We have earlier reported the finding of picornavirus antigen in amyloid plaques in the hippocampus of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. As a result of this finding, three AD patients received antiviral therapy directed against picornavirus infection. Pleconaril, ribavirin and efavirenz were used in different combinations over the 4-8 year intervals of treatment. Patients were followed using the Mini Mental State Examination score and the Alzheimer’s Quick Test. Results including mostly unchanged cognitive function in two patients and a clear improvement in one patient are in contrast with the expected progression of AD.

We have updated the catalogue of common and well-documented (CWD) human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles to reflect current understanding of the prevalence of specific allele sequences. The original CWD catalogue designated 721 alleles at the HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DRB3/4/5, -DQA1, -DQB1, and -DPB1 loci in IMGT (IMmunoGeneTics)/HLA Database release 2.15.0 as being CWD. The updated CWD catalogue designates 1122 alleles at the HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DRB3/4/5, -DQA1, -DQB1, -DPA1 and -DPB1 loci as being CWD, and represents 14.3% of the HLA alleles in IMGT/HLA Database release 3.9.0. In particular, we identified 415 of these alleles as being 'common' (having known frequencies) and 707 as being 'well-documented' on the basis of ~140,000 sequence-based typing observations and available HLA haplotype data. Using these allele prevalence data, we have also assigned CWD status to specific G and P designations. We identified 147/151 G groups and 290/415 P groups as being CWD. The CWD catalogue will be updated on a regular basis moving forward, and will incorporate changes to the IMGT/HLA Database as well as empirical data from the histocompatibility and immunogenetics community. This version 2.0.0 of the CWD catalogue is available online at cwd.immunogenomics.org, and will be integrated into the Allele Frequencies Net Database, the IMGT/HLA Database and National Marrow Donor Program's bioinformatics web pages.

Tissue AntigensVolume 76, Issue 6 p. 440-441 Immunogenetics in the Holy Land J. R. Oksenberg, Corresponding Author J. R. Oksenberg Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USADr Jorge Oksenberg513 Parnassus AvenueS-256San FranciscoCA 94303USATel: +1 415 476 1335Fax: +1 415 476 5229e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorW. Klitz, W. Klitz School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USASearch for more papers by this author J. R. Oksenberg, Corresponding Author J. R. Oksenberg Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USADr Jorge Oksenberg513 Parnassus AvenueS-256San FranciscoCA 94303USATel: +1 415 476 1335Fax: +1 415 476 5229e-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorW. Klitz, W. Klitz School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 22 September 2010 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0039.2010.01567.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. References 1 Brautbar C, Theodor R, Sack J et al. HLA and selective aldosterone biosynthetic defect due to type 2 corticosterone methyl-oxidase deficiency. Tissue Antigens 1981: 17: 212–16. 10.1111/j.1399-0039.1981.tb00685.x CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 2 Cohen N, Shaw S, Oksenberg JR, Brautbar C. HLA-linked SB antigens in Israel: population study, analysis of homozygous typing cells and generation of local SB reagents. Tissue Antigens 1984: 24: 113–20. 10.1111/j.1399-0039.1984.tb02114.x CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 3 Sinha AA, Brautbar C, Szafer F et al. A newly characterized HLA-DQB allele associated with Pemphigus vulgaris. Science 1988: 239: 1026–29. 10.1126/science.2894075 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 4 Amar A, Kwon JO, Motro U et al. Molecular analysis of HLA class II polymorphism among different ethnic groups in Israel. Hum Immunol 1999: 60: 723–30. 10.1016/S0198-8859(99)00043-9 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar 5 Tambor A, Cohen T, Friedman A, Brautbar C. Immunogenetics of HLA associated diseases in Jews. In: B Bonne-Tamir, ed. New Perspectives on Genetic Markers and Diseases Among Jewish People. New York: Oxford University Press , 1992, 423–30. Web of Science®Google Scholar 6 Klitz W, Gragert L, Maiers M et al. Genetic differentiation of Jewish populations. Tissue Antigens 2010. In press. 10.1111/j.1399-0039.2010.01549.x PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar Volume76, Issue6December 2010Pages 440-441 ReferencesRelatedInformation

The Jewish diaspora can be viewed as a natural process in population dispersion and differentiation. We extend genetic studies on the Jewish diaspora to an analysis of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) haplotype distributions in the Jewish peoples, and show the value of this information for the design of Jewish marrow donor registries. HLA data from the Hadassah Bone Marrow Registry having parental country-of-origin information comprise samples of geographically discrete regions. We analyzed the HLA allele and haplotype frequencies for each national sample using population genetic and clustering methods. Population differentiation among diaspora populations was shown on the basis of HLA haplotype frequencies, including differences within the more recently diverged European groups. A method of haplotype and population clustering showed patterns of unique haplotype affinities associated with specific Jewish populations. The evidence showed that diaspora Jewish populations can be sorted into distinct clades of which the Ashkenazi are but one. Relationships among Jewish populations are interpretable in light of the historical record. We suggest that a major contributing factor to the genetic divergence between Jewish groups may have been admixture with local host populations, while, at the same time, threads of Eastern Mediterranean ancestry remain evident.

International Journal of Gynecology & ObstetricsVolume 107, Issue S2 p. S287-S287 Free communication (oral) presentations O677 Does Ljungan virus cause malformation, intrauterine fetal death and sudden infant death syndrome? B. Niklasson, B. NiklassonSearch for more papers by this authorA. Samsioe, A. SamsioeSearch for more papers by this authorP. Rasten Almqvist, P. Rasten AlmqvistSearch for more papers by this authorN. Papadogiannakis, N. PapadogiannakisSearch for more papers by this authorW. Klitz, W. KlitzSearch for more papers by this author B. Niklasson, B. NiklassonSearch for more papers by this authorA. Samsioe, A. SamsioeSearch for more papers by this authorP. Rasten Almqvist, P. Rasten AlmqvistSearch for more papers by this authorN. Papadogiannakis, N. PapadogiannakisSearch for more papers by this authorW. Klitz, W. KlitzSearch for more papers by this author First published: 06 October 2011 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7292(09)61050-XAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume107, IssueS2Abstracts of XIX FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and ObstetricsOctober 2009Pages S287-S287 RelatedInformation

International Journal of Gynecology & ObstetricsVolume 107, Issue S2 p. S328-S328 Free communication (oral) presentations O822 A common viral aetiology to intrauterine fetal deaths? Ljunganvirus an emerging obstetric pathogen A. Samsioe, A. SamsioeSearch for more papers by this authorB. Niklasson, B. NiklassonSearch for more papers by this authorN. Papadogiannakis, N. PapadogiannakisSearch for more papers by this authorW. Klitz, W. KlitzSearch for more papers by this author A. Samsioe, A. SamsioeSearch for more papers by this authorB. Niklasson, B. NiklassonSearch for more papers by this authorN. Papadogiannakis, N. PapadogiannakisSearch for more papers by this authorW. Klitz, W. KlitzSearch for more papers by this author First published: 20 November 2009 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7292(09)61195-4AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume107, IssueS2Abstracts of XIX FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and ObstetricsOctober 2009Pages S328-S328 RelatedInformation

Mexicans are the most common minority population of the United States. From a sample of 553 bone marrow donor registrants of self-described Mexican ancestry, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci A, C, B and DRB1 were typed by high resolution sequence based typing (SBT) methods. A total of 47, 34, 76 and 46 distinct alleles at A, C, B and DRB1 respectively were identified, including 3 new alleles. The four-locus haplotype frequency distribution was extremely skewed with only 53.9% of 1106 chromosomes present with more than one estimated copy. Haplotypes of Native American origin were identified. These data form an initial basis for determining the requirements for an adequate donor pool for stem cell transplantation in this population.

S. EfendicThe Rolf Luft Research Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology,Karolinska Institute,Stockholm, SwedenA. LernmarkR. H. Williams Laboratory, Department of Medicine,University of Washington,Seattle, WA, USAW. KlitzSchool of Public Health, University of California,Berkeley, CA, USAW. KlitzPublic Health Institute,Oakland, CA, USA

Ljungan virus (LV), has recently been associated with reproductive disorders in its natural reservoir, the bank vole. We have also demonstrated that LV infection in combination with stress results in a high frequency of neonatal death in laboratory mice.In the present study LV has been diagnosed in patients with severe preeclampsia and intrauterine fetal deaths (IUFD) but not in healthy controls when tested by immunohistochemistry and real time RT-PCR. We have also found that the incidence of both IUFD and pre-eclampsia closely tracked the fluctuations in native rodent populations. Disease concurrence analysis-the statistics of overlapping diseases in a population-demonstrated a concurrence excess between severe pre-eclampsia and IUFD of 6 times that expected by chance. These studies suggest that LV may be playing a prominent role in human pre-eclampsia and IUFD.

Ljungan virus (LV) is associated with disease in its wild rodent reservoir. In addition it has been demonstrated that LV infection in combination with stress results in a high frequency of early abortions, malformations and neonatal death in a mouse model. Frozen and formalin fixed tissues from cases of intrauterine fetal deaths (IUFD) and placenta from both IUFD cases and normal pregnancies in women were investigated. LV was detected in half of the cases of lUFD by immunohistochemistry (IHC), while control placenta were negative. The IHC findings were confirmed by real time RT-PCR. The incidence of lUFD in women also tracked the cyclic wild rodent density in northern Sweden. The results suggest that LV plays a causative role in human IUFD.

In histocompatibility testing some genotype ambiguities are almost always resolved into the genotype with the most common alleles. To achieve unambiguous assignments additional unwieldy tests are performed. The American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics formed a committee to define what human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes do not need to be resolved in external proficiency testing. The tasks included detailed analysis of large datasets of high-resolution typing and thorough review of the pertinent scientific literature. Strict criteria were used to create a catalogue of common and well-documented (CWD) alleles. In total, 130, 245, 81, and 143 of the highly polymorphic HLA-A, -B, -C, and DRB1 loci fell into the CWD category; these represent 27%-30% of all alleles recognized. For the loci DRB3/4/5, DQA1, DQB1, and DPB1, a total of 29, 16, 26, and 52 CWD alleles were identified. A recommendation indicated that an acceptable report should only include one possible genotype; multiple genotypes can only be reported if only one of these includes two alleles of the CWD group. Exceptions in which resolution is not necessary are ambiguities involving functional alleles with identical sequences in the antigen recognition site. The criteria were established for proficiency testing, which could be a valuable tool when making clinical histocompatibility decisions.