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The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the most polymorphic region of the human genome. Human leukocyte antigen-C (HLA-C) genes are located in the class I region of MHC. Most polymorphisms of HLA class I antigens are present in exons 2 and 3, which encode the α1 and α2 domains of the HLA-A heavy chain, involved in both peptide binding and HLA-restricted recognition by the T-cell receptor. Four new HLA-Cw alleles were identified in the Sudanese population during HLA class I and class II sequencing-based typing at the HLA-C locus of case–control study of Sudanese HIV patients, in individuals from different ethnic background. Based on the localization of the affected amino acid positions in an outer loop of the α-helix forming the side of the peptide-binding groove, we do not expect the replacement mutations to have an effect on peptide binding or T-cell receptor interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]