epiTOol: a browser-based HLA epitope (mis)matching application for small to large cohorts.

METHOD: epiTOol is a web-based application for transplantation immunogenetics and immunology, providing easy and reliable translation of high-resolution HLA typing into either predicted or confirmed epitopes. Unacceptable or acceptable HLA incompatibilities or mismatches are then easily definable, and the data is exported for further analyses. Unlike other similar tools, epiTOol allows for upload and analysis of large datasets of patient-donor combinations without the need for manual data entry. The results can be directly exported in table and text format for subsequent utilization in medical reports or data sheets.

CONCLUSION: epiTOol is designed for utilization in research activities dedicated to transplantation immunology in respective centers dealing with solid organ transplantation but will also be applicable to stem cell transplantation since the role of HLA-specific antibodies also increases dramatically here.