HLA-DQB1 and autoimmune disease: The specific alleles, and especially the HLA-DQB1*06:02 allele or alleles in high linkage disequilibrium (LD) such as HLA-DRB1*15:01, have been previously associated with influenza-A infection7,8, autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis9, and with type-1 narcolepsy10.