Definition of MHC Supertypes Through Clustering of MHC Peptide Binding Repertoires

MHC molecules, also known in the human as human leukocyte antigens (HLA), display peptides on antigen presenting cell surfaces for subsequent T cell recognition. Identification of these antigenic peptides is especially important for developing peptide-based vaccines. Consequently experimental and computational approaches have been developed for their identification. A major impediment to such an approach is the extreme polymorphism of HLA, which is in fact the basis for differential peptide binding. This problem can be mitigated by the observation that despite such polymorphisms, HLA molecules bind overlapping set of peptides, and therefore, may be grouped accordingly into supertypes. Here we describe a method of grouping HLA alleles into supertypes based on analysis and subsequent clustering of their peptide binding repertoires. Combining this method with the known allele and haplotype gene frequencies of HLA I molecules for five major American ethnic groups (Black, Caucasian, Hispani...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: ICARIS
• Authors: Pedro A. Reche, Ellis L. Reinherz
• Keywords: Antigenic Peptide, ICARIS 2004, Peptide, Peptide Binding