the origins of the Amerindian cultures and migrations of early man, and also provide new insights into the antigens and the loci of the MHC.