Project description:BackgroundTo determine the carrier frequency and pathogenic variants of common genetic disorders in the north Indian population by using next generation sequencing (NGS).MethodsAfter pre-test counselling, 200 unrelated individuals (including 88 couples) were screened for pathogenic variants in 88 genes by NGS technology. The variants were classified as per American College of Medical Genetics criteria. Pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants were subjected to thorough literature-based curation in addition to the regular filters. Variants of unknown significance were not reported. Individuals were counselled explaining the implications of the results, and cascade screening was advised when necessary.ResultsOf the 200 participants, 52 (26%) were found to be carrier of one or more disorders. Twelve individuals were identified to be carriers for congenital deafness, giving a carrier frequency of one in 17 for one of the four genes tested (SLC26A4, GJB2, TMPRSS3 and TMC1 in decreasing order). Nine individuals were observed to be carriers for cystic fibrosis, with a frequency of one in 22. Three individuals were detected to be carriers for Pompe disease (frequency one in 67). None of the 88 couples screened were found to be carriers for the same disorder. The pathogenic variants observed in many disorders (such as deafness, cystic fibrosis, Pompe disease, Canavan disease, primary hyperoxaluria, junctional epidermolysis bullosa, galactosemia, medium chain acyl CoA deficiency etc.) were different from those commonly observed in the West.ConclusionA higher carrier frequency for genetic deafness, cystic fibrosis and Pompe disease was unexpected, and contrary to the generally held view about their prevalence in Asian Indians. In spite of the small sample size, this study would suggest that population-based carrier screening panels for India would differ from those in the West, and need to be selected with due care. Testing should comprise the study of all the coding exons with its boundaries in the genes through NGS, as all the variants are not well characterized. Only study of entire coding regions in the genes will detect carriers with adequate efficiency, in order to reduce the burden of genetic disorders in India and other resource poor countries.
Project description:BackgroundFounder populations that have recently undergone important genetic bottlenecks such as French-Canadians and Ashkenazi Jews can harbor some pathogenic variants at a higher carrier rate than the general population, putting them at a higher risk for certain genetic diseases. In these populations, there can be considerable benefit to performing ethnic-based or expanded preconception carrier screening, which can help in the prevention or early diagnosis and management of some genetic diseases. Acadians are descendants of French immigrants who settled in the Atlantic Coast of Canada in the seventeenth century. Yet, the Acadian population has never been investigated for the prevalence/frequency of disease-causing genetic variants.MethodsAn exome sequencing panel for 312 autosomal recessive and 30 X-linked diseases was designed and specimens from 60 healthy participants were sequenced to assess carrier frequency for the targeted diseases.ResultsIn this study, we show that a sample population of Acadians in South-East New Brunswick harbor variants for 28 autosomal recessive and 1 X-linked diseases, some of which are significantly more frequent in comparison to reference populations.ConclusionResults from this pilot study suggests a need for further investigation of genomic variation in this population and possibly implementation of targeted carrier and neonatal screening programs.
Project description:22 pairs of normal colon\colon adenocarcinoma samples were genotyped using Illumina HumanOmni1-Quad BeadChip to estimate copy number alterations
Project description:Chemostat incubations were established and inoculated with sediments collected from Canyon Creek, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The chemostats experienced oxic-anoxic change of different frequency, High-frequency, Medium-frequency and Low-frequency. 18 samples were collected at the end of the final oxic phase and the final anoxic phase in the triplicated chemostats for metagenomic and metaproteomic analysis. 26 genomes were assembled from metagenomes. Proteomes were used to investigate translational regulation of each population associated with a genome.
Project description:Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (SEE) is a host-restricted bacterium that causes the common infectious upper respiratory disease known as strangles in horses. Perpetuation of SEE infection appears attributable to inapparent carrier horses because it does not persist long-term in the environment, infect other host mammals or vectors, and result in short-lived immunity. Whether pathogen factors enable SEE to remain in horses without causing clinical signs remains poorly understood. Thus, our objective was to use next-generation sequencing technologies to characterize the transcriptome of isolates of SEE from horses with acute clinical strangles and inapparent carrier horses to assess pathogen-associated changes that might reflect adaptions of SEE to the host contributing to inapparent carriage. RNA sequencing of SEE isolates from Pennsylvania demonstrated no genes that were differentially expressed between acute clinical and inapparent carrier isolates of SEE.