Description of a new HLA-DRB1 allele, DRB1*1139

We report the identification of a novel DRB1*11 using sequence-based typing . This new allele, officially named DRB1*1139, was detected while performin g HLA-DRB1 high-resolution typing of a volunteer bone marrow donor. DRB1*11 39 is identical to DRB1*11011 except at codon 51 (ACG --> AGG) changing the encoded Threonine to Arginine. The triplet AGG has never been found in any other DRB1 allele. In fact, with standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with sequence specific primers, the presented allele would ha ve been interpreted as DRB1*1101.