This is for investigators interested in the study of mAbs to leukocyte differentiation molecules in humans and other species. We have developed a taxonomic key program (tkp) for the characterization and comparative analysis of leukocyte differentiation antigens <http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/tkp> . Until now, the strategy for analysis has been to use 1) flow cytometry to compare the patterns of expression of mAb-defined molecules on normal leukocytes and panels of well characterized cell lines and 2) a statistical program to cluster mAbs with similar patterns of reactivity. This has been a useful method for first round screening in human leukocyte differentiation antigen workshops. However, for investigation in other species, this strategy has been less useful. Resolution of the clustering program has been limited in the study of leukocyte differentiation antigens in species where only a few cell lines have been available and where fewer laboratories have been available. The tkp program alleviates this problem and offers a way for individual investigators to compare the patterns of reactivity of their mAbs with mAbs used to cluster leukocyte differentiation antigens in humans. The design of the program is similar to the design of taxonomic keys used to identify plants. The database, developed from the database of the "Protein Reviews on the Web' <<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/prow>> and the Leukocyte FactsBook [Academic Press], can be queried to determine if a given mAb identifies a known or new molecule. The types of information used in the queries are lineage restriction, type of molecule, pattern of expression on leukocytes and stromal cells, and molecular weight. The program can also be used to call up information on one or groups of molecules (i.e., GPI-anchored molecules). Links to other relevant databases have been included to assist investigators in their studies. The links include the websites developed to summarize the last leukocyte differentiation workshops in ruminants and horses. The tkp program will be updated when the information is available from the 7th HLDA workshop that was just concluded this June. Regards, William (Bill) C. Davis Vet. Micro/Pathol, CVM Washington State Univ.
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