title: IMGT/HLA and the Immuno Polymorphism Database.
abstract: The IMGT/HLA Database (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ipd/imgt/hla/) was first released over 15 years ago, providing the HLA community with a searchable repository of highly curated HLA sequences. The HLA complex is located within the 6p21.3 region of human chromosome 6 and contains more than 220 genes of diverse function. Many of the genes encode proteins of the immune system and are highly polymorphic, with some genes currently having over 3,000 known allelic variants. The Immuno Polymorphism Database (IPD) (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ipd/) expands on this model, with a further set of specialist databases related to the study of polymorphic genes in the immune system. The IPD project works with specialist groups or nomenclature committees who provide and curate individual sections before they are submitted to IPD for online publication. IPD currently consists of four databases: IPD-KIR contains the allelic sequences of killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors; IPD-MHC is a database of sequences of the major histocompatibility complex of different species; IPD-HPA, alloantigens expressed only on platelets; and IPD-ESTDAB, which provides access to the European Searchable Tumour Cell-Line Database, a cell bank of immunologically characterized melanoma cell lines. Through the work of the HLA Informatics Group and in collaboration with the European Bioinformatics Institute we are able to provide public access to this data through the website http://www.ebi.ac.uk/ipd/.
authors.affiliation: Anthony Nolan Research Institute, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG, UK.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Halliwell
authors.forename: Steven G E
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Marsh
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019295:Computational Biology; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007125:Immunogenetics; D020407:Internet; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D054340:Receptors, KIR / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D054340:Receptors, KIR