Characterization of a new HLA-B39 allele, B*3913, in a Brazilian Caucasian

A panel of samples, previously typed by serology, was retyped using a line probe assay One sample from a Brazilian Caucasian individual was serologica lly typed as B52/B39, but showed an aberrant HLA-B pattern on the diagnosti c strip and was typed as B*52012/B*39new. Further analysis by allele-specif ic amplification and subsequent sequencing of exons 2 and 3 revealed a G(B* 3908)-to-T nucleotide substitution at position 467 (codon 156) resulting in an Arg (B*3908)-to-Leu substitution. Furthermore, the sequence revealed a silent mutation at position 174 (codon 58): a G(B*3908)-to-A nucleotide swi tch. The sequence has been sent to the EMBL databank and the HLA Nomenclatu re Committee, and the allele was named B*3913.