The IgPdb Nomenclature

The IgPdb nomenclature for human immunoglobulin genes is based on the IMGT nomenclature. A submitted sequence is issued with a gene name that corresponds to the IMGT gene that is the closest match to the submitted gene. The allele number includes the prefix 'p' to indicate that the sequence is a putative polymorphism (eg IGHV1-69*p21). The allele number that is assigned is the next consecutive allele number, after considering both the set of IMGT alleles and the IgPdb alleles. Because IMGT does not recognize the sequences in IgPdb, they may assign to a newly-recognized sequence an allele number that is already in use by IgPdb. It is therefore important to realise that IGHV1-69*21 and IGHV1-69*p21 could be different alleles. It is our expectation that many sequences in the IgPdb database will one day be recognized by IMGT. When this happens, IMGT may assign a different allele number or even a different gene name to a sequence that has been part of the IgPdb database. When we learn of such names, the database will be updated to include the new IMGT names. The original IgPdb designation will also remain, to allow tracking of sequences over time.

Learn more about:
-The IgPdb nomenclature
-The IgPdb Repertoire
-Advice on how to recognize putative polymorphisms