HLA-B allele frequencies in Côte d'Ivoire defined by direct DNA sequencing: Identification of HLA-B*1405, B*4410, and B*5302

Direct automated DNA sequencing was used to analyze exons 2 and 3 of HLA-B alleles present in forty-four unrelated individuals residing in the village of Adiopodoume, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Of the 23 HLA-B alleles observed, the most frequently detected allele was HLA-B*5301 (22.7%), which is believed to confer resistance to severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria. B*4501 (9.1%), B*1503 (8.0%), B*0705 (5.7%), B*1510 (5.7%) and B*3501 (5.7%) occurred frequently in the population. A second allele of B53 was identified; B*5302 contains a single amino acid variation at residue 171 (Y→H). Two additional novel alleles, B* 1405 (a single amino acid variant of B*1402) and B*4410 (a five amino acid variant of B*4403) were characterized.