Project description:Through thousands of years of breeding and strong human selection, the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) exists today within hundreds of closed populations throughout the world, each with defined phenotypes. A singular geographic region with broad diversity in dog breeds presents an interesting opportunity to observe potential mechanisms of breed formation. Italy claims 14 internationally recognized dog breeds, with numerous additional local varieties. To determine the relationship among Italian dog populations, we integrated genetic data from 263 dogs representing 23 closed dog populations from Italy, seven Apennine gray wolves. Using 142,840 genome-wide SNPs, this dataset was used in the identification of breed development routes for the Italian breeds that included divergence from common populations for a specific purpose, admixture of regional stock with that from other regions, and isolated selection of local stock with specific attributes.
Project description:We report the application of Illumina short RNA sequencing for characterization and discovery of miRNAs and moRNAs in two Italian Large White pig backfat tissue.
Project description:Objectives. Ovarian cancer (OC) is the eighth most common cancer and the eighth most common cause of cancer-related death in women. Identification of pathogenic variants in OC tissues is important to predict treatment response. This study aim to evaluate the mutational profile of a patient cohort, negative for BRCA1/2 germinal mutations and Mismatch Repair (MMR) defects, using next generation sequencing approach on DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. We used a custom NGS panel, targeting 34 cancer related-genes, and analyzed NGS data to identify somatic and germline mutations in Italian patients affected by primary epithelia ovarian cancer.
Project description:Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genes in lipid metabolism,inflammation and vesicular trafficking pathways as risk factors for late onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD). The mechanism by which they cause AD and their relationship to the amyloid cascade affected by genes causing early onset familial AD is unknown. Unproven hypotheses are that these LOAD genes modulate the amyloid cascade itself or downstream targets affected by this cascade.If so, it is likely that these genes and/or other genes in the same pathways may show alterations in their expression as an early consequence of misprocessing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and accumulation of amyloid β-peptides (Aβ). We report that in three independent APP transgenic mouse models of AD, multiple genes in lipid and inflammation pathways show very early changes in mRNA and protein expression. Many of these changes are reversed by treatment with LXR agonists, which regulate transcription of genes in lipid/inflammation pathways, and which we have previously shown can reverse the cognitive deficits and neuropathology in Tg2756 mice. These results suggest that changes in lipid and inflammation pathways are likely to be very early consequences of APP misprocessing and Aβ accumulation in AD. Moreover, genetic variants within these pathways might affect risk for AD by modulating this early response. These pathways are likely to contain biomarkers of early disease and targets for therapies. TgCRND8 mice and wild-type littermate controls at ages 70, 80, and 150 days (n = 4 mice per cohort) were used in the study.
Project description:We report the application of Illumina RNA sequencing for characterization and discovery of genes and transcripts in Italian Large Whtie pig backfat tissue.
Project description:Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains one of the grand challenges facing human society. Much controversy exists around the complex and multifaceted pathogenesis of this prevalent disease. Given strong human genetic evidence, there is little doubt, however, that microglia play an important role in preventing degeneration of neurons. E.g., loss-of-function of the microglial gene Trem2 render microglia dysfunctional and causes an early-onset neurodegenerative syndrome and Trem2 variants are among the strongest genetic risk factors for AD. Thus, restoring microglial function represents a rational therapeutic approach. Here we show that systemic hematopoietic cell transplantation followed by enhancement of microglia replacement restores microglial function in a Trem2 mutant model of Alzheimer’s disease.
Project description:Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genes in lipid metabolism,inflammation and vesicular trafficking pathways as risk factors for late onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD). The mechanism by which they cause AD and their relationship to the amyloid cascade affected by genes causing early onset familial AD is unknown. Unproven hypotheses are that these LOAD genes modulate the amyloid cascade itself or downstream targets affected by this cascade.If so, it is likely that these genes and/or other genes in the same pathways may show alterations in their expression as an early consequence of misprocessing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and accumulation of amyloid β-peptides (Aβ). We report that in three independent APP transgenic mouse models of AD, multiple genes in lipid and inflammation pathways show very early changes in mRNA and protein expression. Many of these changes are reversed by treatment with LXR agonists, which regulate transcription of genes in lipid/inflammation pathways, and which we have previously shown can reverse the cognitive deficits and neuropathology in Tg2756 mice. These results suggest that changes in lipid and inflammation pathways are likely to be very early consequences of APP misprocessing and Aβ accumulation in AD. Moreover, genetic variants within these pathways might affect risk for AD by modulating this early response. These pathways are likely to contain biomarkers of early disease and targets for therapies.
Project description:This study includes whole-genome sequencing data (at 4x depth) of 100 individuals from an Italian genetic isolate population (Carlantino, abbreviated CARL) of the Italian Network of Genetic Isolates (INGI). The INGI-CARL_SEQ project aims to combine available extensive genetic and phenotypic data to the latest high-throughput genome sequencing technology and ad hoc statistical analysis to identify new rare genetic variants underlying complex traits.
Project description:This study includes Phase 2 whole-genome sequencing data (at 4x depth)of 100 individuals from an Italian genetic isolate population (Val Borbera, abbreviated VBI) of the Italian Network of Genetic Isolates (INGI). The INGI-VBI_SEQ2 project aims to combine available extensive genetic and phenotypic data to the latest high-throughput genome sequencing technology and ad hoc statistical analysis to identify new rare genetic variants underlying complex traits.