4075 results for "*geneti*"

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• The spatial organization of intratumor heterogeneity andevolutionary trajectories of metastases in hepatocellular carcinoma

  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has one of the poorest survival amongst cancers. Using multi-regional sampling of nine resected HCC with different etiologies, we find that phylogenetic relationships of these sectors show diverse levels of genetic sharing spanning early to late diversification. Unlike the variegated pattern found in colorectal cancers, a large proportion of HCC display a clear Isolation-By-Distance pattern where spatially closer sectors are genetically more similar. Two resected intra-hepatic metastases showed genetic divergence occurring before and after primary tumor diversification respectively. Interestingly, metastatic tumors had much higher variability than their primary tumors, suggesting that intra-hepatic metastasis is accompanied by rapid diversification at the distant location. The presence of co-existing mutations offers the possibility of drug repositioning for HCC treatment. Taken together, these insights into intra-tumor heterogeneity allow for a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary trajectories of HCC and suggest novel avenues for personalized therapy.

  Study EGAS00001001603

• RNA sequencing CYLD cutaneous syndrome

  Patients with CYLD cutaneous syndrome (CCS; syn. Brooke-Spiegler syndrome) carry germline mutations in the tumor suppressor CYLD and develop multiple skin tumors with diverse histophenotypes. We comprehensively profiled the genomic landscape of 42 benign and malignant tumors across 13 individuals from four multigenerational families. Novel recurrent mutations were found in epigenetic modifiers DNMT3A and BCOR in 29% of benign tumors. Multi-level and microdissected sampling strikingly reveal that many clones with different DNMT3A mutations exist in these benign tumors, suggesting that intra-tumor heterogeneity is common. Integrated genomic, methylation and transcriptomic profiling in selected tumours suggest that isoform specific DNMT3A2 mutations are associated with dysregulated Wnt/ß-catenin pathway signaling. Phylogenetic and mutational signature analyses confirm cylindroma pulmonary metastases from primary skin tumours. These findings add novel dimensions to existing paradigms of cutaneous tumorigenesis and metastasis.

  Study EGAS00001003841

• New Brain Tumor Entities Emerge from Molecular Classification of CNS-PNETs

  Primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the central nervous system (CNS-PNETs) are highly aggressive, poorly differentiated embryonal tumors occurring predominantly in young children but also affecting adolescents and adults. Herein we demonstrate that a significant proportion of institutionally diagnosed CNS-PNETs display molecular profiles indistinguishable from those of various other well defined CNS tumor entities, facilitating diagnosis and appropriate therapy for patients with these tumors. From the remaining fraction of CNS-PNETs we identify four new CNS tumor entities, each associated with a recurrent genetic alteration and distinct histopathological and clinical features. These new molecular entities, designated “CNS neuroblastoma with FOXR2 activation (CNS NB-FOXR2)”, “CNS Ewing sarcoma family tumor with CIC alteration (CNS EFT-CIC)”, “CNS high grade neuroepithelial tumor with MN1 alteration (CNS HGNET-MN1)”, and “CNS high grade neuroepithelial tumor with BCOR alteration (CNS HGNET-BCOR)”, will enable meaningful clinical trials and the development of therapeutic strategies for patients affected by poorly differentiated CNS tumors.

  Study EGAS00001001632

• IDENTIFICATION AND TARGETED MANAGEMENT OF A PATIENT WITH A NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDER CAUSED BY BIALLELIC MUTATIONS IN SLC5A6

  We describe a sibling pair displaying an early infantile-onset, progressive neurodegenerative phenotype, with symptoms of developmental delay and epileptic encephalopathy developing from 12 to 14 months of age. Using whole exome sequencing, compound heterozygous variants were identified in SLC5A6, which encodes the sodium-dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) protein. SMVT is an important transporter of the B-group vitamins biotin, pantothenate and lipoate. The protein is ubiquitously expressed and has major roles in vitamin uptake in the digestive system, as well as transport of these vitamins across the blood-brain barrier. Pathogenicity of the identified variants was demonstrated by impaired biotin uptake of mutant SMVT. Identification of this vitamin transporter as the genetic basis of this disorder guided targeted therapeutic intervention, resulting clinically in improvement of the patient’s neurocognitive and neuromotor function. This is the second report of biallelic mutations in SLC5A6 leading to a neurodegenerative disorder due to impaired biotin, pantothenate and lipoate uptake. The genetic and phenotypic overlap of these cases confirms mutations in SLC5A6 as the genetic cause of this disease phenotype. Recognition of the genetic disorder caused by SLC5A6 mutations is essential for early diagnosis and to facilitate timely intervention by triple vitamin (biotin, pantothenate and lipoate) replacement therapy.

  Study EGAS00001003861

• The mission of the BIOS Consortium is to create a large-scale data infrastructure and to bring together BBMRI researchers focusing on integrative omics studies in Dutch Biobanks.

  The advent of the genome-wide association study (GWAS) led to the successful identification of thousands of variants that are robustly associated with complex disease phenotypes. Dutch biobanks played a substantial role in these discoveries. For most of these variants, however, the mechanisms through which they contribute to these phenotypes remain unknown. The BIOS Consortium applies a functional genomics approach that integrates genome-wide genetic data with data on the epigenome and transcriptome to elucidate these mechanisms. Over 4000 samples from BBMRI-NL biobanks with in-depth information on disease phenotypes and GWAS data are being enriched with RNA-sequencing and genome-wide DNA methylation data. The same is true for samples with whole-genome sequencing data from GoNL. This unique data infrastructure provides a powerful platform to evaluate key questions in integrative omics from establishing comprehensive eQTL and meQTL catalogues to linking molecular pathways across omics levels to phenotypic outcomes.

  Study EGAS00001001077

• An efficient and comprehensive strategy for genetic diagnostics of polycystic kidney disease

  We established and validated sequence capture based NGS testing approach for all genes known for cystic and polycystic kidney disease including PKD1. This setup overcomes the complication of unspecific capture of pseudogenes by applying a mapping algorithm efficiently and specifically aligning reads to the PKD1 locus.

  Study EGAS00001001003

• Rare SNPs in receptor tyrosine kinases are negative outcome predictors in multiple myeloma

  Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell disorder that is characterized by a great genetic heterogeneity. Recent next generation sequencing studies revealed an accumulation of tumor-associated mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) which may also contribute to the activation of survival pathways in MM. To investigate the clinical role of RTK-mutations in MM, we deep-sequenced the coding DNA-sequence of EGFR, EPHA2, ERBB3, IGF1R, NTRK1 and NTRK2 which were previously found to be mutated in MM, in 75 uniformly treated MM patients of the "Deutsche Studiengruppe Multiples Myelom". Subsequently, we correlated the detected mutations with common cytogenetic alterations and clinical parameters. We identified 11 novel non-synonymous SNVs or rare patient-specific SNPs, not listed in the SNP databases 1000 genomes and dbSNP, in 10 primary MM cases. The mutations predominantly affected the tyrosine-kinase and ligand-binding domains and no correlation with cytogenetic parameters was found. Interestingly, however, patients with RTK-mutations, specifically those with rare patient-specific SNPs, showed a significant lower overall, event-free and progression-free survival. This indicates that RTK SNVs and rare patient-specific RTK SNPs are of prognostic relevance and suggests that MM patients with RTK-mutations could potentially profit from treatment with RTK-inhibitors.

  Study EGAS00001001665

• Histological Transformation and Progression in Follicular Lymphoma: a Clonal Evolution Study

  Background: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent, yet incurable B-cell malignancy. A subset of patients experience increased mortality rate driven by two distinct clinical end points: histological transformation and early progression after immuno-chemotherapy. The nature of tumor clonal dynamics leading to these clinical endpoints is poorly understood and previously determined genetic alterations do not explain the majority of transformed cases or accurately predict early progressive disease. We contend that detailed knowledge of the expansion patterns of specific cell populations plus their associated mutations would provide insight into therapeutic strategies and disease biology over the timecourse of FL clinical histories. Methods and Findings: Using a combination of whole genome sequencing, targeted deep sequencing and digital droplet PCR on matched diagnostic and relapse specimens, we deciphered the constituent clonal populations in n=15 transformation patients and n=6 progressors, and measured their change in abundance over time. We observed widely divergent patterns of clonal dynamics in transformed cases relative to progressed cases. Transformation specimens were generally composed of clones that were rare or absent in diagnostic specimens, consistent with dramatic clonal expansions that came to dominate the transformation specimen. This pattern was independent of time to transformation and treatment modality. By contrast, progression specimens were composed of clones that were already present in the diagnostic specimens and exhibited only moderate clonal dynamics, even in the presence of immuno-chemotherapy. Analysis of somatic mutations impacting 94 genes was undertaken in a validation cohort consisting of 395 samples from 277 patients in order to decipher disrupted biology in the two clinical endpoints. We found 12 genes were more commonly mutated in transformed samples than in preceding FL, including TP53, B2M, CCND3, GNA13, S1PR2 and P2RY8. Moreover, 10 genes were more commonly mutated in diagnostic specimens of early progressors including TP53, BTG1, MKI67 and XBP1. Conclusions: Our results illuminate contrasting modes of evolution shaping the clinical histories of transformation and progression. They have implication for interpretation of evolutionary dynamics in the context of treatment-induced selective pressures, and indicate that transformation and progression will require different clinical management strategies.

  Study EGAS00001001709

• Whole genome and RNA sequencing of paediatric glioblastoma in the ICGC PedBrain project

  Paediatric glioblastoma (pedGBM) is characterised by substantial intertumoural heterogeneity. In order to identify the genetic lesions underlying tumourigenesis, we analysed whole genomes and transcriptomes of pedGBMs and in vitro model systems by next generation sequencing. Novel fusions of the receptor tyrosine kinase MET lead us to investigate targeted therapy using MET inhibitors. This study is part of the International Cancer Genome Consortium PedBrain Tumor Project (ICGC PedBrain, http://www.pedbraintumor.org/).

  Study EGAS00001001139

• DPY30_ChIP_seq

  H9 human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) were cultured in feeder-free chemically-defined conditions in medium containing 10ng/ml Activin A and 12ng/ml FGF2 (Vallier L. 2011, Methods in Molecular Biology, 690: 57–66). Chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed as described in Brown S. et al. 2011. Stem Cells 29: 1176–85 by using 5ug of anti-DPY30 antibody (Sigma, cat. number HPA043761). This protocol was performed in control hESCs (expressing a scrambled shRNA) and in hESCs stably expressing an shRNA against DPY30 (Sigma, clone n. TRCN0000131112).This data is part of a pre-publication release. For information on the proper use of pre-publication data shared by the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (including details of any publication moratoria), please see http://www.sanger.ac.uk/datasharing/

  Study EGAS00001001132

• WES analysis of a mixed cohort of pituitary tumors

  BACKGROUND: Sporadic pituitary adenomas are the second most common primary brain tumor, but their genetics remains incompletely understood. We performed deep DNA sequencing of 42 pituitary macroadenomas, including hormonally active and atypical adenomas. METHODS: Pituitary adenomas representative of a spectrum of histopathologic subtypes, primary and recurrent tumors, and MIB-1 proliferative indices were profiled. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on tumors and paired blood followed by analysis of somatic copy number alteration and mutation. RESULTS: On the whole, the tumors harbored a low rate of mutations, similar to other benign brain tumors. However, almost one-third (29%) exhibited somatic copy-number alterations across large fractions of the genome (up to 99%). Despite such widespread genomic disruption, these tumors had few focal events, which is atypical among highly-disrupted cancers. The other 71% of tumors formed a distinct molecular class, with somatic copy-number alterations involving less than 6% of the genome. Among the highly-disrupted group, 92% were functional or atypical null-cell adenomas, whereas 87% of the less-disrupted group were clinically non-functional adenomas. The only significantly recurrent events were arm-level losses of chromosomes 1, 2, 11, and 18. No significantly recurrent mutations or insertion/deletion events were identified, suggesting no genes are altered by exomic mutations in >15% of pituitary tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Genomic characterization of a large series of sporadic pituitary adenomas reveals two classes of tumor, based on genomic disruption from arm-level copy-number alterations, which associate with hormonal and histologic subtypes.

  Study EGAS00001001714

• Exome-sequencing of two UFM individuals and their Fragile X family members.

  Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a monogenic neurodevelopmental disease often caused by a CGG triplet expansion in the 5’UTR of the FMR1 gene, which results in DNA methylation of the FMR1 promoter and its transcriptional silencing. Exceptional healthy individuals named "unmethylated full mutation (UFM)" have been identified in the families of FX patients. They carry an expanded CGG repeat, but show normal FMR1 epigenetic configuration and expression. In this study we performed exome-sequencing of two UFM individuals and their family members to identify possible genetic mutations responsible for the escape of silencing in the unmethylated full mutation (UFM) phenotype.

  Study EGAS00001001737

• An integrative model of pathway convergence in genetically heterogeneous blast crisis chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)

  Targeted therapies against the BCR-ABL1 kinase have revolutionized treatment of chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In contrast, management of blast crisis (BC) CML remains challenging because BC cells acquire complex molecular alterations that confer stemness features to progenitor populations and resistance to BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Comprehensive models of BC transformation have proved elusive because of the rarity and genetic heterogeneity of BC, but are important for developing biomarkers predicting BC progression and effective therapies. To better understand BC, we performed an integrated multiomics analysis of 74 CP and BC samples using whole-genome and exome sequencing, transcriptome and methylome profiling, and chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing. Employing pathway-based analysis, we found the BC genome was significantly enriched for mutations affecting components of the polycomb repressive complex (PRC) pathway. While transcriptomically, BC progenitors were enriched and depleted for PRC1- and PRC2-related gene sets respectively. By integrating our data sets, we determined that BC progenitors undergo PRC-driven epigenetic reprogramming toward a convergent transcriptomic state. Specifically, PRC2 directs BC DNA hypermethylation, which in turn silences key genes involved in myeloid differentiation and tumor suppressor function via so-called epigenetic switching, whereas PRC1 represses an overlapping and distinct set of genes, including novel BC tumor suppressors. On the basis of these observations, we developed an integrated model of BC that facilitated the identification of combinatorial therapies capable of reversing BC reprogramming (decitabine+PRC1 inhibitors), novel PRC-silenced tumor suppressor genes (NR4A2), and gene expression signatures predictive of disease progression and drug resistance in CP.

  Study EGAS00001001751

• Genotype data from 'Dense sampling of ethnic groups within African countries reveals fine-scale genetic structure and extensive historical admixture.'

  Previous studies have highlighted how African genomes have been shaped by a complex series of historical events. Despite this, genome-wide data has only been obtained from a small proportion of present-day ethnolinguistic groups. By analysing new autosomal genetic variation data of 1333 individuals from over 150 ethnic groups from Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Nigeria and Sudan, we demonstrate a previously underappreciated fine-scale level of genetic structure within these countries, for example correlating with historical polities in western Cameroon. By comparing genetic variation patterns among populations, we infer that many northern Cameroonian and Sudanese groups share genetic links with multiple geographically disparate populations, likely resulting from long-distance migrations. In Ghana and Nigeria, we infer signatures of intermixing dated to over 2000 years ago, corresponding to reports of environmental transformations possibly related to climate change. We also infer recent intermixing signals in multiple African populations, including Congolese, that likely relates to the expansions of Bantu language-speaking peoples.

  Study EGAS00001006944

• Dissection of the molecular complexity of colorectal cancer in pre-clinical models identifies predictive signatures of sensitivity to EGFR inhibitors

  Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is a heterogeneous tumour entity, with only a fraction of the tumours responding to currently available therapies. A detailed understanding of the biology and genetics of CRC is a prerequisite for precision medicine. To address this challenge in clinical oncology, the OncoTrack consortium recruited 106 CRC patients (stages I-IV) and developed an integrated pre-clinical platform analysing drug sensitivity in the established matched patient-derived in vivo and in vitro models, 46 three-dimensional cell cultures and 59 xenografts, recapitulating many of the molecular features of the donor tumours. We generated extensive omics information on patient tumours and their derived models used to generate a compendium of drug sensitivity data. We could distinguish tumour molecular sub-groups responding differently to therapy and identified a novel independent predictor of sensitivity to the EGFR inhibitor cetuximab. The findings reported here will advance our understanding of CRC and its response to therapy.

  Study EGAS00001001752

• Molecular_characterization_of_invasive_lobular_carcinoma

  Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histological subtype of breast cancer accounting for 10-15% of cases. ILC differs from invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)with respect to epidemiology, histology, and clinical presentation. Moreover, ILC is lesssensitive to chemotherapy, more frequently bilateral, and more prone to form gastrointestinal, peritoneal, and ovarian metastases than IDCs. In contrast to IDC, the prognostic value ofhistological grade (HG) in ILC is controversial. One of the three major components of histological grading (tubule formation) is missing in ILC which hinders the process of gradingin this histological subtype and results in the classification of approximately two thirds of ILC as HG 2.Over the last decade, a number of gene expression signatures have shed light onto breast cancer classification, allowing breast cancer care to become more personalized. Withrespect to the management of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, several gene expression signatures provide prognostic and/or predictive information beyond what is possible with current classical clinico-pathological parameters alone. Nevertheless, most studies using gene expression signature have not considered different histologic subtypesseparately. Recently, a comprehensive research program has elucidated some of the biological underpinnings of invasive lobular carcinoma. Genetic material extracted from 200 ILC tumor samples were studied using gene expression profiling and identified ILCmolecular subtypes. These proliferation-driven gene signatures of ILC appear to have prognostic significance. In particular, the Genomic Grade (GG) gene signature improved upon HG in ILC and added prognostic value to classic clinico-pathologic factors. In addition this study demonstrated that most ILC are molecularly characterized as luminal-A (~75%)followed by luminal-B (~20%) and HER2-positve tumors (~5%). Moreover, we investigated the prognostic value of known gene signatures/ gene modules in the same cohort of ILC. As a second step within the scope of this project, we aim to investigate the interactionsbetween somatic ILC tumor mutations to observed transcriptome findings. To this end, we aim to perform somatic mutation analysis for the ILC tumors for which Affymetrix gene expression profiling is available. To this end, we will use a gene screen assay, which specifically interrogates the mutational status of a few hundreds of cancer genes. We believe that this pioneering effort will be fundamental for a tailored treatment of ILC withimprovement in patients' outcome.

  Study EGAS00001000292

• Ashkenazi Jewish Leukoencephalopathy

  Genetic leukoencephalopathies (gLEs) are a group of heterogeneous disorders with white matter abnormalities in the central nervous system (CNS). Patients affected with gLEs have brain white matter defects that can be seen in MRI and exhibit variable neurologic phenotypes including motor impairment, hypotonia, pyramidal dysfunction, dystonia and/or dyskinesias, ataxia, seizures, cortical blindness, optic atrophy, and impaired cognitive development. The exact causes in half of gLEs are unknown. We studied three unrelated families affected with an undiagnosed gLE and discovered a homozygous germline mutation c.2536T>G in VPS11 by whole exome sequencing, a gene involved in membrane trafficking and fusion of the lysosomes and endosomes, as a novel cause of a new gLE syndrome.

  Study EGAS00001001767

• BLUEPRINT ChIP-seq data for cells in the haematopoietic lineages, from adult and cord blood samples.

  ChIP-seq data for cells in the haematopoietic lineages, from adult and cord blood samples.

  Study EGAS00001000326

• Identifying genetic consequences of Epstein-Barr Virus transformation by comparing an individual’s genomic DNA with that of its lymphoblastoid cell line.

  A detailed analysis of whole genomes can be now achieved with next generation sequencing. Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) transformation is a widely used strategy in clinical research to obtain an unlimited source of a subject’s DNA. Although the mechanism of transformation and immortalization by EBV is relatively well known at the transcriptional and proteomic level, the genetic consequences of EBV transformation are less well understood. A detailed analysis of the genetic alterations introduced by EBV transformation is highly relevant, as it will inform on the usefulness and limitations of this approach. We used whole genome sequencing to assess the genomic signature of a low-passage lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL). Specifically, we sequenced the full genome (40X) of an individual using DNA purified from fresh whole blood as well as DNA from his LCL. A total of 217.33 Gb of sequence were generated from the cell line and 238.95 Gb from the normal genomic DNA. We determined with high confidence that 99.2% of the genomes were identical, with no reproducible changes in structural variation (chromosomal rearrangements and copy number variations) or insertion/deletion polymorphisms (indels). Our results suggest that, at this level of resolution, the LCL is genetically indistinguishable from its genomic counterpart and therefore their use in clinical research is not likely to introduce a significant bias.

  Study EGAS00001000323

• Whole-genome sequencing across 449 samples spanning 47 ethnolinguistic groups provides insights into genetic diversity in Nigeria

  African populations have been drastically underrepresented in genomics research and failure to capture the genetic diversity across the numerous ethnolinguistic groups (ELGs) found in the continent has hindered the equity of precision medicine initiatives globally. Here, we describe the whole-genome sequencing of 449 Nigerian individuals across 47 unique self-reported ELGs. Population structure analysis reveals genetic differentiation amongst our ELGs, consistent with previous findings. From the 36 million SNPs and indels discovered in our dataset, we provide a high-level catalog of both novel and medically-relevant variation present across the ELGs. These results emphasize the value of this resource for genomics research, with added granularity by representing multiple ELGs from Nigeria. Our results also underscore the potential of using these cohorts with larger sample sizes to improve our understanding of human ancestry and health in Africa.

  Study EGAS00001007036

• Genomic landscape of oral cancers (Illumina RNA-Seq)

  Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a necessary but insufficient cause of a subset of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) that is increasing markedly in frequency. To identify contributory, secondary genetic alterations in these cancers, we used comprehensive genomics methods to compare 149 HPV-positive and 335 HPV-negative OSCC tumor/normal pairs. Different behavioral risk factors underlying the two OSCC types were reflected in distinctive genomic mutational signatures. In HPV-positive OSCC, the signatures of APOBEC cytosine deaminase editing, associated with anti-viral immunity, were strongly linked to overall mutational burden. By contrast, in HPV-negative OSCC, T>C substitutions in the sequence context 5’-ATN-3’ correlated with tobacco exposure. Universal expression of HPV E6*1 and E7 oncogenes was a sine qua non of HPV-positive OSCC. Significant enrichment of somatic mutations was confirmed or newly identified in PIK3CA, KMT2D, FGFR3, FBXW7, DDX3X, PTEN, TRAF3, RB1, CYLD, RIPK4, ZNF750, EP300, CASZ1, TAF5, RBL1, IFNGR1 and NFKBIA. Of these, many affect host pathways already targeted by HPV oncoproteins, including the p53 and pRB pathways, or disrupt host defenses against viral infections, including interferon and nuclear factor-B signaling. Frequent copy number changes were associated with concordant changes in gene expression. Chr. 11q (including CCND1) and 14q (including DICER1 and AKT1) were recurrently lost in HPV-positive OSCC, in contrast to their gains in HPV-negative OSCC. High-ranking variant allele fractions implicated ZNF750, PIK3CA and EP300 mutations as candidate driver events in HPV-positive cancers. We conclude that virus-host interactions cooperatively shape the unique genetic features of these cancers, distinguishing them from their HPV-negative counterparts.

  Study EGAS00001003237

• Understanding_population_genetics_and_patterns_of_genome_wide_heterozygosity_in_a_sample_of_the_Croatian_isolated_populations__ESGIDalmatians_

  Using high-throughput sequencing technologies and analytical tools, we conduct an exome sequencing study that will help understand the populationgenetics of a Croatian island isolate, in a sample of 200 subjects from the Adriatic island of Vis who wereselected to reflect islanders with at least four known ancestors in grandparental line who are original islanders.

  Study EGAS00001000336

• HipSci HumanHT 12v4 Expression BeadChip analysis - monogenic diabetes

  The HipSci project brings together diverse constituents in genomics, proteomics, cell biology and clinical genetics to create a UK national iPS cell resource and use it to carry out cellular genetic studies. In this sub-study we performed Expression analysis using the Illumina HumanHT -12 Expression BeadChip on iPS cells generated from skin biopsies or blood samples from rare disease patients diagnosed with monogenic diabetes.

  Study EGAS00001001277

• Epigenomic alterations define lethal CIMP-positive ependymomas of infancy

  Ependymomas are common childhood brain tumours that occur throughout the nervous system, but are most common in the paediatric hindbrain. Current standard therapy comprises surgery and radiation, but not cytotoxic chemotherapy as it does not further increase survival. Whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing of 47 hindbrain ependymomas reveals an extremely low mutation rate, and zero significant recurrent somatic single nucleotide variants. Although devoid of recurrent single nucleotide variants and focal copy number aberrations, poor-prognosis hindbrain ependymomas exhibit a CpG island methylator phenotype. Transcriptional silencing driven by CpG methylation converges exclusively on targets of the Polycomb repressive complex 2 which represses expression of differentiation genes through trimethylation of H3K27. CpG island methylator phenotype-positive hindbrain ependymomas are responsive to clinical drugs that target either DNA or H3K27 methylation both in vitro and in vivo. We conclude that epigenetic modifiers are the first rational therapeutic candidates for this deadly malignancy, which is epigenetically deregulated but genetically bland.

  Study EGAS00001000443

• H3Africa - An integrated approach to the identification of genetic determinants of susceptibility to trypanosomiasis

  The over-arching aim of this network is to improve the health of people living in some of the poorest countries in the world that carry a disproportionate burden of infectious diseases. Despite their importance, the study of many tropical diseases has lagged behind that of diseases of developed countries. This network will redress the balance by performing high quality research into two neglected tropical diseases, human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and schistosomiasis. Our aim is to investigate the genetic determinants of the human reservoirs of HAT and schistosomiasis, filling an important knowledge gap, while extending and strengthening the underpinning infrastructure to deliver these scientific objectives in particular by developing the next generation of African geneticists.

  Study EGAS00001007173