IMGT GENE-DB

IMGT GENE-DB provides a curated database of immunoglobulin (IG) and T cell receptor (TR) genes and alleles to support immunogenetics and immunoinformatics research.

Key Features:

• Coverage: Contains IG and TR genes and alleles from human and mouse genomes with ongoing inclusion of other vertebrates and coordination of nomenclature with the HUGO Nomenclature Committee and the Mouse Genome Database.
• IMGT-ONTOLOGY annotation: Uses IMGT-ONTOLOGY concepts to provide standardized keywords, labels, nomenclature and IMGT numbering and to link gene, sequence and 3D structure data, with visualization via IMGT Colliers de Perles.
• Detailed gene records: Each entry documents genome localization, allelic polymorphisms with reference sequences and functionality, known cDNAs and proteins, and available 3D structural information, with links to IMGT sequence databases and external genome resources.
• Search and retrieval: Supports searches by locus, group and subgroup based on IMGT classification concepts and provides configurable URLs for direct programmatic access.
• Integration with IMGT resources: Supplies the IMGT reference directory used for gene and allele comparison and assignment by IMGT tools.

Scientific Applications:

• Basic immunogenetics: Enables analysis of IG and TR gene organization, variation and standardized nomenclature in fundamental research.
• Comparative and veterinary immunology: Supports comparative immunogenetics across vertebrates for veterinary studies.
• Clinical mutation analysis: Supports mutation analysis in hematological malignancies such as leukemia and lymphoma.
• Antibody engineering: Provides reference sequences and allele information used in antibody engineering and humanization workflows.
• Repertoire analysis and NGS: Supports analysis of genomic and expressed IG and TR repertoires, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) data.

Methodology:

Applies IMGT-ONTOLOGY concepts and IMGT numbering to annotate genes and link sequences with 3D structures, provides IMGT Colliers de Perles visualization, maintains an IMGT reference directory for gene/allele comparison and assignment, and exposes search functionality based on IMGT classification concepts with configurable URLs for programmatic access.