Characterization of a novel HLA-A2 variant, A*02012, in the Southern Thai-Muslim population

Southern Thai Muslims (STM)--from Nakon Si Thammarat, whose ancestors come mainly from Malaysia--constitute more than half of all Thai Muslims which, in total, represent approximately 10% of the country's population. The most common A2 subtypes in STM were A*0203 (n=15), A*0201 (n=8) and A*0207 (n=7). In this study, samples with unexpected amplification patterns were sequenced. Three individuals were indicative of a novel A2 allele, now known as A*02012.