Dog class I gene DLA-88 histocompatibility typing by PCR-SSCP and sequencing.

The dog has been an important model for solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, as well as for studying autoimmune diseases, the growth of malignant tumors and the immunology of vaccines. Fundamental to the continuing usage of the canine model for research is the development of molecular-based histocompatibility typing. Previous histocompatibility methods have focused on class II genes. This study was undertaken to develop a molecular-based histocompatibility typing method for the most polymorphic class I gene, DLA-88. In this study, polymerase chain reaction single-stranded conformational polymorphism was used to separate alleles, thereby allowing sequenced-based typing.