13304 results for ""pdc"+"heritage+language"+census+study"

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• Kids First: Congenital Heart Defects and Laterality Birth Defects

  Laterality defects occur in approximately 1:10,000 newborns and are associated with a range of structural birth defects and abnormalities of organ positioning. Gut malrotation, biliary atresia, asplenia or polysplenia, complex cardiovascular malformations, and midline defects such as neural tube defects, vertebral anomalies and rib fusions are found in various combinations in patients with laterality defects. In addition, a subset of laterality defects caused by abnormalities of cilia position or function are associated with additional medical problems such as chronic sinusitis and bronchiectasis that require specific preventive care; however these patients frequently are undiagnosed until late in disease course. The goal of this project is to elucidate the genetic architecture of laterality disorders in order to inform medical management and risk stratification and to prevent complications. Laterality disorders are genetically heterogeneous and we and others have previously identified single nucleotide variants inherited in an X-linked or autosomal recessive manner as explanations for a minority of cases. In addition, we have demonstrated copy number variants (CNVs) as a mechanism of disease that requires additional investigation. We hypothesize that the majority of cases result from complex genetic inheritance. We propose to investigate this hypothesis using a multifaceted analysis approach in our extremely well phenotyped cohort of 538 probands with laterality disorders. Nested within this cohort are 105 trios who have not had previous sequencing, probands who have had exome sequencing and are excellent candidates for gene discovery via whole genome sequencing (WGS), and families with multiple affected family members for family-based analysis. All trios will be analyzed by transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) including rare variant TDT. De novo mutations will also be identified from trios for potential gene discovery. Using all probands, we will identify the prevalence of pathogenic CNVs. In addition, we will perform burden analyses to identify genes, gene interactions, and pathways important for susceptibility to laterality disorders. Finally, our rare families with multiple affected members will be studied using family based segregation analysis. This comprehensive genetic analysis in patients with laterality disorders is necessary to identify the appropriate clinical diagnostic testing for risk stratification, to elucidate underlying genetic architecture and facilitate novel gene discovery, and to provide essential knowledge about genes and pathways impacting the development of laterality disorders.

  Study phs002589

• Effect of Crohn's Disease Risk Alleles on Enteric Microbiota

  This UH2/UH3 demonstration project entitled "Effects of Crohn's disease risk alleles on enteric microbiota" is focused on characterizing intestinal associated microbiota in patients with ileal Crohn's disease (ileal CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) and control patients without inflammatory bowel diseases (non-IBD). We hypothesize that genetic factors that affect Paneth cell function, contribute to compositional changes in intestinal microbiota. These changes in microbiota may lead to reduction of protective commensal organisms and increased numbers of aggressive organisms that incite intestinal inflammation. This hypothesis is being tested by high throughput 16S rRNA sequence analysis of de-identified ileal and colonic tissues that have been archived at Washington University St. Louis, University of North Carolina, Mount Sinai Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic. Multivariate analysis of the metagenomic data will be conducted with genotyping metadata (highly reproducible CD risk alleles, including NOD2 and ATG16L1) and phenotyping metadata (e.g. age, gender, race, body mass index, medications and smoking.) Shotgun sequencing will be performed on selected fecal specimens linked to ileal tissues to identify additional, or auxiliary, or synergistic pathogenic factors or other functional changes in the microbiome. Because members of this research team have observed that a chronic viral infection is required for the Paneth cell defect in Atg16l1 hypomorphic mice, a major focus of these studies will be towards identifying potential viral triggers for the defective Paneth cell phenotype in individuals harboring the ATG16L1 risk allele. Novel genetic probes for protective and aggressive organisms will be developed by mining bacterial genome and shotgun sequencing data. Genomic sequences will be produced for candidate protective and aggressive strains (e.g. adherent-invasive strains of E. coli) isolated from human intestinal tissues where there is limited existing genome information. Quantitative qPCR assays using the novel as well as established genetic probes will be conducted to test the hypothesis that an imbalance between protective and aggressive organisms is associated with genetic factors that affect Paneth cell function. Our combined expertise in multiple disciplines across multiple institutions, our demonstrated ability to collect a large number of well-phenotyped samples with longitudinal clinical information that will be linked to host response and morphologic studies, and our consortium's capacity for high-throughput sequencing will be used to investigate how alterations in human microbiome relate to CD risk alleles and CD pathogenesis.

  Study phs000255

• Region-specific Transcriptome Analysis of the Human Retina and Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE)/Choroid

  Proper spatial differentiation of retinal cell types is necessary for normal human vision. Many retinal diseases, such as Best disease and male germ cell associated kinase (MAK)-associated retinitis pigmentosa, preferentially affect distinct topographic regions of the retina. While much is known about the distribution of cell types in the retina, the distribution of molecular components across the posterior pole of the eye has not been well-studied. To investigate regional difference in molecular composition of ocular tissues, we assessed differential gene expression across the temporal, macular, and nasal retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid of human eyes using RNA-Seq. RNA from temporal, macular, and nasal retina and RPE/choroid from four human donor eyes was extracted, poly-A selected, fragmented, and sequenced as 100 bp read pairs. Digital read files were mapped to the human genome and analyzed for differential expression using the Tuxedo software suite. Retina and RPE/choroid samples were clearly distinguishable at the transcriptome level. Numerous transcription factors were differentially expressed between regions of the retina and RPE/choroid. Photoreceptor-specific genes were enriched in the peripheral samples, while ganglion cell and amacrine cell genes were enriched in the macula. Within the RPE/choroid, RPE-specific genes were upregulated at the periphery while endothelium associated genes were upregulated in the macula. Consistent with previous studies, BEST1 expression was lower in macular than extramacular regions. The MAK gene was expressed at lower levels in macula than in extramacular regions, but did not exhibit a significant difference between nasal and temporal retina. The regional molecular distinction is greatest between macula and periphery and decreases between different peripheral regions within a tissue. Datasets such as these can be used to prioritize candidate genes for possible involvement in retinal diseases with regional phenotypes. Reprinted from Whitmore, S.S., Wagner, A.H., DeLuca, A.P., Drack, A.V., Stone, E.M., Tucker, B.A., Zeng, S., Braun, T.A., Mullins, R.F., Scheetz, T.E., 2014. Transcriptomic analysis across nasal, temporal, and macular regions of human neural retina and RPE/choroid by RNA-Seq. Experimental Eye Research. Used under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license. Additional RNA sequencing was performed on temporal, macular, nasal, inferior, and superior retina from a fifth subject and is included in this dataset. See original publication for details.

  Study phs001151

• Discovery of Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility Genes in High-Risk Families

  Colorectal cancer remains one of the most common cancers in the US with 146,970 new diagnoses and 49,920 deaths estimated for 2009. Colon cancer is also one of the most familial of cancers. Individuals with a first-degree relative with colon cancer have a 2- to 3-fold increased risk, and those with more than one first-degree relative with colon cancer, or a single first-degree relative affected at age 50 years, have a 3- to 6-fold greater risk than those with no family history. The most prominent high-risk colorectal cancer susceptibility genes, APC, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PTEN, were all discovered more than a decade ago. Currently, mutation screening of these genes, plus a short list of additional genes that are responsible for a very small fraction of colorectal cancer, plays an important role in the clinical management of individuals with a strong family history of the disease or syndromic evidence for the presence of a gene mutation. At the other end of the risk spectrum, genome-wide association studies have identified a number of common alleles with very modest effects on colorectal cancer risk; their clinical utility has yet to be established. However, taken together, the known spectrum of genetic effects only explain about one quarter of the overall familial excess of colorectal cancer. It should be emphasized that, at present, the vast majority of individuals seen at familial cancer clinics are counseled on the basis of their family history alone because they do not have mutations in the known susceptibility genes. Accordingly, the long-term objective of this project is to identify the majority of genes responsible for the unexplained component of inherited colorectal cancer risk. Nextgen DNA sequencing is well suited for application to research questions in genetic susceptibility for which linkage analysis is confounded by extensive genetic heterogeneity. Taking advantage of unparalleled familial cancer genetics resources available through the Utah Population Database, candidate genes have been identified by sequencing all of the gene exons in the human genome from a series of colorectal cancer cases with a very strong family history of colorectal cancer not explained by one of the currently known high-risk susceptibility genes.

  Study phs001787

• Kids First: The Genomic Basis of Structural Birth Defects Associated with Chromosome 18 Copy Number Changes

  Chromosome abnormalities are a common cause of structural birth defects. Both childhood cancers and structural birth defects are critical and costly conditions associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Elucidating the underlying genetic etiology of these diseases has the potential to profoundly improve preventative measures, diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions.However, because these genomic copy number changes involve multiple genes and because most of these conditions are individually rare, defining the specific causative genes behind specific phenotypes has been a challenge. We met that challenge by spending the last 28 years enrolling and evaluating anyone with a chromosome 18 abnormality. The cohort now includes over 700 individuals with a wide variety of chromosome 18 copy number changes (CNV), as well as their parents. Because the vast majority of these participants have individually unique CNVs, we have been able to perform extensive genotype-phenotype correlations resulting in 58 publications. Of the 263 genes on chromosome 18, 28 are linked to specific hemizygous phenotypes. However, most have low penetrance. Genomic sequence data could identify variants in the extant allele that are hypermorphic and compensate for hemizygosity, or are hypomorphic and exacerbate hemizygosity. Additionally, there are phenotypes within this cohort that are rare, or an extreme version of one of the more common phenotypes. Genomic sequence data could help discover new biallelic conditions by revealing functional sequence variants of the extant allele. In both of these cases, there could also be variants in other genes on other chromosomes that may be associated with the phenotype that confer susceptibility or resilience. Inclusion of this unique cohort in the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program can advance the goals of the program in several ways. First, by adding known susceptibility loci to the existing Kids First cohorts for the structural birth defects that are also found in our cohort. Second, for those structural birth defects known to be polygenetic, this cohort has a single defined risk factor which can simplify the search for secondary factors. Third, these studies can also bring clarity to people with chromosome 18 conditions and help to make the genotype more accurately predict phenotype. This approach could be a model for understanding the many other rare chromosome abnormalities which collectively are a common cause of structural birth defects.

  Study phs002627

• Exome Sequencing of Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis

  Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) is a clinically severe, acute disease that only afflicts a fraction of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Although recent genomic studies of alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) and steatosis have revealed that several genes of large effect are shared between these disorders, the genetic and environmental sources of variation that lead to AH, AC or alcohol fatty liver disease (AFLD) in some AUD patients remain largely unknown. In order to investigate the genetic determinants of AH, we sequenced a 58 Mb exome target to high genotype accuracy (0.996) and completeness (0.941) in 1,735 patients with AH (N=784) and heavy drinking controls without alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) (N=951), detecting 1,085,982 unique single nucleotide variants (SNVs). Analysis of common SNPs that comprised 17.5% of those SNVs, we observed exome-wide significant association of PNPLA3 (rs738409-G allele: odds ratio [OR]=1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44-2.08, p =3.75e-9), as had previously been seen for AH in candidate gene contexts, and as previously observed for PNPLA3 to AC and nonalcohol steatohepatitis in GWAS. Other genes previously implicated in AC did not strongly contribute to AH, and the only prominently implicated (but not exome wide significant) gene overlapping with AUD was ADH1B, also a known liver disease gene. However, SNPs at ICOSLG (Chr 21) and TOX4/RAB2B (Chr 14), were also exome-wide significant and of large effect-size (ICOSLG rs13052840-C allele: OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.39-2.02, p = 4.59e-8; TOX4/RAB2B rs17516362-C allele: OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.50-0.74, p=1.25e-7). ICOSLG encodes a co-stimulatory signal for T-cell proliferation and cytokine secretion and induces B-cell proliferation and differentiation, and thus could be tied to the inflammatory component of AH. TOX4 was previously implicated in diabetes and immune system and its linked SNP is a cis eQTL for TOX4 and RAB2B. A polygenic signal was visible on the exome-wide quantile-quantile graph, where there was modest p value inflation (lambda = 1.040). Ranking p values of all 18,705 genes evaluated versus a list of 227 genes objectively precompiled for relationship to liver diseases (via GWAS), we observed a strong (pThe data generated here also represents a resource that can be used cumulatively or meta-analytically with future datasets.

  Study phs003659

• Sensitive and robust liquid biopsy-based detection of PIK3CA mutations

  Over the last years, the treatment of hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer patients has dramatically changed. Combination strategies attempting to overcome resistance to endocrine therapy such as targeting the PI3 kinase pathway are gaining importance. The phase III SOLAR-1 trial demonstrated the benefit of the addition of alpelisib to fulvestrant, thereby providing further clinical evidence of the increasing importance of PIK3CA testing. Here, we performed a comparison of liquid biopsy and tissue-based detection of PIK3CA mutations in HR-positive metastatic breast cancer patients. Plasma samples and the latest available tumor tissue from 69 patients with metastatic hormone-receptor positive breast cancer were analyzed for PIK3CA hotspot mutations. A high-resolution NGS assay (SiMSen-Seq) was used for plasma samples covering 11 recurrent PIK3CA mutations, used for stratification in SOLAR-1. Additionally, mFAST-SeqS was used to estimate the tumor fractions in the plasma samples. For tumor tissue samples, targeted Ion Torrent NGS was employed. Matched tissue and plasma samples were available from 63 patients. PIK3CA mutations were detected in 46.1% of the tissue samples and in 50.7% of the plasma samples. The variant allele frequency (VAF) ranged from 4.36% to 72.93% with a median of 28.60% in tissue samples, and from 0.28% to 49.85% with a median of 1.17% in plasma samples. The most frequent variants in tissue and plasma were H1047R, E545K, and E542K. We detected at least one of 11 PIK3CA mutations from the SOLAR-1 trial in 51/63 patients, both in tissue and plasma. In 7 patients, such mutations were found only in plasma. In 5 patients, PIK3CA mutations found in tissue were not detectable in ctDNA, 2 of which had a low tumor fraction.Together, in 33/67 plasma samples without detectable PIK3CA mutations, 18 samples had elevated tumor fraction, implicating true negative results. In the remaining 15 patients with low tumor fraction, additional tissue analysis was needed. SiMSen-Seq-based detection of PIK3CA mutations in plasma shows advantageous concordance with the tissue analyses. A combination with an untargeted, mutation-independent approach for detecting ctDNA fractions may confirm a negative PIK3CA result and thereby enhance the performance of the SiMSen-Seq test. This combinatory approach for selecting suitable patients for alpelisib treatment should be validated in larger patient cohorts.

  Study EGAS00001004940

• Dissociation of solid tumour tissues with cold active protease for single-cell RNA-seq minimizes conserved collagenase-associated stress responses

  Background Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) is a powerful tool for studying complex biological systems, such as tumour heterogeneity and tissue microenvironments. However, the sources of technical and biological variation in primary solid tumour tissues and patient-derived mouse xenografts for scRNAseq, are not well understood. Here, we used low temperature (6°C) protease and collagenase (37°C) to identify the transcriptional signatures associated with tissue dissociation across a diverse scRNAseq dataset comprising 128,481 cells from patient cancer tissues, patient-derived breast cancer xenografts and cancer cell lines.Results We observe substantial variation in standard quality control (QC) metrics of cell viability across conditions and tissues. From FACS sorted populations gated for cell viability, we identify a sub-population of dead cells that would pass standard data filtering practices, and quantify the extent to which their transcriptomes differ from live cells. We identify a further subpopulation of transcriptomically “dying” cells that exhibit up-regulation of MHC class I transcripts, in contrast with live and fully dead cells. From the contrast between tissue protease dissociation at 37°C or 6°C, we observe that collagenase digestion results in a stress response. We derive a core gene set of 512 heat shock and stress response genes, including FOS and JUN, induced by collagenase (37°C), which are minimized by dissociation with a cold active protease (6°C). While induction of these genes was highly conserved across all cell types, cell type-specific responses to collagenase digestion were observed in patient tissues. We observe that the yield of cancer and non-cancer cell types varies between tissues and dissociation methods.Conclusions The method and conditions of tumour dissociation influence cell yield and transcriptome state and are both tissue and cell type dependent. Interpretation of stress pathway expression differences in cancer single cell studies, including components of surface immune recognition such as MHC class I, may be especially confounded. We define a core set of 512 genes that can assist with identification of such effects in dissociated scRNA-seq experiments.

  Study EGAS00001003753

• Warm_autopsy__mutational_signatures_and_clonal_units

  Aims and objectives 1. To produce a ‘first generation map’ of mutational burdens and mutational processes that operate in normal human tissues. 2. To examine clonal units and their distribution across normal human tissues with the emphasis on these particular areas: a) Tissues with an architecturally defined unit: Are architectural structures populated by a progeny derived from a single stem cell? Are clonal units confined to a given architectural structure? Examples of tissues where such approach will be used include prostate gland (acini and ducts), small bowel (crypts), thyroid gland (follicles) and others. b) Tissues without an architecturally defined unit: What is the average size of clonal populations? This group includes stratified/pseudostratified epithelia with a basal layer within which there are stem cells that give rise to a progeny of cells showing upwards migration and lateral expansion (e.g. urothelium, cervical squamous epithelium, respiratory epithelium). This approach can also be used in tissues with a sheet-like cell arrangement, for example brain and adrenal gland. Methods To answer these questions, we will use a range of normal human tissue samples which have already been collected from a single deceased individual. The samples are currently stored in a -80C freezer. Ethanol fixed frozen sections will be prepared from these biopsies. Putative clonal units will be identified and dissected out using laser capture microscopy. DNA extraction will be performed using the in-house (CGP) protease based method. In terms of sequencing methods, the project will be split into 2 phases (2 different approaches): - Phase 1: This part of the project will utilise a combination of low input library preparation (developed by Peter Ellis) and standard whole genome sequencing (HiSeqX). The phase has already started (December 2016). This approach will be particularly useful in investigation of mitotically active tissues. - Phase 2: This part of the project will utilise a combination of low input library method (Peter Ellis) and Bottle-neck sequencing (BotSeqS). BotSeqS is a type of duplex sequencing method that offers a more accurate variant calling and allows genome interrogation at a single cell level. This method is currently being developed and is expected to be implemented in 3-6 months (March-April 2017). This approach will be particularly useful for post-mitotic tissues and tissues without pre-defined architectural units.

  Study EGAS00001002216

• Genome_Diversity_in_Africa_Project___GemCode_libraries

  Globally, human populations show structured genetic diversity as a result of geographical dispersion, selection and drift. Understanding this genetic variation can provide insights into the evolutionary processes that shape both human adaptation and variation in disease. Populations from Africa have the highest levels of genetic diversity. This characteristic, in addition to historical genetic admixture, can lead to complexities in the design of studies assessing the genetic determinants of disease and human variation. However, such studies of African populations are also likely to provide new opportunities to discover novel disease susceptibility loci and variants and refine gene–disease association signals. A systematic assessment of genetic diversity within Africa would facilitate genomic epidemiological studies in the region.The Genome Diversity in Africa Project (GDAP) will extend and expand the African Genome Variation (AGV) project, an international collaboration aimed to produce a comprehensive catalogue of human genetic variation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using a sequencing-based approach, GDA project aims to capture human genetic variation in Africa, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), structural variants, and haplotypes. This resource will make a substantial contribution to understanding patterns of genetic diversity within and among populations in Africa, as well as providing a global resource to help design, implement and interpret genomic studies in African populations and studies comprising globally diverse populations, complementing existing genomic resources. Specifically, we plan to carry out whole genome sequencing at high depth (30x) of up to 1000 individuals across Africa (25 individuals from each ethnolinguistic group). We have already completed sequencing from 5 ethno-linguistic groups and we are now adding others.Our scientific objectives are to: 1) develop a resource that provides a comprehensive catalogue of genetic variation in populations from Africa accessible to the global scientific community; 2) characterise population genetic diversity, structure, gene flow and admixture across Africa; 3) develop a cost-efficient, next-generation genotype array for diverse populations across Africa; and 4) facilitate whole genome-sequencing association studies of complex traits and diseases by developing a reference panel for imputation and resource for enhancing fine-mapping disease susceptibility loci. These scientific objectives will be supported by cross-cutting operational activities, including network and management of the consortium, research ethics, and research capacity building in statistical genetics and bioinformatics.

  Study EGAS00001001589