Method for the amplification of HLA class I alleles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and to specific primers for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles, making use of at least one primer set wherein: for the amplification of exon 2, the reverse primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C; for the amplification of exon 3, the forward primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C and/or the reverse primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C; for the amplification of exon 4, the forward primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C. In accordance, the present invention provides an improved method for the typing or subtyping of HLA Class I alleles making use of the amplification method of the invention.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for the typing or subtyping of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is contained within about 4 Mbp of DNA on the short arm of chromosome 6 at 6p21.3 (Campbell and Trowsdale, 1993). The human MHC is divided into class I, class II and class III regions. The genes of class I and class II encode highly polymorphic cell-surface molecules that bind and present processed antigens in the form of peptides to T-lymphocytes, initiating both cellular and humoral immune responses.

[0003] The class I molecules of the human MHC, HLA-A, -B, and -C, are found on most nucleated cells. They are cell-surface glycoproteins that bind and present processed peptides derived from endogenously synthesized proteins to CD8+ T-cells. These heterodimers consist of an HLA-encoded α-chain associated with a non-MHC encoded monomorphic polypeptide, β2-microglobulin (Townsend and Bodmer, 1989; Spencer and Parham, 1996). The class II molecules of the human MHC are encoded in the HLA-D region. These cell-surface glycoproteins consist of HLA-encoded α-, and β-chains, associated as heterodimers on the cell surface of antigen-presenting cells such as B-cells and macrophages. Class II molecules serve as receptors for processed peptides. However, these peptides are derived predominantly from membrane and extracellular proteins and are presented to CD4+ T-cells. The HLA-D region contains several class II genes and has three main subregions: HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP. Both the HLA-DQ and -DP regions contain one functional gene for each of their α- and β-chains. The HLA-DR subregion contains one functional gene for the α- chain; the number of functional genes for the β-chain varies from one to two according to the haplotype (Andersson et al., 1987: Apple and Erlich, 1996).

[0004] Extensive polymorphism exists at most loci. In view of the biological and medical importance of these antigens, a highly sensitive and rapid technique for HLA typing is required. A variety of techniques are currently used to detect HLA polymorphism, including serological, biochemical, T-cell recognition and, most recently, molecular biological methods.

[0005] Serology remains the mainstay method for HLA typing—especially for class I—for many routine histocompatibility laboratories. The micro-lymphocytotoxicity assay (Kissmeyer et al., 1969; Terasaki and McClelland, 1964) is the standard approach: viable peripheral blood mononuclear cells (class I) or separate B-cells (class II) are mixed with antisera (polyclonal or monoclonal) of known HLA specificity.

[0006] Detection of polymorphism can be achieved by looking at the different amino acid composition of HLA molecules through biochemical techniques such as one-dimensional isoelectric focusing (IEF; Yang, 1987). This method relies on amino acid substitutions contributing to changes in charge of the HLA molecule.

[0007] Another HLA typing method is the mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Concurrent to observations being made using HLA-specific antisera, it was noted that lymphocytes from two unrelated sources, when mixed in culture, would proliferate (Hirschom et al., 1963).

[0008] Analysis of HLA specificities from DNA provided a new approach to defining their polymorphic differences. Rather than looking at differences in the expressed molecule, polymorphism is characterized at the nucleotide level.

[0009] An important and powerful development in the field of molecular biology has been the polymerase chain reaction (PCR; Mullis et al., 1986; Mullis and Faloona, 1987). In tissue typing, PCR is used to amplify the polymorphic regions of HLA genes. This HLA PCR product can then be analyzed for its polymorphic differences, to establish the tissue type. A number of such approaches have been developed, including hetero duplex analysis of PCR products (Clay et al.. 1994), single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis of the PCR product (PCR-SSCP; Yoshida et al., 1992). sequence-based typing (SBT: Santamaria et al., 1992 and 1993), the use of sequence specific primers in PCR reaction (PCR-SSP; Olerup and Zetterquist, 1991), the use of PCR in combination with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probing (PCR-SSOP; Saiki et al., 1986) or probing by reverse dot-blot (Saiki et al., 1989). These approaches, used singly or in combination, have all been applied as DNA-based methods for tissue-typing of class I and class II HLA specificities. DNA typing methods should be preferred over serological methods provided that an easy, rapid and reliable DNA typing method is available. Some differences at the subtype level which are detectable by DNA methods might go undetected by current serological typing methods, although these differences might provoke allograft rejection (Fleischhauer et al., 1990).

[0010] The HLA system is the most polymorphic human genetic system yet known. HLA class I genes share a similar structure (from 5′ to 3′): a S′ untranslated flanking region, a first exon (exon 1) having a length of approximately 73 base pairs, a first intron (intron 1) having a length of approximately 130 base pairs, a second exon (exon 2), having a length of approximately 250 base pairs, a second intron (intron 2), having a length of approximately 272 base pairs, a third exon (exon 3), having a length of approximately 276 base pairs, a third intron (intron 3), having a length of approximately 588 base pairs and a fourth exon (exon 4), having a length of approximately 276 base pairs. Polymorphic substitutions within HLA class I alleles are mostly located in both exon 2 and exon 3, encoding the peptide binding groove of the class I molecule. These polymorphisms make differentiation between alleles achievable through a variety of molecular biological techniques such as sequencing or hybridization with relevant probes. In the current diagnostic kits exon 2 and exon 3 are amplified together, resulting in amplicons of about 1 kb. consisting at least of exon 2, intron 2 and exon 3. Locus-specific primers are available for the amplification of these 1 kb amplicons. However, such large amplicons are difficult to amplify and show secondary structure formation resulting in inefficient hybridization of some probes. In addition, due to the emergence of new HLA-Class I alleles, certain allele combinations cannot be distinguished anymore by the detection of polymorphism's only in exon 2 and exon 3 and additional typing in exon 4 is required. This raises the need for the additional amplification of exon 4, resulting in an even larger amplicon. Therefore, a separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 would be desired resulting in amplification products that enable a more efficient typing of HLA class I alleles. However, as locus-specific primer annealing sites are scarce and cannot be found in exon 2, exon 3 or exon 4, the separate and locus-specific amplification of exon 2. exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C is not that evident.

AIMS OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is an aim of the present invention to provide a method for the locus-specific and separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0012] It is a more specific aim of the present invention to provide a method for a one-step, locus-specific, separate amplification of both exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0013] It is a more specific aim of the present invention to provide a method for a one-step, locus-specific, separate amplification of both exon 2 and exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0014] It is a more specific aim of the present invention to provide a method for a one-step, locus-specific, separate amplification of both exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0015] It is a more specific aim of the present invention to provide a method for a one-step, locus-specific, separate amplification of all three exons, exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4, of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0016] It is another aim of the present invention to provide a primer for use in a method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0017] It is another aim of the present invention to provide a primer for use in a method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0018] It is another aim of the present invention to provide a primer for use in a method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0019] It is a more specific aim of the present invention to provide a primer set for use in a method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0020] It is another more specific aim of the present invention to provide a primer set for use in a method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0021] It is another more specific aim of the present invention to provide a primer set for use in a method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

[0022] It is another more specific aim of the present invention to provide a multiplex primer mix for use in a method for the one step, locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C.

[0023] It is another more specific aim of the present invention to provide a multiplex primer mix for use in a method for the one step, locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C.

[0024] It is another more specific aim of the present invention to provide a multiplex primer mix for use in a method for the one step, locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C.

[0025] It is another more specific aim of the present invention to provide a multiplex primer mix for use in a method for the one step, locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C.

[0026] It is another aim of the present invention to provide an improved method for the typing or subtyping of one or more HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles in a sample.

[0027] It is another aim of the present invention to provide an improved diagnostic kit for the typing or subtyping of one or more HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles in a sample.

[0028] It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an improved Line Probe Assay for the typing or subtyping of one or more HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles in a sample.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The present invention relates to a method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles, making use of at least one primer set wherein:

[0030] for the amplification of exon 2, the reverse primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C;

[0031] for the amplification of exon 3, the forward primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C and/or the reverse primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C;

[0032] for the amplification of exon 4, the forward primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C.

[0033] The amplification method of the invention thus, makes use of a primer set of which at least one of the primers is hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 or in intron 3 of the HLA Class I gene in order to obtain the separate amplification of exon 2 (without exon 3 or exon 4), exon 3 (without exon 2 or exon 4) and/or exon 4 (without exon 2 or exon 3).

[0034] In the case where exon 2 is amplified, the reverse primer hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 while the forward primer might be chosen to hybridize to a region upstream of exon 2 (e.g. in intron 1 or in exon 1) or to the initial nucleotides of exon 2. In a preferred embodiment, the forward primer hybridizes to a locus-specific region upstream of exon 2 (e.g. in intron 1 or in exon 1) or to locus-specific initial nucleotides of exon 2 and the reverse primer hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2.

[0035] In the case where exon 3 is amplified, the forward primer is hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 while the reverse primer might be chosen to hybridize to the final nucleotides of exon 3 or downstream of exon 3 (e.g. in intron 3) or the reverse primer is hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 while the forward primer might be chosen to hybridize to a region upstream to exon 3 (e.g. intron 2) or to the initial nucleotides of exon 3. In a preferred embodiment, exon 3 is amplified by use of a primer set of which the forward primer is hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 and the reverse primer is hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3.

[0036] In the case where exon 4 is amplified, the forward primer is hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 while the reverse primer might be chosen to hybridize to the final nucleotides of exon 4 or downstream of exon 4 (e.g. in intron 4). In a preferred embodiment, the forward primer is hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 while the reverse primer hybridizes to locus-specific target sequences at the end of exon 4 or downstream of exon 4 (e.g. in intron 4).

[0037] This new amplification method will result in the amplification of shorter DNA fragments, containing only exon 2, only exon 3 or only exon 4, which are much easier to amplify and much easier for use in different typing methods such as sequencing or hybridization with different allele specific probes. From the example section it is clear that primer sets containing one primer hybridizing to a target sequence in intron 2 or intron 3 provide a much better and easier amplification of exon 2, exon 3 or exon 4 of HLA Class I alleles and a more clear and pronounced hybridization pattern with the allele typing probes. It has been the merit of the present inventors to define specific primers that enable this separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 or exon 4 of only one HLA locus, while said exons of other HLA loci (i.e. other classical HLA genes, non-classical HLA genes or pseudogenes) are not co-amplified. As a-specific amplicons in the amplification product might result in a fault typing, the amplification method of the invention will certainly improve the security of the present typing methods.

[0038] The term “locus-specific” thus means that exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of only one locus (i.e. HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C) is amplified while exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of the other HLA loci (i.e. other classical HLA genes, non-classical HLA genes or pseudogenes) is not amplified. Thus, when primers specific for the amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A are used, exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-B, HLA-C or of other HLA loci are not amplified. Similarly, when primers specific for the amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-B are used, exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A. HLA-C or of other HLA loci are not amplified. Similarly, when primers specific for the amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-C are used, exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or of other HLA loci are not amplified. From this it is clear that exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of 2, 3 or more different HLA loci can never be amplified together. Thus, exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A can never be amplified in the same reaction tube with exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-B. Similarly, exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A can never be amplified in the same reaction tube with exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-C. Similarly, exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-B can never be amplified in the same reaction tube with exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-C. Similarly, exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A can never be amplified in the same reaction tube with exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-B and exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-C. As a consequence, the present invention relates to a method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles. This means that the invention relates to a method for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, the invention relates to a method for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-B and the invention relates to a method for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-C.

[0039] The term “primer” refers to a single stranded oligonucleotide sequence capable of acting as a point of initiation for the synthesis of a primer extension product that is complementary to the nucleic acid strand to be copied. The length and the sequence of the primer must be such that they allow to prime the synthesis of the extension products. In a specific embodiment, the length of the primer is about 5-50 nucleotides. In another specific embodiment, the length of the primer is about 10-30 nucleotides. In another specific embodiment, the length of the primers is about 20-25 nucleotides. Specific length and sequence will depend on the complexity of the required DNA or RNA target, as well as on the conditions at which the primer is used, such as temperature and ionic strength.

[0040] The expression “primer set” or “primer pair” refers to a pair of primers allowing the amplification of part or all of exon 2, exon 3 or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C. A primer set always consists of a forward primer (or 5′ primer) and a reverse primer (or 3′ primer).

[0041] The terms “to hybridize specifically” and “specifically hybridizes” mean that, during the amplification step, said primer forms a duplex with part of its target sequence or with the entire target sequence under the experimental conditions used, and that under those conditions said primer does not form a duplex with other sequences of the polynucleic acids present in the sample to be analysed. It should be understood that primers that are designed to specifically hybridize to a target sequence of a nucleic acid, may fall within said target sequence or may to a large extent overlap with said target sequence (i.e. form a duplex with nucleotides outside as well as within said target sequence).

[0042] The term “target sequence” of a primer according to the present invention is a sequence within intron 2 or intron 3 of the HLA Class I alleles to which the primer is completely complementary or partially complementary (i.e. with up to 20%, 15%, 10% or 5% mismatches). It is to be understood that the complement of said target sequence is also a suitable target sequence in some cases. The fact that amplification primers do not have to match exactly with the corresponding target sequence in the template to warrant proper amplification is amply documented in the literature (Kwok et al., 1990). However, when the primers are not completely complementary to their target sequence, it should be taken into account that the amplified fragments will have the sequence of the primers and not of the target sequence.

[0043] In one embodiment, the amplification Is performed in a reaction tube with a primer set for the amplification of exon 2 as described above (reverse primer hybridizes with a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2) and consequently only exon 2 is amplified. In another embodiment, the amplification is performed in a reaction tube with a primer set for the amplification of exon 3 as described above (forward primer hybridizes with a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2) and consequently only exon 3 is amplified.

[0044] In another embodiment, the amplification is performed in a reaction tube with a primer set for the amplification of exon 3 as described above (reverse primer hybridizes with a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3) and consequently only exon 3 is amplified.

[0045] In another embodiment, the amplification is performed in a reaction tube with a primer set for the amplification of exon 3 as described above (forward primer hybridizes with a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 and reverse primer hybridizes with a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3) and consequently only exon 3 is amplified.

[0046] In another embodiment, the amplification is performed in a reaction tube with a primer set for the amplification of exon 4 as described above (forward primer hybridizes with a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3) and consequently only exon 4 is amplified.

[0047] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 or exon 4 of HLA Class I alleles.

[0048] In another embodiment, the different primer sets involved in the amplification of exon 2 and the amplification of exon 3 are mixed and the separate amplification of both exon 2 and exon 3 is performed in a single reaction tube. Thus, the present invention also relates to a method as described above further characterized that both exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C are amplified by use of a multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer pair for amplification of exon 2 and at least one primer pair for amplification of exon 3. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA Class I alleles. In another embodiment, the different primer sets involved in the amplification of exon 2 and the amplification of exon 4 are mixed and the separate amplification of both exon 2 and exon 4 is performed in a single reaction tube. Thus, the present invention also relates to a method as described above further characterized that both exon 2 and exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C are amplified by use of a multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer pair for amplification of exon 2 and at least one primer pair for amplification of exon 4. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 4 of HLA Class I alleles.

[0049] In another embodiment, the different primer sets involved in the amplification of exon 3 and the amplification of exon 4 are mixed and the separate amplification of both exon 3 and exon 4 is performed in a single reaction tube. Thus, the present invention also relates to a method as described above further characterized that both exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C are amplified by use of a multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer pair for amplification of exon 3 and at least one primer pair for amplification of exon 4. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for the separate amplification of exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA Class I alleles.

[0050] In another embodiment, the different primer sets involved in the amplification of exon 2, the amplification of exon 3 and the amplification of exon 4 are mixed and the separate amplification of all three exons, exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4, is performed in a single reaction tube. Thus, the present invention also relates to a method as described above further characterized that all three exons, exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4, of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C are amplified by use of a multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer pair for amplification of exon 2, at least one primer pair for the amplification of exon 3 and at least one primer pair for amplification of exon 4.

[0051] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA Class I alleles.

[0052] The amplification method used can be either polymerase chain reaction (PCR; Saiki et al., 1988), ligase chain reaction (LCR; Landgren et al., 1988; Wu and Wallace, 1989; Barany, 1991), nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA; Guatelli et al., 1990; Compton, 1991), transcription-based amplification system (TAS; Kwoh et al., 1989). strand displacement amplification (SDA; Duck, 1990) or amplification by means of Qβ replicase (Lomeli et al., 1989) or any other suitable method to amplify nucleic acid molecules known in the art. Also TMA (Guatelli et al., 1990) or bDNA (Sanchez-Pescador et al., 1988; Urdea et al., 1991) techniques can be used in the method of the present invention. In a specific embodiment, exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C are amplified by PCR.

[0053] In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to a method as described above, further characterized that the locus-specific target sequence is situated at one of the following positions:

[0054] 67, 96, 109, 110, 118, 123, 131 or 181 of the HLA-A intron 2 (FIG. 1) and/or 32, 50, 62, 73, 83, 86, 118, 130, 150, 501, 525, 561 or 571 (FIG. 4) of the HLA-A intron 3; or

[0055] 35 or 170 of the HLA-B intron 2 (FIG. 2) and/or 42, 46, 65, 68, 96, 438, 502, 524, 547 or 571 of the HLA-B intron 3 (FIG. 5); or

[0056] 84, 107 or 142 of the HLA-C intron 2 (FIG. 3) and/or 461, 477, 527, 545 or 561 of the HLA-C intron 3 (FIG. 6).

[0057] As these positions all contain locus-specific nucleotides, these position are particularly suitable for designing an efficient primer for the locus-specific amplification of exon 2, exon 3 or exon 4. The primers can be of different length. In a specific embodiment, the length of the primer is about 5-50 nucleotides. In another specific embodiment, the length of the primer is about 10-30 nucleotides. In another specific embodiment, the length of the primers is about 20-25 nucleotides. Specific length and sequence will depend on the complexity of the required DNA or RNA target, as well as on the conditions at which the primer is used, such as temperature and ionic strength.

[0058] In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to a method as described above further characterized that said positions constitute the 3′ end of the primer that is used for the amplification of exon 2, exon 3 or exon 4. Thus, from the above described positions, forward as well as reverse primers can be designed that have their 3′ end in these specific positions. The reverse primer having its 3′ end in one of the above-mentioned specific positions of intron 2 will enable the locus-specific amplification of exon 2 of the respective HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C allele. The forward primer having its 3′ end in one of the above-mentioned specific positions of intron 2 will enable the locus-specific amplification of exon 3 of the respective HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C allele. The reverse primer having its 3′ end in one of the above-mentioned specific positions of intron 3 will enable the locus-specific amplification of exon 3 of the respective HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C allele. The forward primer having its 3′ end in one of the above-mentioned specific positions of intron 3 will enable the locus-specific amplification of exon 4 of the respective HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C allele. The primers can be of different length. In a specific embodiment, the length of the primer is about 5-50 nucleotides. In another specific embodiment, the length of the primer is about 10-30 nucleotides. In another specific embodiment, the length of the primers is about 20-25 nucleotides. Specific length and sequence will depend on the complexity of the required DNA or RNA target, as well as on the conditions at which the primer is used, such as temperature and ionic strength.

[0059] In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method as described above, further characterized that the primer is chosen from the following list:

[0060] for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A (table 1):

5′ATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′      (SEQ ID NO 1)
5′GATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′     (SEQ ID NO 2)
5′GGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′    (SEQ ID NO 3)
5′YGGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′   (SEQ ID NO 4)
5′GYGGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′  (SEQ ID NO 5)
5′GGYGGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′ (SEQ ID NO 6)
5′GGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′      (SEQ ID NO 7)
5′GGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′     (SEQ ID NO 8)
5′AGGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′    (SEQ ID NO 9)
5′AAGGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′   (SEQ ID NO 10)
5′CAAGGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′  (SEQ ID NO 11)
5′CTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′      (SEQ ID NO 12)
5′TCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′     (SEQ ID NO 13)
5′CTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′    (SEQ ID NO 14)
5′CCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′   (SEQ ID NO 15)
5′GCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′  (SEQ ID NO 16)
5′GGCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′ (SEQ ID NO 17)
5′TCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′      (SEQ ID NO 18)
5′CTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′     (SEQ ID NO 19)
5′CCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′    (SEQ ID NO 20)
5′GCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′   (SEQ ID NO 21)
5′GGCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′  (SEQ ID NO 22)
5′GGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′ (SEQ ID NO 23)
5′CCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′      (SEQ ID NO 30)
5′GCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′     (SEQ ID NO 31)
5′CGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′    (SEQ ID NO 32)
5′GCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′   (SEQ ID NO 33)
5′GGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′  (SEQ ID NO 34)
5′AGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′ (SEQ ID NO 35)
5′AGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′      (SEQ ID NO 36)
5′AAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′     (SEQ ID NO 37)
5′WAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′    (SEQ ID NO 38)
5′TWAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′   (SEQ ID NO 39)
5′GTWAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′  (SEQ ID NO 40)
5′GGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′ (SEQ ID NO 41)
5′CCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′      (SEQ ID NO 42)
5′ACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′     (SEQ ID NO 43)
5′AACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′    (SEQ ID NO 44)
5′AAACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′   (SEQ ID NO 45)
5′GAAACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′  (SEQ ID NO 46)
5′TGAAACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′ (SEQ ID NO 47)
5′YCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′      (SEQ ID NO 48)
5′GYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′     (SEQ ID NO 49)
5′YGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′    (SEQ ID NO 50)
5′CYGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′   (SEQ ID NO 51)
5′CCYGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′  (SEQ ID NO 52)
5′CCCYGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′ (SEQ ID NO 53)

[0061] for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A (table 2; table 3):

5′CGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′      (SEQ ID NO 54)
5′ACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′     (SEQ ID NO 55)
5′CACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′    (SEQ ID NO 56)
5′CCACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′   (SEQ ID NO 57)
5′CCCACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′  (SEQ ID NO 58)
5′CCCCACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′ (SEQ ID NO 59)
5′GGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′      (SEQ ID NO 60)
5′GGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′     (SEQ ID NO 61)
5′CGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′    (SEQ ID NO 62)
5′CCGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′   (SEQ ID NO 63)
5′TCCGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′  (SEQ ID NO 64)
5′CTCCGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′ (SEQ ID NO 65)
5′CCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′      (SEQ ID NO 66)
5′RCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′     (SEQ ID NO 67)
5′CRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′    (SEQ ID NO 68)
5′CCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′   (SEQ ID NO 69)
5′TCCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′  (SEQ ID NO 70)
5′ATCCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′ (SEQ ID NO 71)
5′CCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′      (SEQ ID NO 72)
5′CCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′     (SEQ ID NO 73)
5′RCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′    (SEQ ID NO 74)
5′CRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′   (SEQ ID NO 75)
5′CCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′  (SEQ ID NO 76)
5′TCCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′ (SEQ ID NO 77)
5′CGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′      (SEQ ID NO 84)
5′CCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′     (SEQ ID NO 85)
5′GCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′    (SEQ ID NO 86)
5′AGCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′   (SEQ ID NO 87)
5′AAGCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′  (SEQ ID NO 88)
5′GAAGCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′ (SEQ ID NO 89)
5′GACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′
(SEQ ID NO 90)
5′GGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′     (SEQ ID NO 91)
5′GGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′    (SEQ ID NO 92)
5′CGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′   (SEQ ID NO 93)
5′GCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′  (SEQ ID NO 94)
5′CGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′ (SEQ ID NO 95)
5′GACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′      (SEQ ID NO 96)
5′AGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′     (SEQ ID NO 97)
5′GAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′    (SEQ ID NO 98)
5′CGAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′   (SEQ ID NO 99)
5′CCGAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′  (SEQ ID NO 100)
5′YCCGAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′ (SEQ ID NO 101)
5′GTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′      (SEQ ID NO 102)
5′AGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′     (SEQ ID NO 103)
5′CAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′    (SEQ ID NO 104)
5′TCAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′   (SEQ ID NO 105)
5′TTCAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′  (SEQ ID NO 106)
5′TTTCAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′ (SEQ ID NO 107)
5′AGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′      (SEQ ID NO 150)
5′CAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′     (SEQ ID NO 151)
5′CCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′    (SEQ ID NO 152)
5′GCCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′   (SEQ ID NO 153)
5′GGCCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′  (SEQ ID NO 154)
5′AGGCCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′ (SEQ ID NO 155)
5′CCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′      (SEQ ID NO 156)
5′CCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′     (SEQ ID NO 157)
5′TCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′    (SEQ ID NO 158)
5′CTCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′   (SEQ ID NO 159)
5′TCTCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′  (SEQ ID NO 160)
5′GTCTCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′ (SEQ ID NO 161)
5′CCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′      (SEQ ID NO 162)
5′TCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′     (SEQ ID NO 163)
5′GTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′    (SEQ ID NO 164)
5′GGTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′   (SEQ ID NO 165)
5′TGGTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′  (SEQ ID NO 166)
5′TTGGTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′ (SEQ ID NO 167)
5′CTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′      (SEQ ID NO 168)
5′TCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′     (SEQ ID NO 169)
5′TTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′    (SEQ ID NO 170)
5′ATTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′   (SEQ ID NO 171)
5′TATTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′  (SEQ ID NO 172)
5′ATATTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′ (SEQ ID NO 173)
5′GGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′      (SEQ ID NO 174)
5′AGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′     (SEQ ID NO 175)
5′GAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′    (SEQ ID NO 176)
5′GGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′   (SEQ ID NO 177)
5′GGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′  (SEQ ID NO 178)
5′AGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′ (SEQ ID NO 179)
5′GGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′      (SEQ ID NO 180)
5′GGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′     (SEQ ID NO 181)
5′AGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′    (SEQ ID NO 182)
5′GAGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′   (SEQ ID NO 183)
5′AGAGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′  (SEQ ID NO 184)
5′CAGAGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′ (SEQ ID NO 185)
5′CCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′      (SEQ ID NO 186)
5′ACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′     (SEQ ID NO 187)
5′AACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′    (SEQ ID NO 188)
5′AAACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′   (SEQ ID NO 189)
5′GAAACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′  (SEQ ID NO 190)
5′GGAAACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′ (SEQ ID NO 191)
5′AGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′      (SEQ ID NO 192)
5′CAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′     (SEQ ID NO 193)
5′ACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′    (SEQ ID NO 194)
5′TACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′   (SEQ ID NO 195)
5′GTACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′  (SEQ ID NO 196)
5′GGTACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′ (SEQ ID NO 197)
5′TCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′      (SEQ ID NO 198)
5′CTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′     (SEQ ID NO 199)
5′CCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′    (SEQ ID NO 200)
5′ACCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′   (SEQ ID NO 201)
5′AACCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′  (SEQ ID NO 202)
5′GAACCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′ (SEQ ID NO 203)

[0062] for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A (table 4):

5′TTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′      (SEQ ID NO 204)
5′GTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′     (SEQ ID NO 205)
5′GGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′    (SEQ ID NO 206)
5′GGGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′   (SEQ ID NO 207)
5′TGGGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′  (SEQ ID NO 208)
5′CTGGGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′ (SEQ ID NO 209)
5′GGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′      (SEQ ID NO 24)
5′RGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′     (SEQ ID NO 25)
5′CRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′    (SEQ ID NO 26)
5′CCRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′   (SEQ ID NO 27)
5′CCCRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′  (SEQ ID NO 28)
5′TCCCRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′ (SEQ ID NO 29)
5′CTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′      (SEQ ID NO 210)
5′GCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′     (SEQ ID NO 211)
5′TGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′    (SEQ ID NO 212)
5′RTGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′   (SEQ ID NO 213)
5′YRTGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′  (SEQ ID NO 214)
5′GYRTGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′ (SEQ ID NO 215)
5′GTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′      (SEQ ID NO 216)
5′TGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′     (SEQ ID NO 217)
5′GTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′    (SEQ ID NO 218)
5′AGTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′   (SEQ ID NO 219)
5′GAGTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′  (SEQ ID NO 220)
5′GGAGTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′ (SEQ ID NO 221)

[0063] for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-B (table 5):

5′ACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′       (SEQ ID NO 108)
5′AACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′      (SEQ ID NO 109)
5′CAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′     (SEQ ID NO 110)
5′CCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′    (SEQ ID NO 111)
5′MCCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′   (SEQ ID NO 112)
5′GMCCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′  (SEQ ID NO 113)
5′YGMCCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′ (SEQ ID NO 314)

[0064] for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-B (table 6; table 7):

5′CYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′         (SEQ ID NO 114)
5′CCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′        (SEQ ID NO 115)
5′GCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′       (SEQ ID NO 116)
5′GGCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGAGT3′      (SEQ ID NO 117)
5′CGGCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′     (SEQ ID NO 118)
5′CCGGCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′    (SEQ ID NO 119)
5′CCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′         (SEQ ID NO 120)
5′ACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′        (SEQ ID NO 121)
5′TACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′       (SEQ ID NO 122)
5′TTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′      (SEQ ID NO 123)
5′TTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′     (SEQ ID NO 124)
5′GTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′    (SEQ ID NO 125)
5′CGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′   (SEQ ID NO 222)
5′GCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′  (SEQ ID NO 223)
5′CGCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′ (SEQ ID NO 224)
5′CGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′         (SEQ ID NO 225)
5′TCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′        (SEQ ID NO 226)
5′CTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′       (SEQ ID NO 227)
5′TCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′      (SEQ ID NO 228)
5′TTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′     (SEQ ID NO 229)
5′CTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′    (SEQ ID NO 230)
5′TCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′         (SEQ ID NO 231)
5′TTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′        (SEQ ID NO 232)
5′CTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′       (SEQ ID NO 233)
5′TCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′      (SEQ ID NO 234)
5′YTCTTGTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′     (SEQ ID NO 235)
5′CYTCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′    (SEQ ID NO 236)
5′GATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′         (SEQ ID NO 237)
5′TGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′        (SEQ ID NO 238)
5′CTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′       (SEQ ID NO 239)
5′GCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′      (SEQ ID NO 240)
5′CGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′     (SEQ lID NO 241)
5′GCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′    (SEQ ID NO 242)
5′GCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′         (SEQ ID NO 243)
5′CGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′        (SEQ ID NO 244)
5′GCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′       (SEQ ID NO 245)
5′AGCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTGYT3′      (SEQ ID NO 246)
5′TAGCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′     (SEQ ID NO 247)
5′CTAGCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′    (SEQ ID NO 248)
5′TCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′         (SEQ ID NO 249)
5′CTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′        (SEQ ID NO 250)
5′TCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′       (SEQ lID NO 251)
5′TTCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′      (SEQ ID NO 252)
5′ATTCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′     (SEQ ID No 253)
5′CATTCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′    (SEQ ID NO 254)

[0065] for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-B (table 8):

5′AGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′      (SEQ ID NO 255)
5′GAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′     (SEQ ID NO 256)
5′GGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′    (SEQ ID NO 257)
5′AGGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′   (SEQ ID NO 258)
5′TAGGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′  (SEQ ID NO 259)
5′ATAGGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′ (SEQ ID NO 260)
5′TGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′      (SEQ ID NO 261)
5′GTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′     (SEQ ID NO 262)
5′GGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′    (SEQ ID NO 263)
5′AGGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′   (SEQ ID NO 264)
5′CAGGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′  (SEQ ID NO 265)
5′CCAGGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′ (SEQ ID NO 266)
5′TCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′       (SEQ ID NO 267)
5′GTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′      (SEQ ID NO 268)
5′GGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′     (SEQ ID NO 269)
5′TGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′    (SEQ ID NO 270)
5′CTGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′   (SEQ ID NO 271)
5′KCTGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′  (SEQ ID NO 272)
5′GKCTGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′ (SEQ ID NO 273)
5′TSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′      (SEQ ID NO 274)
5′GTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′     (SEQ ID NO 275)
5′TGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′    (SEQ ID NO 276)
5′GTGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′   (SEQ ID NO 277)
5′GGTGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′  (SEQ ID NO 278)
5′GGGTGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′ (SEQ ID NO 279)
5′GWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′      (SEQ ID NO 280)
5′TGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′     (SEQ ID NO 281)
5′CTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′    (SEQ ID NO 282)
5′CCTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′   (SEQ ID NO 283)
5′GCCTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′  (SEQ ID NO 284)
5′CGCCTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′ (SEQ ID NO 285)

[0066] for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-C (table 9):

5′GTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′      (SEQ ID NO 126)
5′GGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′     (SEQ ID NO 127)
5′CGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′    (SEQ ID NO 128)
5′CCGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′   (SEQ ID NO 129)
5′YCCGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′  (SEQ ID NO 130)
5′CYCCGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′ (SEQ ID NO 131)

[0067] for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-C (table 10):

5′CGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′      (SEQ ID NO 132)
5′TCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′     (SEQ ID NO 133)
5′GTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′    (SEQ ID NO 134)
5′GGTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′   (SEQ ID NO 135)
5′GGGTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′  (SEQ ID NO 136)
5′CGGGTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′ (SEQ ID NO 137)
5′CGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′      (SEQ ID NO 138)
5′TCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′     (SEQ ID NO 139)
5′CTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′    (SEQ ID NO 140)
5′CCTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′   (SEQ ID NO 141)
5′CCCTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′  (SEQ ID NO 142)
5′ACCCTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′ (SEQ ID NO 143)

[0068] for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-C (table 11):

5′GTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′      (SEQ ID NO 286)
5′GGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′     (SEQ ID NO 287)
5′AGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′    (SEQ ID NO 288)
5′CAGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′   (SEQ ID NO 289)
5′CCAGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′  (SEQ ID NO 290)
5′CCCAGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′ (SEQ ID NO 291)
5′TGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′      (SEQ ID NO 292)
5′CTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′     (SEQ ID NO 293)
5′GCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′    (SEQ ID NO 294)
5′GGCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′   (SEQ ID NO 295)
5′AGGCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′  (SEQ ID NO 296)
5′CAGGCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′ (SEQ ID NO 297)
5′CTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′      (SEQ ID NO 298)
5′TCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′     (SEQ ID NO 299)
5′TTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′    (SEQ ID NO 300)
5′RTTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′   (SEQ ID NO 301)
5′CRTTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′  (SEQ ID NO 302)
5′CCRTTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′ (SEQ ID NO 303)
5′GCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′      (SEQ ID NO 78)
5′GGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′     (SEQ ID NO 79)
5′GGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′    (SEQ ID NO 80)
5′TGGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′   (SEQ ID NO 81)
5′ATGGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′  (SEQ ID NO 82)
5′CATGGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′ (SEQ ID NO 83)
5′SCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′      (SEQ ID NO 304)
5′CSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′     (SEQ ID NO 305)
5′TCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′    (SEQ ID NO 306)
5′GTCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′   (SEQ ID NO 307)
5′TGTCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′  (SEQ ID NO 308)
5′GTGTCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′ (SEQ ID NO 309)

[0069] In another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to any method as described above, further characterized that the amplification of exon 2 is carried out with at least one of the following forward primers:

[0070] for HLA-A: 5APBio: B-TTCTCCCCAGACGCCGAGGATGGCC (SEQ ID NO 144);

[0071] for HLA-B: IBPin1: B-GGGAGGAGCGAGGGGACCSCAG (SEQ ID NO 145);

[0072] for HLA-C: 5CIN1: B-AGCGAGGGGGCCCCGCCCGGCGA (SEQ ID NO 146).

[0073] In another preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to any method as described above, further characterized that the amplification of exon 4 is carried out with at least one of the following reverse primers:

[0074] for HLA-A: 3ex4APBio: B-TTGGGCAGACCCTCATGCTGC (SEQ ID NO 311);

[0075] for HLA-B: 3ex4IBbio: B-TCGGCAGCCCCTCATGCTGT (SEQ ID NO 312);

[0076] for HLA-C: 3ex4ICbio: B-CATCTCAGGGTGMRGGGCTT (SEQ ID NO 313).

[0077] In a very specific embodiment, the present invention relates to any method as described above, further characterized that:

[0078] the amplification of exon 2 is carried out with at least one of the following primers sets:

[0079] for HLA-A: 5APbio (B-TTCTCCCCAGACGCCGAGGATGGCC; SEQ ID NO 144) and 3ex2APbio (B-ATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT: SEQ ID NO 1);

[0080] for HLA-B: IBPin1 (B-GGGAGGAGCGAGGGGACCSCAG; SEQ ID NO 145) and IB3Pin2bio (B-AACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC; SEQ ID NO 109);

[0081] for HLA-C: 5CIN1 (B-AGCGAGGGGCCCGCCCGGCGA; SEQ ID NO 146) and IC3Pin2bio (B-GGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT; SEQ ID NO 127);

[0082] the amplification of exon 3 is carried out with at least one of the following primer sets:

[0083] for HLA-A: 5ex3APbio (B-CAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC: SEQ ID NO 104) and 3ex3APbio (B-CCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG; SEQ ID NO 156);

[0084] for HLA-B: IB5Pin 2bio (B-CGCGTITACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG; SEQ ID NO 224) and IB3Pin3bio (B-TCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC; SEQ ID NO 234);

[0085] for HLA-C: IC5Pin2bio (B-TCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT; SEQ ID NO 139) and 3CIN3 (B-GGAGATGGGGAAGGCTCCCCACT; SEQ ID NO 149).

[0086] the amplification of exon 4 is carried out with at least one of the following primer sets:

[0087] for HLA-A: 5ex4APbio (B-GTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT; SEQ ID NO 205) and 3ex4APbio (B-TTGGGCAGACCCTCATGCTGC; SEQ ID NO 311);

[0088] for HLA-B: 5ex4IBbio (B-TCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG; SEQ ID NO 267) and 3ex4IBbio (B-TCGGCAGCCCTCATGCTGT; SEQ ID NO 312);

[0089] for HLA-C: 5ex4ICbio (B-TCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC; SEQ ID NO 299) and 3ex4ICbio (B-CATCTCAGGGTGMRGGGCTT; SEQ ID NO 313).

[0090] The skilled man will understand that these primers (SEQ ID NOs 1 to 314) may be adapted by addition or deletion of one or more nucleotides at their extremities. Such adaptations may be required, for instance, if the conditions of amplification are changed, if the amplified material is RNA instead of DNA, as is the case, for example, in the NASBA system.

[0091] The present invention further relates to a primer as described above, for use in the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles, said primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C: more specifically, said primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence situated at position:

[0092] 67, 96, 109, 110, 118, 123, 131 or 181 of the HLA-A intron 2 (FIG. 1); or

[0093] 35 or 170 of the HLA-B intron 2 (FIG. 2); or

[0094] 84, 107 or 142 of the HLA-C intron 2 (FIG. 3);

[0095] more specifically, said primer being chosen from table I (for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A), from table 5 (for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-B) or from table 9 (for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-C).

[0096] The present invention further also relates to a primer as described above, for use in the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles, said primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 (forward primer) or to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 (reverse primer) of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C; more specifically, said primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence situated at position:

[0097] 67, 96, 109, 110, 118, 123, 131 or 181 of the HLA-A intron 2 (FIG. 1) or 32, 50, 62, 73, 83, 86, 118, 130, 150 of the HLA-A intron 3 (FIG. 4); or

[0098] 35 or 170 of the HLA-B intron 2 (FIG. 2) or 42, 46, 65, 68, 96, of the HLA-B intron 3 (FIG. 5); or

[0099] 84, 107 or 142 of the HLA-C intron 2 (FIG. 3).

[0100] more specifically, said primer being chosen from table 2 or table 3 (for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A) or from table 6 or table 7 (for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-B).

[0101] The present invention further also relates to a primer as described above, for use in the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles, said primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C; more specifically, said primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence situated at position:

[0102] 501, 525, 561 or 571 of the HLA-A intron 3 (FIG. 4); or

[0103] 438, 502, 524, 547 or 571 of the HLA-B intron 3 (FIG. 5): or

[0104] 461, 477, 527, 545 or 561 of the HLA-C intron 3 (FIG. 6).

[0105] more specifically, said primer being chosen from table 4 (for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A), from table 8 (for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-B) or from table 11 (for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-C).

[0106] The present invention further relates to a primer set consisting of a combination of a forward and a reverse primer as defined above, for use in the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles. In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to the combination of the forward primer 5APBio (SEQ ID NO 144) for HLA-A, IBPin1 (SEQ ID NO 145) for HLA-B or 5CIN1 (SEQ ID NO 146) for HLA-C and a reverse primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C; more specifically, said reverse primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence situated at position:

[0107] 67, 96, 109, 110, 118, 123, 131 or 181 of the HLA-A intron 2; or

[0108] 35 or 170 of the HLA-B intron 2; or

[0109] 84, 107 or 142 of the HLA-C intron 2;

[0110] more specifically, said reverse primer being chosen from table 1 (for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A), from table 5 (for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-B) or from table 9 (for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-C).

[0111] The present invention also relates to a primer set consisting of a combination of a forward and a reverse primer as described above, for use in the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles. In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to the combination of a forward primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C; more specifically, said forward primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequences situated at position:

[0112] 67, 96, 109, 110, 118, 123, 131 or 181 of the HLA-A intron 2; or

[0113] 35 or 170 of the HLA-B intron 2; or

[0114] 84, 107 or 142 of the HLA-C intron 2;

[0115] more specifically, said forward primer being chosen from table 2 (for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A), from table 6 (for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-B) or from table 10 (for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-C) and a reverse primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C: more specifically, said reverse primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequences situated at position:

[0116] 32, 50, 62, 73, 83, 86, 118, 130, 150 (FIG. 4) of the HLA-A intron 3: or

[0117] 42, 46, 65, 68, 96, of the HLA-B intron 3 (FIG. 5):

[0118] more specifically, said reverse primer being chosen from table 3 (for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A), from table 7 (for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-B) or from 3CIN3 (SEQ ID NO 149) (for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-C).

[0119] The present invention also relates to a primer set consisting of a combination of a forward and a reverse primer as described above, for use in the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles. In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to the combination of a forward primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C; more specifically, said forward primer specifically hybridizing to a locus-specific target sequences situated at position:

[0120] 501, 525, 561 or 571 of the HLA-A intron 3 (FIG. 4); or

[0121] 438, 502, 524, 547 or 571 of the HLA-B intron 3 (FIG. 5); or

[0122] 461, 477, 527, 545 or 561 of the HLA-C intron 3 (FIG. 6).

[0123] more specifically, said forward primer being chosen from table 4 (for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A), from table 8 (for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-B) or from table 11 (for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-C) and a reverse primer 3ex4APbio (SEQ ID NO 311) for HLA-A, 3ex4IBbio (SEQ ID NO 312) for HLA-B or 3ex4ICbio (SEQ ID NO 313) for HLA-C.

[0124] In a specific embodiment, the primers are used in a mix that allows the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer pair as described above for the amplification of exon 2 and one primer pair as described above for the amplification of exon 3.

[0125] In a specific embodiment, the multiplex primer mix for the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 comprises the following primer sets:

[0126] for the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-A:

!Amplicon? Primerset? Sequence (5′-3′)? SEQ ID
+HZ,1/38
Exon 1-2	5APbio (5′)	B-TTCTCCCCAGACGCCGAGGATGGCC	144
	3ex2APbio (3′)	B-ATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT	1
Exon 3	5ex3APbio (5′)	B-CAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC	104
	3ex3APbio (3′)	B-CCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG	156

[0127] for the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-B:

Amplicon	Primerset	Sequence (5′-3′)	SEQ ID
Exon 2	IBPin1bio (5′)	B-GGGAGGAGCGAGGGGACCSCAG	145
	IB3Pin2bio (3′)	B-AACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCCTC	109
Exon 3	IB5Pin2bio (5′)	B-CGCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	224
	IB3Pin3bio (3′)	B-TCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC	234

[0128] for the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-C:

Amplicon	Primerset	Sequence (5′-3′)	SEQ ID
Exon 2	5CIN1(5′)	B-AGCGAGGGGCCCGCCCGGCGA	146
	IC3Pin2bio(3′)	B-GGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT	127
Exon 3	IC5Pin2bio(5′)	B-TCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT	139
	3CIN3 (3′)	B-GGAGATGGGGAAGGCTCCCCACT	149

[0129] In a specific embodiment, the primers are used in a mix that allows the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer pair as described above for amplification of exon 2, one primer pair as described above for the amplification of exon 3 and one primer pair as described above for the amplification of exon 4.

[0130] In a specific embodiment, the multiplex primer mix for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 comprises the following primer sets:

[0131] for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-A:

			SEQ
Amplicon	Primerset	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID
Exon 1-2	5APbio	B-TTCTCCCCAGACGCCGAGGATGGCC	144
	(5′)
	3ex2APbio	B-ATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT	1
	(3′)
Exon 3	5ex3APbio	B-CAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC	104
	(5′)
	3ex3APbio	B-CCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG	156
	(3′)
Exon 4	5ex4APbio	B-GTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT	205
	(5′)
	3ex4APbio	B-TTGGGCAGACCCTCATGCTGC	311
	(3′)

[0132] for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-B:

Amplicon	Primerset	Sequence (5′-3′)	SEQ ID
Exon 2	IBPin1bio (5′)	B-GGGAGGAGCGAGGGGACCSCAG	145
	IB3Pin2bio (3′)	B-AACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC	109
Exon 3	IB5Pin2bio (5′)	B-CGCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	224
	IB3Pin3bio (3′)	B-TCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC	234
Exon 4	5ex4IBbio (5′)	B-TCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG	267
	3ex4IBbio (3′)	B-TCGGCAGCCCCTCATGCTGT	312

[0133] for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-C:

			SEQ
Amplicon	Primerset	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID
Exon 2	5CIN1 (5′)	B-AGCGAGGGGCCCGCCCGGCGA	146
	IC3Pin2bio	B-GGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT	127
	(3′)
Exon 3	IC5Pin2bio	B-TCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT	139
	(5′)
	3CIN3 (3′)	B-GGAGATGGGGAAGGCTCCCCACT	149
Exon 4	5ex4ICbio	B-TCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC	299
	(5′)
	3ex4ICbio	B-CATCTCAGGGTGMRGGGCTT	313
	(3′)

[0134] The primers of the invention may be labeled. Labeling may be carried out by any method known to the person skilled in the art. The nature of the label may be isotopic (32P, 35S, etc.) or non-isotopic (biotin, digoxigenin, etc.).

[0135] The oligonucleotides used as primers may also comprise nucleotide analogues such as phosphorothiates (Matsukura et al., 1987), alkylphosphorothiates (Miller et al., 1979) or peptide nucleic acids (Nielsen et al., 1991; Nielsen et al., 1993) or may contain intercalating agents (Asseline et al., 1984). As most other variations or modifications introduced into the original DNA sequences of the invention, these variations will necessitate adaptions with respect to the conditions under which the oligonucleotide should be used to obtain the required specificity and sensitivity. However, the eventual results of hybridization will be essentially the same as those obtained with the unmodified oligonucleotides. The introduction of these modifications may be advantageous in order to positively influence characteristics such as hybridization kinetics, reversibility of the hybrid-formation, biological stability of the oligonucleotide molecules, etc.

[0136] The present invention also relates to the use of the primers, the primer sets and/or the primer mixes of the invention in a method for the locus-specific and separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C.

[0137] The present invention also relates to a method for typing or subtyping of one or more HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles in a sample comprising the following steps:

[0138] (i) if needed, release, isolation and/or concentration of the nucleic acids present in said sample;

[0139] (ii) amplification of the nucleic acids according to the invention;

[0140] (iii) typing of the specific HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles present in said sample.

[0141] Release, concentration and isolation of the nucleic acids from the sample can be done by any method known in the art. Currently, various commercial kits are available such as the QIAamp Blood Kit from Qiagen (Hilden, Germany) for the isolation of nucleic acids from blood samples or the ‘High pure PCR Template Preparation Kit’ (Roche Diagnostics, Brussels, Belgium). Other well-known procedures for the isolation of DNA or RNA from a biological sample are also available (Sambrook et al., 1989). The nucleic acids are subsequently amplified by the method of the invention described above. The products of this amplification step are then ideally suited for typing of the specific allele present in the sample. Currently 169 different alleles of HLA-A. 332 different alleles of HLA-B and 87 different alleles of HLA-C are known. Typing of these alleles can be done by any method known in the art, such as duplex analysis of the PCR products (Clay et al., 1994), single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis of the PCR product (PCR-SSCP; Yoshida et al, 1992), sequence-based typing (SBT; Santamaria et al., 1992 and 1993), the use of sequence specific primers in PCR reaction (PCR-SSP; Olerup and Zetterquist, 1991), the use of PCR in combination with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probing (PCR-SSOP; Saiki et al., 1986), conventional dot-blot, Southern blot, sandwich or probing by reverse dot-blot (Saiki et al- 1989). In order to obtain fast and easy results if a multitude of probes is involved, a reverse hybridization format may be convenient. Accordingly, in a preferred embodiment the selected probes are immobilized to certain locations on a solid support and the amplified polynucleic acids are labeled in order to enable the detection of the hybrids formed. The term “solid support” can refer to any substrate to which an oligonucleotide probe can be coupled, provided that it retains its hybridization characteristics and provided that the background level of hybridization remains low. Usually the solid substrate will be a microtiter plate (e.g. in the DEIA technique), a membrane (e.g. nylon or nitrocellulose) or a microsphere (bead) or a chip. Prior to application to the membrane or fixation, it may be convenient to modify the nucleic acid probe in order to facilitate fixation or improve the hybridization efficiency. Such modifications may encompass homopolymer tailing, coupling with different reactive groups such as aliphatic groups, NH2 groups, SH groups, carboxylic groups, or coupling with biotin, haptens or proteins.

[0142] The present invention further relates to a diagnostic kit for the typing or subtyping of one or more HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles in a sample comprising the following components:

[0143] (i) when appropriate, a means for releasing, isolating or concentrating the nucleic acids present in said sample;

[0144] (ii) a primer set or a primer mix according to the invention;

[0145] (iv) a means for typing of the specific HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles present in said sample.

[0146] A specific and very user-friendly diagnostic kit is the a Line Probe Assay for the typing or subtyping of one or more HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles in a sample comprising the following components:

[0147] (i) when appropriate, a means for releasing, isolating or concentrating the nucleic acids present in said sample;

[0148] (ii) a primer pair or a primer mix according to the invention;

[0149] (iii) at least one probe that specifically hybridizes with one of the HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles, fixed to a solid support;

[0150] (iv) a hybridization buffer, or components necessary for producing said buffer;

[0151] (v) a wash solution, or components necessary for producing said solution;

[0152] (vi) when appropriate, a means for detecting the hybrids resulting from the preceding hybridization.

[0153] In this embodiment, the selected set of probes is immobilized to a membrane strip in a line fashion. Said probes may be immobilized individually or as mixtures to the delineated locations. The amplified HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C polynucleic acids can be labelled with biotine, and the hybrid can then, via a biotine-streptavidine coupling, be detected with a non-radioactive colour developing system.

[0154] The term “hybridization buffer” means a buffer allowing a hybridization reaction between the probes and the polynucleic acids present in the sample, or the amplified products, under the appropriate stringency conditions.

[0155] The term “wash solution” means a solution enabling washing of the hybrids formed under the appropriate stringency conditions.

[0156] The present invention also relates to the use of the primers, the primer sets and/or the primer mixes of the invention for the manufacturing of a diagnostic kit or Line Probe Assay for HLA Class I typing.

[0157] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” and “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of stated integers or steps but not to the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

FIGURE LEGENDS

[0158] FIG. 1. Alignment of 29 HLA-A intron 2 sequences. The consensus sequence is shown on top of the figure. Nucleotides conform to the consensus sequence are indicated with a vertical line. Nucleotides that differ from the consensus sequence are indicated. N indicates the absence of a nucleotide at that position. Sequencing was carried out according to example 1.

[0159] FIG. 2. Alignment of 38 HLA-B intron 2 sequences. The consensus sequence is shown on top of the figure. Nucleotides conform to the consensus sequence are indicated with a vertical line. Nucleotides that differ from the consensus sequence are indicated. N indicates the absence of a nucleotide at that position. Sequencing was carried out according to example 1.

[0160] FIG. 3. Alignment of 13 HLA-C intron 2 sequences. The consensus sequence is shown on top of the figure. Nucleotides conform to the consensus sequence are indicated with a vertical line. Nucleotides that differ from the consensus sequence are indicated. N indicates the absence of a nucleotide at that position. Sequencing was carried out according to example 1.

[0161] FIG. 4. Alignment of 12 HLA-A intron 3 sequences. The consensus sequence is shown on top of the figure. Nucleotides conform to the consensus sequence are indicated with a vertical line. Nucleotides that differ from the consensus sequence are indicated. N indicates the absence of a nucleotide at that position.

[0162] FIG. 5. Alignment of 22 HLA-B intron 3 sequences. The consensus sequence is shown on top of the figure. Nucleotides conform to the consensus sequence are indicated with a vertical line. Nucleotides that differ from the consensus sequence are indicated N indicates the absence of a nucleotide at that position.

[0163] FIG. 6. Alignment of 12 HLA-C intron 3 sequences. The consensus sequence is shown on top of the figure. Nucleotides conform to the consensus sequence are indicated with a vertical line. Nucleotides that differ from the consensus sequence are indicated. N indicates the absence of a nucleotide at that position.

[0164] FIG. 7. Results of a Line Probe Assay for the typing of HLA-A as indicated in example 5. Nucleic acids were amplified by use of: (A) 5APBio (forward primer; SEQ ID NO 144) and 3APBio (reverse primer; SEQ ID NO 147) for the amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-A in one single amplicon; (B) the multiplex primer mix for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-A. The probes with numbers 1, 4, 9, 10, 12 and 13 cleary show a stronger signal after the hybridization with the amplicons obtained by use of the multiplex primer mix (strip B).

[0165] FIG. 8. Results of a Line Probe Assay for the typing of HLA-B as indicated in example 6. Nucleic acids were amplified by use of: (B) IBPin1 (forward primer. SEQ ID NO 145) and IBPin3 (reverse primer; SEQ ID NO 148) for the amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-B in one single amplicon; (B) the multiplex primer mix for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-B. The probes with numbers 9, 10, 18, 19, 20, 34 and 35 cleary show a stronger signal after the hybridization with the amplicons obtained by use of the multiplex primer mix (strips B).

TABLE 1
Reverse primers used for the amplification of HLA-
A exon 2.
3′ position
in intron 2	Sequence(5′-3′)	SEQ ID NO
67	ATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT	1
	GATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT	2
	GGATCTGGGACCCGGAGACTGT	3
	YGGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT	4
	GYGGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT	5
	GGYGGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT	6
96	GGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT	7
	GGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT	8
	AGGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT	9
	AAGGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT	10
	CAAGGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT	11
109	CTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG	12
	TCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG	13
	CTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG	14
	CCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG	15
	GCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG	16
	GGCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG	17
110	TCTCCCGGODCAAGGGTCTC	18
	CTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC	19
	CCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC	20
	GCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC	21
	GGCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC	22
	GGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC	23
118	CCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA	30
	GCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA	31
	CGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA	32
	GCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA	33
	GGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA	34
	AGGCGCGTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA	35
123	AGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG	36
	AAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG	37
	WAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG	38
	TWAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG	39
	GTWAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG	40
	GGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG	41
131	CCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC	42
	ACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC	43
	AACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC	44
	AAACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC	45
	GAAACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC	46
	TGAAACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC	47
181	YCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG	48
	GYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG	49
	YGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG	50
	CYGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG	51
	CCYGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG	52
	CCCYGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG	53

[0166]

TABLE 2
Forward primers used for the amplification of HLA-
A exon 3.
3′ position
in intron 2	SEQUENCE (5′-3′)	SEQ ID NO
67	CGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA	54
	ACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA	55
	CACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA	56
	CCACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA	57
	CCCACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA	58
	CCCCACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA	59
96	GGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA	60
	GGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA	61
	CGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA	62
	CCGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA	63
	TCCGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA	64
	CTCCGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA	65
109	CCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC	66
	RCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC	67
	CRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC	68
	CCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC	69
	TCCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC	70
	ATCCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC	71
110	CCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG	72
	CCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG	73
	RCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG	74
	CRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG	75
	CCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG	76
	TCCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG	77
118	CGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT	84
	CCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT	85
	GCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT	86
	AGCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTT	87
	AAGCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTF	88
	GAAGCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT	89
123	GACYCCGAGACCCCTTGDCCC	90
	GGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC	91
	GGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC	92
	CGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC	93
	GCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC	94
	CGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC	95
131	GACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG	96
	AGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG	97
	GAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG	98
	CGAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG	99
	CCGAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG	100
	YCCGAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG	101
181	GTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC	102
	AGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC	103
	CAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC	104
	TCAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC	105
	TTCAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC	106
	TTTCAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC	107

[0167]

TABLE 3
Reverse primers used for the amplification of HLA-
A exon 3.
3′ position
in intron 3	Sequence(5′-3′)	SEQ ID NO
32	AGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC	150
	CAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC	151
	CCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC	152
	GCCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC	153
	GGCCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC	154
	AGGCCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC	155
50	CCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG	156
	CCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG	157
	TCCCCTCCTfGTGGGAGGCCAG	1S8
	CTCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG	159
	TCTCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG	160
	GTCTCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG	161
62	CCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCGTT	162
	TCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT	163
	GTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT	164
	GGTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT	165
	TGGTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT	166
	TTGGTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT	167
73	CTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT	168
	TCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT	169
	TTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT	170
	ATTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT	171
	TATTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT	172
	ATATTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT	173
83	GGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG	174
	AGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG	175
	GAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG	176
	GGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG	177
	GGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG	178
	AGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG	179
86	GGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT	180
	GGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT	181
	AGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT	182
	GAGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT	183
	AGAGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT	184
	CAGAGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT	185
118	CCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCGC	186
	ACCCAGGAGCAKTCCTCTCCC	187
	AACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC	188
	AAACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC	189
	GAAACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC	190
	GGAAACCCAGGAGGAKTCCFCTCCC	191
130	AGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG	192
	CAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG	193
	ACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG	194
	TACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG	195
	GTACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG	196
	GGTACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG	197
150	TCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC	198
	CTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC	199
	CCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC	200
	ACCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC	201
	AACCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC	202
	GAACCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC	203

[0168]

TABLE 4
Forward primers used for the amplification of HLA-
A exon 4.
3′position
in intron 3	Sequence(5′-3′)	SEQ ID NO
501	TTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT	204
	GTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT	205
	GGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT	206
	GGGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT	207
	TGGGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT	208
	CTGGGTTCTGTGCTCYCYTTCCCCAT	209
525	GGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA	24
	RGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA	25
	CRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA	26
	CCRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA	27
	CCCRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA	28
	TCCCRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA	29
561	CTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC	201
	GCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC	211
	TGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC	212
	RTGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC	213
	YRTGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC	214
	GYRTGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC	215
571	GTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA	216
	TGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA	217
	GTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA	218
	AGTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA	219
	GAGTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA	220
	GGAGTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA	221

[0169]

TABLE 5
Reverse primers used for the amplification of HLA-
B exon 2.
3′position
in intron 2	Sequence(5′-3′)	SEQ ID NO
170	ACCCGCGGGGATFTTTTGCCCTC	108
	AACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC	109
	CAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC	110
	CCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC	111
	MCCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC	112
	GMCCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC	113
	YGMCCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC	314

[0170]

TABLE 6
Forward primers used for the amplification
of HLA-B exon 3.
3′ position		SEQ
in intron 2	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID NO
35	CYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT	114
	CCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT	115
	GCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT	116
	GGCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT	117
	CGGCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT	118
	CCGGCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT	119
170	CCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	120
	ACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	121
	TACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	122
	TTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	123
	TTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	124
	GTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	125
	CGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	222
	GCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	223
	CGCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	224

[0171]

TABLE 7
Reverse primers used for the amplification
of HLA-B exon 3.
3′ position		SEQ
in intron 3	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID NO
42	CGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC	225
	TCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC	226
	CTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC	227
	TCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC	228
	TTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC	229
	CTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC	230
46	TCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC	231
	TTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC	232
	CTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC	233
	TCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC	234
	YTCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC	235
	CYTCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC	236
65	GATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT	237
	TGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT	238
	CTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT	239
	GCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT	240
	GGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT	241
	GCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT	242
68	GCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT	243
	CGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT	244
	GCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT	245
	AGCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT	246
	TAGCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT	247
	CTAGCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT	248
96	TCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC	249
	CTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC	250
	TCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC	251
	TTCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC	252
	ATTCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC	253
	ATTCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC	254

[0172]

TABLE 8
Forward primers used for the amplification
of HLA-B exon 4.
3′ position		SEQ
in intron 3	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID NO
438	AGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC	255
	GAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC	256
	GGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC	257
	AGGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC	258
	TAGGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC	259
	ATAGGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC	260
502	TGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC	261
	GTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC	262
	GGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC	263
	AGGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC	264
	CAGGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC	265
	CCAGGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC	266
524	TCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG	267
	GTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG	268
	GGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG	269
	TGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG	270
	CTGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG	271
	KCTGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG	272
	GKCTGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG	273
547	TSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC	274
	GTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC	275
	TGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC	276
	GTGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC	277
	GGTGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC	278
	GGGTGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC	279
571	GWAWTTCTGACTCTTCCCA	280
	TGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA	281
	CTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA	282
	CCTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA	283
	GCCTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA	284
	CGCCTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA	285

[0173]

TABLE 9
Reverse primers used for the amplification
of HLA-C exon 2.
3′ position		SEQ
in intron 2	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID NO
107	GTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT	126
	GGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT	127
	CGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT	128
	CCGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT	129
	YCCGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT	130
	CYCCGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT	131

[0174]

TABLE 10
Forward primers used for the amplification
of HLA-C exon 3.
3′ position		SEQ
in intron 2	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID NO
84	CGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT	132
	TCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT	133
	GTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT	134
	GGTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT	135
	GGGTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT	136
	CGGGTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT	137
142	CGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT	138
	TCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT	139
	CTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT	140
	CCTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT	141
	CCCTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT	142
	ACCCTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT	143

[0175]

TABLE 11
Forward primers used for the amplification
of HLA-C exon 4.
3′ position		SEQ
in intron 3	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID NO
461	GTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC	286
	GGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC	287
	AGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC	288
	CAGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC	289
	CCAGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC	290
	CCCAGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC	291
477	TGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC	292
	CTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC	293
	GCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC	294
	GGCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC	295
	AGGCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC	296
	CAGGCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC	297
527	CTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC	298
	TCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC	299
	TTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC	300
	RTTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC	301
	CRTTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC	302
	CCRTTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC	303
545	GCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA	78
	GGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA	79
	GGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA	80
	TGGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA	81
	ATGGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA	82
	CATGGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA	83
561	SCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT	304
	CSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT	305
	TCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT	306
	GTCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT	307
	TGTCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT	308
	GTGTCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT	309

EXAMPLES

EXAMPLE 1:

Sequence determination of intron 2 of various HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C alleles

[0176] Nucleic acids were prepared from different blood samples by use of the QIAamp Blood Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Part of exon 1, intron 2, exon 2, intron 2 and exon 3 of HLA-A were amplified by use of the following primer set:

		SEQ
Primer	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID NO
5APBio (5′)	B-TTCTCCCCAGACGCCGAGGATGGCC	144
3APBio (3′)	B-CCGTGCGCTGCAGCGTCTCCTTCCCG	147
B = biotine.

[0177] Exon 2, intron 2 and exon 3 of HLA-B were amplified by use of the following primer set:

			SEQ
	Primer	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID NO
	IBPin1 (5′)	B-GGGAGGAGCGAGGGGACCSCAG	145
	IBPin3 (3′)	B-GGAGGCCATCCCCGGCGACCTAT	148
	B = biotine.

[0178] Exon 2, intron 2 and exon 3 of HLA-C were amplified by use of the following primer set:

			SEQ
	Primer	Sequence (5′-3′)	ID NO
	5CIN1 (5′)	B-AGCGAGGGGCCCGCCCGGCGA	146
	3CIN3 (3′)	B-GGAGATGGGGAAGGCTCCCCACT	149
	B = biotine.

[0179] The PCR reaction cycle was composed of the following steps:

[0180] 1 min at 96° C.;

[0181] 5 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 64° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0182] 5 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 62° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0183] 10 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 60° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0184] 15 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 55° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0185] 5 min at 72° C.

[0186] The amplification reaction was carried out in 50 mM Tris-HCl pH 9.2, 16 mM (NH4)2SO4, 200 μM dNTPs, 2.5 U Taq polymerase, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 15 pmol of each primer and 0.1 to 0.5 μg DNA.

[0187] The resulting amplicon was cloned in the pGEMt-vector (Promega, Madison, Wis., USA). Nucleotide sequence analysis was performed by use of an automated DNA sequencer Model 373A (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA) with fluorescence-labelled dideoxy nucleotides (PrismTM Ready Reaction Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing Kit; Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA). The primers used for the sequencing reaction were the same as for the amplification step 29 intron 2 sequences were obtained for HLA-A, 38 for HLA-B and 13 for HLA-C. The sequences are shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

EXAMPLE 2:

Amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-A

[0188] Nucleic acids were prepared from different blood samples by use of the QIAamp Blood Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Based on the sequence alignment of the HLA-A intron 2 sequences (FIG. 1), a reverse and a forward, locus-specific primer was designed for the specific amplification of the HLA-A exon 2 and exon 3, respectively. With these primers, a primer mix was constructed for the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-A consisting of the following 2 primer sets:

[0189] for exon 2: 5APBio (SEQ ID NO 144) as forward primer and 5′ATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′ (SEQ ID NO 1) as reverse primer;

[0190] for exon 3: 5° CAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′ (SEQ ID NO 104) as forward primer and 3APBio (SEQ ID NO 147) as reverse primer.

[0191] The PCR reaction cycle was composed of the following steps:

[0192] 5 min at 96° C.;

[0193] 35 times (30 s at 96° C.; 20 s at 58° C.; 30 s at 72° C.);

[0194] 10 min at 72° C.

[0195] The PCR reaction was carried out in 10 mM Tris.HCl pH 8.3, 50 mM KCl, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 0.001% (w/v) gelatine, 200 μM dNTP's (dATP, dGTP, dCTP, dTTP), 20 pmol of each primer and 1 U AmpliTaq (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA). The length of the obtained PCR products was verified on an agarose gel according to Sambrook et al. (1989).

EXAMPLE 3:

Amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-B

[0196] Nucleic acids were prepared from different blood samples by use of the QIAamp Blood Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Based on the sequence alignment of the HLA-B intron 2 sequences (FIG. 2), a reverse and a forward, locus-specific primer was designed for the specific amplification of the HLA-B exon 2 and exon 3, respectively. With these primers, a primer mix was constructed for the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-B consisting of the following 2 primer sets:

[0197] for exon 2: IBPin1 (SEQ ID NO 145) as forward primer and 5′ACCCGCGGGGATTITGGCCTC3′ (SEQ ID NO 310) as reverse primer;

[0198] for exon 3: 5′ACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′ (SEQ ID NO 121) as forward primer and IBPin3 (SEQ ID NO 148) as reverse primer.

[0199] The PCR reaction cycle was composed of the following steps:

[0200] 5 min at 96° C.;

[0201] 35 times (30 s at 96° C.; 20 s at 58° C.; 30 s at 72° C.);

[0202] 10 min at 72° C.

[0203] The PCR reaction was carried out in 10 mM Tris.HCl pH 8.3, 50 mM KCl, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 0.001% (w/v) gelatine, 200 μM dNTP's (dATP, dGTP, dCTP, dTTP), 20 pmol of each primer and 1 U AmpliTaq (Applied Biosystems. Foster City, Calif., USA). The length of the obtained PCR products was verified on an agarose gel according to Sambrook et al. (1989).

EXAMPLE 4:

Amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-C

[0204] Nucleic acids were prepared from different blood samples by use of the QIAamp Blood Kit (Qiagen, Rilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer's protocol. Based on the sequence alignment of the HLA-C intron 2 sequenaces (FIG. 3), a reverse and a forward, locus-specific primer was designed for the specific amplification of the HLA-C exon 2 and exon 3, respectively. With these primers, a primer mix was constructed for the separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-C consisting of the following 2 primer sets:

[0205] for exon 2: 5CIN1 (SEQ ID NO 146) as forward primer and 5′GGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′ (SEQ ID NO 127) as reverse primer;

[0206] for exon 3: 5′TCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′ (SEQ ID NO 139) as forward primer and 3CIN3 (SEQ ID NO 149) as reverse primer.

[0207] The PCR reaction cycle was composed of the following steps:

[0208] 5 min at 96° C.;

[0209] 35 times (30 s at 96° C.; 20 s at 58° C.; 30 s at 72° C.);

[0210] 10 min at 72° C.

[0211] The PCR reaction was carried out in 10 mM Tris.HCl pH 8.3? 50 mM KCl, 1.5 mM MgCl20.001% (w/v) gelatine, 200 μM DNTP's (DATP, dGTP, dCTP, dTTP), 20 pmol of each primer and 1 U AmpliTaq (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., USA). The length of the obtained PCR products was verified on an agarose gel according to Sambrook et al. (1989).

EXAMPLE 5:

Amplification exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-A

[0212] Blood samples were collected from a Caucasian donor at B.A.R.C. (Gent, Belgium). Nucleic acids were prepared from the blood samples by use of the QIAamp Blood Kit (Qiagen. Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer's protocol.

5.1 Primer mix for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-A

[0213] A primer mix was used for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-A consisting of the following primer sets:

Amplicon	Primerset	Sequence (5′-3′)	SEQ ID NO
Exon 1-2	5APbio (5′)	B-TTCTCCCCAGACGCCGAGGATGGCC	144
	3ex2APbio (3′)	B-ATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT	1
Exon 3	5ex3APbio (5′)	B-CAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC	104
	3ex3APbio (3′)	B-CCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG	156
Exon 4	5ex4APbio (5′)	B-GTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT	205
	3ex4APbio (3′)	B-TTGGGCAGACCCTCATGCTGC	311
B = biotine.

[0214] The PCR reaction cycle was composed of the following steps:

[0215] 1 min 96° C.;

[0216] 5 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 64° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0217] 5 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 62° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0218] 10 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 60° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0219] 15 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 55 ° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0220] 5 min 72 ° C.;

[0221] 4° C.

[0222] The PCR reaction was carried out in 50 mM Tris.HCl pH 9.2, 16 mM (NH4)2SO4, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 200 μM dNTP's (dATP, dGTP, dCTP, dTTP), 2.5 U Taq polymerase (Perkin Elmer, Roche Molecular Systems, Branchburg, N.J., US), 20 pmol primer 5APbio, 20 pmol primer 3ex2APbio, 40 pmol primer 5ex3APbio, 40 pmol primer 3ex3APbio, 15 pmol primer 5ex4APbio, 15 pmol primer 3ex4APbio and 0.1-0.5 μg DNA.

[0223] The length of the obtained amplification products was verified on a 3% agarose gel according to Sambrook et al. (1989). 3 bands of different length were obtained relating respectively to exon 2 (559 bp), exon 3 (439 bp) and exon 4 (380 bp) of HLA-A. By use of this protocol, the HLA-A exons were amplified strong enough for subsequent typing in a hybridization assay.

[0224] 5.2 Testing of the obtained amplification products in a HLA-A typing assay

[0225] The HLA-A amplicons were subsequently typed in a reverse hybridization assay based on the LiPA technology (Stuyver et al., 1993). After the amplification step as described above, the amplified nucleic acids were hybridized to a panel of 36 probes by use of the LiPA HLA-A kit (Innogenetics, Gent, Belgium) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results of this reverse hybridization are shown in FIG. 7.

[0226] For comparison, also an amplification product comprising exon 2 and exon 3 in one single amplicon was obtained by use of 5APBio (forward primer; SEQ ID NO 144) and 3APBio (reverse primer; SEQ ID NO 147). The hybridization of this larger amplicon to the probes on the LiPA strip is also shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 clearly illustrates that the amplicons obtained by separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 enable a more clear and prononounced typing then the larger amplicon obtained by amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 in one single amplicon.

EXAMPLE 6:

Amplification exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-B

[0227] Blood samples were collected from a Caucasian donor at B.A.R.C. (Gent, Belgium). Nucleic acids were prepared from the blood samples by use of the QIAamp Blood Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer's protocol.

[0228] 6.1 Primer mix for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-B

[0229] A primer mix was used for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-B consisting of the following primer sets:

Amplicon	Primerset	Sequence (5′-3′)	SEQ ID NO
Exon 2	IBPin1bio (5′)	B-GGGAGGAGCGAGGGGACCSCAG	145
	IB3Pin2bio (3′)	B-AACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC	109
Exon 3	IB5Pin2bio (5′)	B-CGCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG	224
	IB3Pin3bio (3′)	B-TCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC	234
Exon 4	5ex4IBbio (5′)	B-TCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG	267
	3ex4IBbio (3′)	B-TCGGCAGCCCTCATGCTGT	312
B = biotine.

[0230] The PCR reaction cycle was composed of the following steps:

[0231] 1 mm 96° C.;

[0232] 5 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 64° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0233] 5 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 62° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0234] 10 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 60° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0235] 15 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 55° C.: 50 sat 72° C.);

[0236] 5 min 72° C.;

[0237] 4° C.

[0238] The PCR reaction was carried out in 50 mM Tris.HCl pH 9.2, 16 mM (NH4)2SO4, 1.5 mM MgCl2, 200 μM dNTP's (dATP, dGTP, dCTP, dTTP), 2.5 U Taq polymerase (Perkin Elmer, Roche Molecular Systems, Branchburg, N.J., US), 35 pmol primer IBPin1bio, 35 pmol primer IBPin2bio, 50 pmol primer IB5Pin2bio, 50 pmol primer IB3Pin3bio, 10 pmol primer 5ex4IBbio, 10 pmol primer 3ex4IBbio and 0.1-0.5 μg DNA.

[0239] The length of the obtained amplification products was verified on a 3% agarose gel according to Sambrook et al. (1989). 3 bands of different length were obtained relating respectively to HLA-B exon 2 (555 bp), exon 3 (446 bp) and exon 4 (323 bp). By use of this protocol, the HLA-B exons were amplified strong enough for subsequent typing in a Line Probe Assay.

[0240] 6.2 Testing of the obtained amplification products in a HLA-B typing assay

[0241] The HLA-B amplicons were subsequently typed in a reverse hybridization assay based on the LiPA technology (Stuyver et al., 1993). After the amplification step as described above, the amplified nucleic acids were hybridized to a panel of 60 probes by use of the LiPA HLA-B kit (Innogenetics, Gent, Belgium) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results of this reverse hybridization are shown in FIG. 8.

[0242] For comparison, also an amplification product comprising exon 2 and exon 3 in one single amplicon was obtained by use of IBPin1 (forward primer; SEQ ID NO 145) and IBPin3 (reverse primer; SEQ ID NO 148). The hybridization of this larger amplicon to the probes on the LiPA strip is also shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 clearly illustrates that the amplicons obtained by separate amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 enable a more clear and prononounced typing then the larger amplicon obtained by amplification of exon 2 and exon 3 in one single amplicon.

EXAMPLE 7:

Amplification exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-C

[0243] Nucleic acids are prepared from the blood samples by use of the QlAamp Blood Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer's protocol. A primer mix is used for the separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4 of HLA-C consisting of the following primer sets:

Amplicon	Primerset	Sequence (5′-3′)	SEQ ID NO
Exon 2	5CIN1 (5′)	B-AGCGAGGGGCCCGCCCGGCGA	146
	IC3Pin2bio (3′)	B-GGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT	127
Exon 3	IC5Pin2bio (5′)	B-TCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT	139
	3CIN3 (3′)	B-GGAGATGGGGAAGGCTCCCCACT	149
Exon 4	5ex4ICbio (5′)	B-TCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC	299
	3ex4ICbio (3′)	B-CATCTCAGGGTGMRGGGCTT	313
B = biotine.

[0244] The PCR reaction cycle is composed of the following steps:

[0245] 1 min 96° C.;

[0246] 5 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 64° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0247] 5 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 62° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0248] 10 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 60° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0249] 15 times (30 s at 96° C.; 50 s at 55° C.; 50 s at 72° C.);

[0250] 5 min 72° C.;

[0251] 4° C.

[0252] The PCR reaction is carried out in 50 mM Tris.HCl pH 9.2, 16 mM (NH4)2SO41.5 mM MgCl2, 200 μM dNTP's (dATP, dGTP, dCTP, dTTP), 2.5 U Taq polymerase (Perkin Elmer, Roche Molecular Systems, Branchburg, N.J., US), 20 pmol of each primer and 0.1-0.5 μg DNA.

[0253] The length of the obtained amplification products is verified on a 3% agarose gel according to Sambrook et al. (1989). 3 bands of different length are obtained relating respectively to HLA-C exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4. By use of this protocol, the HLA-C exons are amplified strong enough for subsequent typing in a Line Probe Assay.

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[0289] Wu D and Wallace B (1989) The ligation amplification reaction (LAR)—amplification of specific DNA sequences using sequential rounds of template-dependent ligation. Genomics 4: 560-569.

[0290] Yang S Y (1987) A standardised method for detection of HLA-A and HLA-B alleles by one-dimensional isoelectric focusing (IEF) gel electrophoresis. Immunobiology of HLA. Histocompatibility testing (ed. B Dupont). Springer-Verlag, N.Y., USA. pp. 332-335.

[0291] Yoshida M, Kimura A, Numano F and Sasazuki T (1992) Polymerase-chain-reaction-based analysis of polymorphism in the HLA-B gene. Hum Immunol 34: 257-266.

Claims

1. Method for the locus-specific, separate amplification of exon 2, exon 3 and/or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles, making use of at least one primer set wherein: for the amplification of exon 2, the reverse primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C; for the amplification of exon 3, the forward primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 2 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C and/or the reverse primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C; for the amplification of exon 4, the forward primer specifically hybridizes to a locus-specific target sequence in intron 3 of respectively HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C.

2. Method according to claim 1 further characterized that the locus-specific target sequence is situated at: position 67, 96, 109, 110, 118, 123, 131 or 181 of the HLA-A intron 2 (FIG. 1) and/or position 32, 50, 62, 73, 83, 86, 118, 130, 150, 501, 525, 561 or 571 of the HLA-A intron 3 (FIG. 4); or position 35 or 170 of the HLA-B intron 2 (FIG. 2) and/or position 42, 46, 65, 68, 96, 438, 502, 524, 547 or 571 of the HLA-B intron 3 (FIG. 5); or position 84, 107 or 142 of the HLA-C intron 2 (FIG. 3) and/or position 461, 477, 527, 545 or 561 of the HLA-C intron 3 (FIG. 6).

3. Method according to claim 2 further characterized that said positions constitute the 3′ end of the primer that is used for the amplification of exon 2, exon 3 or exon 4.

4. Method according to claim 3 further characterized that the primer is chosen from the following list: for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A (table 1): 335′ATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′(SEQ ID NO1)5′GATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′(SEQ ID NO2)5′GGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′(SEQ ID NO3)5′YGGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′(SEQ ID NO4)5′GYGGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′(SEQ ID NO5)5′GGYGGATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT3′(SEQ ID NO6)5′GGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′(SEQ ID NO7)5′GGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′(SEQ ID NO8)5′AGGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′(SEQ ID NO9)5′AAGGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′(SEQ ID NO10)5′CAAGGGTCTCGGRGTCCCGCGGCT3′(SEQ ID NO11)5′CTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′(SEQ ID NO12)5′TCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′(SEQ ID NO13)5′CTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′(SEQ ID NO14)5′CCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′(SEQ ID NO15)5′GCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′(SEQ ID NO16)5′GGCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTCG3′(SEQ ID NO17)5′TCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′(SEQ ID NO18)5′CTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′(SEQ ID NO19)5′CCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′(SEQ ID NO20)5′GCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′(SEQ ID NO21)5′GGCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′(SEQ ID NO22)5′GGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCAAGGGTCTC3′(SEQ ID NO23)5′CCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′(SEQ ID NO30)5′GCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′(SEQ ID NO31)5′CGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′(SEQ ID NO32)5′GCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′(SEQ ID NO33)5′GGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′(SEQ ID NO34)5′AGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCGGGDCA3′(SEQ ID NO35)5′AGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′(SEQ ID NO36)5′AAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′(SEQ ID NO37)5′WAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′(SEQ ID NO38)5′TWAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′(SEQ ID NO39)5′GTWAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′(SEQ ID NO40)5′GGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGCCTCTCCCG3′(SEQ ID NO41)5′CCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′(SEQ ID NO42)5′ACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′(SEQ ID NO43)5′AACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′(SEQ ID NO44)5′AAACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′(SEQ ID NO45)5′GAAACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′(SEQ ID NO46)5′TGAAACCGGGTWAAGGCGCCTGGGC3′(SEQ ID NO47)5′YCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′(SEQ ID NO48)5′GYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′(SEQ ID NO49)5′YGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′(SEQ ID NO50)5′CYGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′(SEQ ID NO51)5′CCYGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′(SEQ ID NO52)5′CCCYGYCCVGCCCCGACCAACCYGG3′(SEQ ID NO53)for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A (table 2; table 3): 345′CGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO54)5′ACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO55)5′CACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO56)5′CCACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO57)5′CCCACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO58)5′CCCCACGGACGGGCCRGGTSRCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO59)5′GGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′(SEQ ID NO60)5′GGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′(SEQ ID NO61)5′CGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′(SEQ ID NO62)5′CCGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′(SEQ ID NO63)5′TCCGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′(SEQ ID NO64)5′CTCCGGGTCCGAGATCCRCCCCGAA3′(SEQ ID NO65)5′CCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′(SEQ ID NO66)5′RCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′(SEQ ID NO67)5′CRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′(SEQ ID NO68)5′CCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′(SEQ ID NO69)5′TCCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′(SEQ ID NO70)5′ATCCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCC3′(SEQ ID NO71)5′CCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′(SEQ ID NO72)5′CCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′(SEQ ID NO73)5′RCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′(SEQ ID NO74)5′CRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′(SEQ ID NO75)5′CCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′(SEQ ID NO76)5′TCCRCCCCGAAGCCGCGGGACYCCG3′(SEQ ID NO77)5′CGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO84)5′CCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO85)5′GCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO86)5′AGCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO87)5′AAGCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO88)5′GAAGCCGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO89)5′GACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′(SEQ ID NO90)5′GGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′(SEQ ID NO91)5′GGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′(SEQ ID NO92)5′CGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′(SEQ ID NO93)5′GCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′(SEQ ID NO94)5′CGCGGGACYCCGAGACCCTTGDCCC3′(SEQ ID NO95)5′GACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′(SEQ ID NO96)5′AGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′(SEQ ID NO97)5′GAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′(SEQ ID NO98)5′CGAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′(SEQ ID NO99)5′CCGAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′(SEQ ID NO100)5′YCCGAGACCCTTGDCCCGGGAGAGG3′(SEQ ID NO101)5′GTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO102)5′AGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO103)5′CAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO104)5′TCAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO105)5′TTCAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO106)5′TTTCAGTTTAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO107)5′AGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′(SEQ ID NO150)5′CAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′(SEQ ID NO151)5′CCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′(SEQ ID NO152)5′GCCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′(SEQ ID NO153)5′GGCCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′(SEQ ID NO154)5′AGGCCAGCCCGGGAGATCTAYAGGC3′(SEQ ID NO155)5′CCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′(SEQ ID NO156)5′CCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′(SEQ ID NO157)5′TCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′(SEQ ID NO158)5′CTCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′(SEQ ID NO159)5′TCTCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′(SEQ ID NO160)5′GTCTCCCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG3′(SEQ ID NO161)5′CCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO162)5′TCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO163)5′GTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO164)5′GGTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO165)5′TGGTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO166)5′TTGGTCCCAAWTGTCTCCCCTCCTT3′(SEQ ID NO167)5′CTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′(SEQ ID NO168)5′TCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′(SEQ ID NO169)5′TTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′(SEQ ID NO170)5′ATTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′(SEQ ID NO171)5′TATTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′(SEQ ID NO172)5′ATATTCTAGTGTTGGTCCCAAWTGT3′(SEQ ID NO173)5′GGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′(SEQ ID NO174)5′AGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′(SEQ ID NO175)5′GAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′(SEQ ID NO176)5′GGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′(SEQ ID NO177)5′GGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′(SEQ ID NO178)5′AGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGTTGG3′(SEQ ID NO179)5′GGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO180)5′GGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO181)5′AGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO182)5′GAGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO183)5′AGAGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO184)5′CAGAGGGAGGGYGATATTCTAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO185)5′CCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′(SEQ ID NO186)5′ACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′(SEQ ID NO187)5′AACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′(SEQ ID NO188)5′AAACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′(SEQ ID NO189)5′GAAACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′(SEQ ID NO190)5′GGAAACCCAGGAGGAKTCCTCTCCC3′(SEQ ID NO191)5′AGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′(SEQ ID NO192)5′CAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′(SEQ ID NO193)5′ACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′(SEQ ID NO194)5′TACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′(SEQ ID NO195)5′GTACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′(SEQ ID NO196)5′GGTACAGGATCTGGAAACCCAGGAG3′(SEQ ID NO197)5′TCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′(SEQ ID NO198)5′CTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′(SEQ ID NO199)5′CCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′(SEQ ID NO200)5′ACCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′(SEQ ID NO201)5′AACCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′(SEQ ID NO202)5′GAACCTCAGAGTCACTCTCTGGTAC3′(SEQ ID NO203)for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A (table 4): 355′TTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′(SEQ ID NO204)5′GTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′(SEQ ID NO205)5′GGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′(SEQ ID NO206)5′GGGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′(SEQ ID NO207)5′TGGGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′(SEQ ID NO208)5′CTGGGTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT3′(SEQ ID NO209)5′GGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′(SEQ ID NO24)5′RGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′(SEQ ID NO25)5′CRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′(SEQ ID NO26)5′CCRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′(SEQ ID NO27)5′CCCRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′(SEQ ID NO28)5′TCCCRGGTGTCCTGTCCATTCTCAA3′(SEQ ID NO29)5′CTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′(SEQ ID NO210)5′GCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′(SEQ ID NO211)5′TGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′(SEQ ID NO212)5′RTGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′(SEQ ID NO213)5′YRTGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′(SEQ ID NO214)5′GYRTGCTGGWGGAGTGTCCCATKAC3′(SEQ ID NO215)5′GTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′(SEQ ID NO216)5′TGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′(SEQ ID NO217)5′GTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′(SEQ ID NO218)5′AGTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′(SEQ ID NO219)5′GAGTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′(SEQ ID NO220)5′GGAGTGTCCCATKACAGATRCMMAA3′(SEQ ID NO221)for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-B (table 5): 365′ACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′(SEQ ID NO108)5′AACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′(SEQ ID NO109)5′CAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′(SEQ ID NO110)5′CCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′(SEQ ID NO111)5′MCCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′(SEQ ID NO112)5′GMCCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′(SEQ ID NO113)5′YGMCCAACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC3′(SEQ ID NO314)for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-B (table 6; table 7): 375′CYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′(SEQ ID NO114)5′CCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′(SEQ ID NO115)5′GCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′(SEQ ID NO116)5′GGCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′(SEQ ID NO117)5′CGGCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′(SEQ ID NO118)5′CCGGCCYGGGGCGSAGGTCACGACT3′(SEQ ID NO119)5′CCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′(SEQ ID NO120)5′ACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′(SEQ ID NO121)5′TACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′(SEQ ID NO122)5′TTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′(SEQ ID NO123)5′TTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′(SEQ ID NO124)5′GTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′(SEQ ID NO125)5′CGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′(SEQ ID NO222)5′GCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′(SEQ ID NO223)5′CGCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG3′(SEQ ID NO224)5′CGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′(SEQ ID NO225)5′TCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′(SEQ ID NO226)5′CTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′(SEQ ID NO227)5′TCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′(SEQ ID NO228)5′TTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′(SEQ ID NO229)5′CTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCCGSC3′(SEQ ID NO230)5′TCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO231)5′TTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO232)5′CTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO233)5′TCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO234)5′YTCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO235)5′CYTCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC3′(SEQ ID NO236)5′GATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′(SEQ ID NO237)5′TGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′(SEQ ID NO238)5′CTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′(SEQ ID NO239)5′GCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′(SEQ ID NO240)5′CGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′(SEQ ID NO241)5′GCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYTCTT3′(SEQ ID NO242)5′GCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′(SEQ ID NO243)5′CGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′(SEQ ID NO244)5′GCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′(SEQ ID NO245)5′AGCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′(SEQ ID NO246)5′TAGCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′(SEQ ID NO247)5′CTAGCGCTGATCCCATTTTCCTCYT3′(SEQ ID NO248)5′TCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′(SEQ ID NO249)5′CTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′(SEQ ID NO250)5′TCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′(SEQ ID NO251)5′TTCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′(SEQ ID NO252)5′ATTCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′(SEQ ID NO253)5′CATTCTCCATTCAAGGGAGGGCGAC3′(SEQ ID NO254)for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-B (table 8): 385′AGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′(SEQ ID NO255)5′GAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′(SEQ ID NO256)5′GGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′(SEQ ID NO257)5′AGGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′(SEQ ID NO258)5′TAGGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′(SEQ ID NO259)5′ATAGGAGATTATCCCAGGTGCCTGC3′(SEQ ID NO260)5′TGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′(SEQ ID NO261)5′GTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′(SEQ ID NO262)5′GGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′(SEQ ID NO263)5′AGGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′(SEQ ID NO264)5′CAGGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′(SEQ ID NO265)5′CCAGGTGTCCTGYCCATTCTCAGKC3′(SEQ ID NO266)5′TCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′(SEQ ID NO267)5′GTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′(SEQ ID NO268)5′GGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′(SEQ ID NO269)5′TGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′(SEQ ID NO270)5′CTGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′(SEQ ID NO271)5′KCTGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′(SEQ ID NO272)5′GKCTGGTCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG3′(SEQ ID NO273)5′TSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′(SEQ ID NO274)5′GTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′(SEQ ID NO275)5′TGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′(SEQ ID NO276)5′GTGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′(SEQ ID NO277)5′GGTGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′(SEQ ID NO278)5′GGGTGTSCCATGARAGATGCMAAGC3′(SEQ ID NO279)5′GWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO280)5′TGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO281)5′CTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO282)5′CCTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO283)5′GCCTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO284)5′CGCCTGWAWTTTCTGACTCTTCCCA3′(SEQ ID NO285)for the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-C (table 9): 395′GTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′(SEQ ID NO126)5′GGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′(SEQ ID NO127)5′CGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′(SEQ ID NO128)5′CCGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′(SEQ ID NO129)5′YCCGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′(SEQ ID NO130)5′CYCCGGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT3′(SEQ ID NO131)for the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-C (table 10): 405′CGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′(SEQ ID NO132)5′TCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′(SEQ ID NO133)5′GTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′(SEQ ID NO134)5′GGTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′(SEQ ID NO135)5′GGGTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′(SEQ ID NO136)5′CGGGTCGCCCCRAGTCTCCSSGTCT3′(SEQ ID NO137)5′CGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′(SEQ ID NO138)5′TCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′(SEQ ID NO139)5′CTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′(SEQ ID NO140)5′CCTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′(SEQ ID NO141)5′CCCTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′(SEQ ID NO142)5′ACCCTCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT3′(SEQ ID NO143)for the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-C (table 11): 415′GTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′(SEQ ID NO 286)5′GGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′(SEQ ID NO 287)5′AGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′(SEQ ID NO 288)5′CAGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′(SEQ ID NO 289)5′CCAGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′(SEQ ID NO 290)5′CCCAGGTGCCTGTGTCCAGGCTGGC3′(SEQ ID NO 291)5′TGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′(SEQ ID NO 292)5′CTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′(SEQ ID NO 293)5′GCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′(SEQ ID NO 294)5′GGCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′(SEQ ID NO 295)5′AGGCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′(SEQ ID NO 296)5′CAGGCTGGCGTCTGGGTTCTGTGCC3′(SEQ ID NO 297)5′CTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′(SEQ ID NO 298)5′TCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′(SEQ ID NO 299)5′TTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′(SEQ ID NO 300)5′RTTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′(SEQ ID NO 301)5′CRTTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′(SEQ ID NO 302)5′CCRTTCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC3′(SEQ ID NO 303)5′GCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′(SEQ ID NO 78)5′GGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′(SEQ ID NO 79)5′GGGCGGTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′(SEQ ID NO 80)5′TGGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′(SEQ ID NO 81)5′ATGGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′(SEQ ID NO 82)5′CATGGGCGCTGTTGGAGTGTCGCAA3′(SEQ ID NO 83)5′SCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO 304)5′CSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO 305)5′TCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO 306)5′GTCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO 307)5′TGTCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO 308)5′GTGTCSCAAGAGAGAWRCAAAGTGT3′(SEQ ID NO 309)

5. Method according to any of claims 1 to 4 further characterized that the amplification of exon 2 is carried out with at least one of the following forward primers: for HLA-A: 5APBio: B-TTCTCCCCAGACGCCGAGGATGGCC (SEQ ID NO 144); or for HLA-B: IBPin1: B-GGGAGGAGCGAGGGGACCSCAG (SEQ ID NO 145); or for HLA-C: 5CIN1: B-AGCGAGGGGCCCGCCCGGCGA (SEQ ID NO 146).

6. Method according to any of claims 1 to 5 further characterized that the amplification of exon 4 is carried out with at least one of the following reverse primers: for HLA-A: 3ex4APbio: B-TTGGGCAGACCCTCATGCTGC (SEQ ID NO 311); or for HLA-B: 3ex4IBbio: B-TCGGCAGCCCCTCATGCTGT (SEQ ID NO 312); or for HLA-C: 3ex4ICbio: B-CATCTCAGGGTGMRGGGCTT (SEQ ID NO 313).

7. Method according to any of claims 1 to 6 further characterized that: the amplification of exon 2 is carried out with at least one of the following primers sets: for HLA-A: 5APbio (B-TTCTCCCCAGACGCCGAGGATGGCC; SEQ ID NO 144) and 3ex2Apbio (B-ATCTCGGACCCGGAGACTGT; SEQ ID NO 1); for HLA-B: IBPin1 (B-GGGAGGAGCGAGGGGACCSCAG; SEQ ID NO 145) and IB3Pin2bio (B-AACCCGCGGGGATTTTGGCCTC; SEQ ID NO 109); for HLA-C: 5CIN1 (B-AGCGAGGGGCCCGCCCGGCGA; SEQ ID NO 146) and IC3Pin2bio (B-GGTCGAGGGTCTGGGCGGGTT; SEQ ID NO 127); the amplification of exon 3 is carried out with at least one of the following primer sets: for HLA-A: 5ex3APbio (B-CAGTITAGGCCAAAAATCCCCC; SEQ ID NO 104) and 3ex3APbio (B-CCCTCCTTGTGGGAGGCCAG; SEQ ID NO 156); for HLA-B: IB5Pin 2bio (B-CGCGTTTACCCGGTTTCATTTTCAGTTG; SEQ ID NO 224) and IB3Pin3bio (B-TCTTCTCGTKGGAGSCCATCCCC; SEQ ID NO 234); for HLA-C: IC5Pin2bio (B-TCGRCCGGRGAGAGCCCCAGT; SEQ ID NO 139) and 3CIN3 (B-GGAGATGGGGAAGGCTCCCCACT; SEQ ID NO 149); the amplification of exon 4 is carried out with at least one of the following primer sets: for HLA-A: 5ex4APbio (B-GTTCTGTGCTCYCTTCCCCAT; SEQ ID NO 205) and 3ex4APbio (B-TTGGGCAGACCCTCATGCTGC; SEQ ID NO 311); for HLA-B: 5ex4IBbio (B-TCACATGGGTGGTCCTAGG; SEQ ID NO 267) and 3ex4IBbio (B-TCGGCAGCCCCTCATGCTGT; SEQ ID NO 312); for HLA-C: 5ex4ICbio (B-TCTCAGGATRGTCACATGGSC; SEQ ID NO 299) and 3ex4ICbio (B-CATCTCAGGGTGMRGGGCTT; SEQ ID NO 313).

8. Method according to any of claims 1 to 7 further characterized that both exon 2 and exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C are amplified by use of a multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer pair for the amplification of exon 2 and at least one primer pair for the amplification of exon 3.

9. Method according to any of claims 1 to 7 further characterized that all three exons, exon 2, exon 3 and exon 4, of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C are amplified by use of a multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer pair for the amplification of exon 2, at least one primer pair for the amplification of exon 3 and at least one primer pair for the amplification of exon 4.

10. A primer as defined by any of claims 1 to 7, for use in the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

11. A primer as defined by any of claims 1 to 7, for use in the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

12. A primer as defined by any of claims 1 to 7, for use in the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

13. A primer set consisting of a combination of a forward and a reverse primer as defined in any of claims 1 to 7, for use in the amplification of exon 2 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

14. A primer set consisting of a combination of a forward and a reverse primer as defined in any of claims 1 to 7, for use in the amplification of exon 3 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

15. A primer set consisting of a combination of a forward and a reverse primer as defined in any of claims 1 to 7, for use in the amplification of exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles.

16. A multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer set according to claim 13 for the amplification of exon 2 and one primer set according to claim 14 for amplification of exon 3.

17. A multiplex primer mix containing at least one primer set according to claim 13 for the amplification of exon 2, one primer set according to claim 14 for amplification of exon 3 and one primer set according to claim 15 for the amplification of exon 4.

18. Method for the typing or subtyping of one or more HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles in a sample comprising the following steps: (i) if needed, release, isolation and/or concentration of the nucleic acids present in said sample; (ii) amplification of the nucleic acids according to any of claims 1 to 9; (iii) typing of the specific HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C allele present in said sample.

19. Method according to claim 18 further characterized that the typing step is carried out by hybridization with one or more suitable probes.

20. A diagnostic kit for the typing or subtyping of one or more HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles in a sample comprising the following components: (i) when appropriate, a means for releasing, isolating or concentrating the nucleic acids present in said sample; (ii) a primer set or a primer mix according to any of claims 13 to 17; (iii) a means for the typing of the specific HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C allele present in said sample.

21. A line probe assay for the typing or subtyping of one or more HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C alleles in a sample comprising the following components: (i) when appropriate, a means for releasing, isolating or concentrating the nucleic acids present in said sample; (ii) a primer pair or a primer mix according to any of claims 13 to 17; (iii) at least one probe that specifically hybridizes with exon 2, exon 3 or exon 4 of HLA-A, HLA-B or HLA-C, fixed to a solid support; (iv) a hybridization buffer, or components necessary for producing said buffer; (v) a wash solution, or components necessary for producing said solution; (vi) when appropriate, a means for detecting the hybrids resulting from the preceding hybridization.