Killer immunoglobulin‐like receptor diversity in M alay subethnic groups of P eninsular M alaysia

Summary The KIR system shows variation at both gene content and allelic level across individual genome and populations. This variation reflects its role in immunity and has become a significant tool for population comparisons. In this study, we investigate KIR gene content in 120 unrelated individuals from the four M alay subethnic groups ( K elantan, J awa, B anjar and P attani M alays). Genotyping using commercial polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐specific primer ( PCR ‐ SSP ) kits revealed a total of 34 different KIR genotypes; 17 for K elantan, 15 for B anjar, 14 for J awa and 13 for P attani M alays. Two new variants observed in B anjar M alays have not previously been reported. Genotype AA and haplotype A were the most common in J awa (0.47 and 0.65, respectively), B anjar (0.37 and 0.52, respectively) and P attani (0.40 and 0.60, respectively) M alays. In contrast, K elantan M alays were observed to have slightly higher frequency (0.43) of genotype BB as compared with the others. Based on the KIR genes distribution, J awa, P attani and B anjar subethnic groups showed greater similarity and are discrete from K elantan M alays. A principal component plot carried out using KIR gene carrier frequency shows that the four M alay subethnic groups are clustered together with other S outh‐ E ast A sian populations. Overall, our observation on prevalence of KIR gene content demonstrates genetic affinities between the four M alay subethnic groups and supports the common origins of the A ustronesian‐speaking people.