An update on IgBLAST, a tool for Ig and TCR sequence analysis

Abstract The variable domain of B and T cell receptor is encoded by multiple genes, including the variable (V) gene, the diversity (D) gene and the joining (J) gene. Previously we developed an analysis tool, IgBLAST, for immunoglobulin sequences (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/igblast/). Here we describe our recent update on this tool. The new functionalities include capability to analyze T cell receptor sequences (TR), annotating the CDR3 region, extending alignment to 5′ end of the V region, more flexibility in search criteria and providing summarized information to aid large-scale sequence analysis. We use examples to demonstrate these new functionalities and their implications in Ig and TCR sequence analysis.