DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOGENETICS HLA DATABASE.
          J. Robinson1, J. G. Bodmer1, A. Malik2 and S. G .E. Marsh3.   1Imperial Cancer Research Fund Cancer and Immunogenetics Laboratory,  Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK, 2European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK .   3Anthony Nolan Research Institute, London, UK.
          The HLA Database is the second of the International Immunogenetics Databases, an integrated database specialising in sequences of the human histocompatability system. The database structure is based on established sequence databases and other small specialised databases, designed to contain highly annotated and validated sequences. Development of the database has been undertaken in collaboration with the European Bioinformatics Institute, to ensure close links with the EMBL nucleotide sequence database. The first release of the database will be available in autumn 1998. The current database is maintained at the Anthony Nolan Research Institute in London, which provides limited access to the database in the form of preformatted sequence alignments. The new release will provide a more detailed and fully interactive sequence database for users. The HLA Database expands on the existing facilities and provides better 'On-line' access via the World Wide Web. Tools include advances sequence queries, protein translations, phylogenetic analysis, sequence alignments and extensive links to other databases. The database also provides on-line submission tools for new sequences to the WHO HLA Nomenclature Committee for naming and inclusion into the database. The use of on-line interfaces will mean a larger number of users can access the many tools providing a more extensive source of sequence information on the human histocompatability complex. Future developments include more advanced query tools, development of a parallel database for non human primate sequences, and the strengthening of links with other sequence databases to provide users with a single and up to date sequence database, officially recognized by the WHO HLA Nomenclature Committee.