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• Search for Susceptibility Genes for Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes (GoKinD study participants and parents), NIDDK

  Genetics of Kidneys in Diabetes (GoKinD) study is an initiative aimed at identifying susceptibility genes for diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetes. A large number of individuals with type 1 diabetes were screened to identify two subsets, one with clear-cut kidney disease and another with normal renal status despite long-term diabetes. Those who met additional entry criteria and consented to participate were enrolled. When possible, both parents were also enrolled to form family trios. Altogether, GoKinD includes 3043 participants comprising 931 cases, 944 singletons, 268 pairs of parents of cases, and 316 pairs of parents of control. Accessible as a GAIN database are 905 of the cases, 890 of the controls, 10 pairs of parents of cases and 10 pairs of parents of controls (dbGaP phs000018 Search for Susceptibility Genes for Diabetic Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes (GoKinD study participants), GAIN). The other parents and the remaining cases and controls are available by a separate application process through NIDDK. Interested investigators may request the DNA collection and corresponding clinical data for GoKinD participants using the instructions and application form available at http://www.niddkrepository.org or by contacting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

  Study phs000088

• Emergence of oncofetal plasticity is ubiquitous in early colorectal cancers

  Metastasis formation is classically considered a late-stage event in colorectal cancer (CRC) evolution. Yet, the time and patterning by which metastatic competence is acquired remain poorly understood. Here, we show that metastasis-associated oncofetal cell states already emerge at the earliest stages of CRC, concurrent with invasive front formation. However, while necessary for metastasis, we detect them ubiquitously among early non-metastatic cancers, highlighting additional bottlenecks like immune evasion. To understand how oncofetal cells first emerge, we generated multiregional organoid models that reflect successive tumor progression stages within individual early-stage CRCs. Whole-genome sequencing and growth factor-dependency assays exclude tumor cell-intrinsic acquired traits. In contrast, single-cell spatial atlases of the tumor-microenvironment before and after malignant transformation revealed stereotypic patterning of fibroblast subtypes resembling normal tissue architecture, resulting in distinct regional microenvironments. At the onset of malignant growth into the submucosa, the first cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to appear strongly resemble submucosal trophocytes and colocalize with oncofetal cell states at invasive fronts. Functionally, fibroblast-organoid co-cultures confirm that these trophocyte-like CAFs induce plastic transitioning to oncofetal states. Thus, interactions between tumor and submucosal fibroblasts directly following malignant transformation dictate the timing and location at which oncofetal plasticity first occurs during CRC progression.

  Study EGAS50000001532

• Whole-Exome Sequencing analyses in tamoxifen-associated endometrial cancer

  An increased incidence of endometrial cancer has been described for patients that have received tamoxifen to treat breast cancer. Using samples from endometrial tumors, isolated from surgivcal specimens of patients who previously received tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer, we aimed to identify whether there are specific somatic mutations enriched in this population, relative to endometrial tumors from the general population. For this, WES was performed on matched endometrial tumors and healthy tissue (n=21).

  Study EGAS00001006453

• Colorectal cancer organoid-stroma biobank cohort

  In colorectal cancers (CRC) the tumor microenvironment plays a key role for prognosis and therapy efficacy. Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) show enormous potential for preclinical testing, however, purely epithelial cultures features including the ‘consensus molecular subtypes’ (CMS) are largely eradicated. To better reflect the cell type heterogeneity, we established the CRC organoid-stroma biobank of matched PDTOs and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) from 30 patients. Whole exome sequencing and transcriptome analysis in various in vitro and in vivo contexts was performed to study the influence of the TME on the CRC phenotype.

  Dataset EGAD00001011173

• Genomic Characterization of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines

  Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading cancer by incidence worldwide(1). Various chemical carcinogens (tobacco, alcohol and betel nut), human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and genetic predisposition contribute to the etiology of HNSCC, and to the complex genetic alterations in tumor subsets that differ in prognosis and response to therapies (2). Recently, a comprehensive landscape of genomic and transcriptomic alterations in HNSCC tumors has emerged from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Network (3). TCGA revealed novel and previously recognized gene and chromosomal region copy number alterations (CNAs), mutations, and expression clusters, and defined their frequency, co-occurrence, and relationship to common and rare subtypes of HPV(-) and (+) tumors that vary in prognosis. To identify cell line models for determining the functional role and therapeutic importance of these alterations, we are performing whole exome and RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of an expanded panel of 15 HPV(-) and 11 HPV(+) HNSCC cell lines and primary oral keratinocytes. We find that the recurrent genomic alterations in cell lines are remarkably consistent with those found in more aggressive tumors, from which cell lines have traditionally been most readily adapted to culture (4). Genome-wide correlation of CN (copy number) with expression identified a suite of potential drivers or modifier genes that differ by HPV status, and are of potential biologic and therapeutic relevance. Further, our findings elucidate and validate genomic alterations underpinning numerous discoveries made with these widely-used and recently derived HNSCC lines, and provide a roadmap for their potential use as models for future studies of tumor subtypes with worse prognosis. References Torre LA, Bray F, Siegel RL, Ferlay J, Lortet-Tieulent J, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics, 2012. CA Cancer J Clin. 2015;65(2):87-108. Van Waes C, Musbahi O. Genomics and advances towards precision medicine for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2017;2(5):310-9. Cancer Genome Atlas N. Comprehensive genomic characterization of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Nature. 2015;517(7536):576-82. White JS, Weissfeld JL, Ragin CC, Rossie KM, Martin CL, Shuster M, et al. The influence of clinical and demographic risk factors on the establishment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. Oral Oncol. 2007;43(7):701-12.

  Study phs001581

• 1000 Genomes Used for Cloud Testing

  WARNING: This is a test data set. The phenotype data was not checked to match 1000 Genomes project. Use with caution.This study provides public access to a demonstration subset of 1000 genomes sequence data in dbGaP. It is intended to be used by software developers who design, implement and validate pipelines for dbGaP data. While this project distributes only public data, it uses dbGaP security mechanisms which include a project-specific security key and a decryption password. Since the data are public, the key and password for this project will be included by SRA into public demonstration packages that permit users to test and validate the security of their computational pipelines. Note that all public users of this data will be logged under the same project and account ID. The datasets attached to this project must be restricted to 1000 Genomes data identical to the project's public FTP site. To access these test data using SRA toolkit use prj_phs710EA_test.ngc.

  Study phs000710

• The Multiomics Blueprint of the Individual with the Most Extreme Lifespan

  Although centenarians are becoming more common in the demography of human populations, the so-called supercentenarians (over 110 years old) are still a rarity. In Catalonia, the historic nation where the subject lived, the life-expectancy for women is 86 years old, so she exceeded more than 30 years the mean statistical value. In a similar manner that premature aging syndromes, such as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria and Werner syndrome, can provide relevant clues about the mechanisms of aging; the study of supercentenarians might also shed light in the pathways involved in lifespan. To unfold the biological properties that exhibited such a remarkable human being, we developed a comprehensive multiomics analysis in different tissues of her genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, epigenomic and microbiomic landscapes , comparing the results with those observed in non-supercentenarian populations.

  Study EGAS50000000884

• Characterization of Cell Free Plasma Methyl-DNA From Xenografted Tumors to Guide the Selection of Diagnostic Markers for Early-Stage Cancers

  Circulating cell-free methyl-DNA (mcfDNA) contains promising cancer markers but its low abundance and possibly diverse origin pose challenges toward the accurate diagnosis of early stage cancers. By whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from about 0.5 mL plasma of mice xenografted with human tumors, we obtained and aligned the reads to the human genome, filtered out the mouse and carrier bacterial sequences, and confirmed the tumor origin of methyl-cfDNA (mctDNA) by methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme digestion prior to species-specific PCR. We estimated that human tumor-specific reads (ctDNA) or mctDNA comprised about 0.29 or 0.01%, respectively of the xenograft mouse cfDNA, and about 0.029 or 0.001% of the cfDNA of human early stage cancer patients. Similar WGBS of early stage (0-II, node- and metastasis-free) breast, lung or colorectal cancer samples identified hundreds of specific DMRs (differentially methylated regions) compared to healthy controls. Their association with tumourigenesis was supported by stage-dependent methylation, tumor suppressor or oncogene clusters, and genes also identified in the xenograft samples. Using 20 three-cancer-common and 17 colorectal cancer-specific DMRs in combination (top 0.0018% of the WGBS methylation clusters) was sufficient to distinguish the stage I colorectal cancers from breast and lung cancers and healthy controls. Our data thus confirmed the tumor origin of mctDNA by sequence specificity, and provide a selection threshold for authentic tumor mctDNA markers toward precise diagnosis of early stage cancers solely by top DMRs in combination. Biological Materials were provided by the Ontario Tumour Bank, which is funded by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Reference for citation: Ling Liu, Jinghua Feng, Julian Polimeni, Manli Zhang, Hai Nguyen, Urmi Das, Xu Zhang, Harminder Singh, Xiao-Jian Yao, Etienne Leygue, Sam K.P. Kung, and Xie J. Characterization of cell free plasma methyl-DNA from xenografted tumours to guide the selection of diagnostic markers for early-stage cancers. Frontiers in Oncology, 2021 Feb. 5. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.615821.

  Study EGAS00001006175

• The Spatial Heterogeneity in Multiple Myeloma - from the Subclonal Architecture to the Immune Microenvironment (partly hipo_K08K)

  Multiple myeloma (MM) cells show pronounced heterogeneity not only within a given patient but also between spatially separated tumor loci in the bone marrow. Understanding this spatial heterogeneity is emerging as a critical challenge for the successful treatment of the disease. Yet, our understanding of spatial differences in the subclonal architecture, molecular signatures and interactions with the tumor microenvironment remains very limited. To address this shortcoming, we performed bulk and single-cell multi-region sequencing, including random bone marrow samples from the iliac crest and paired imaging-guided focal lesion specimens from 15 newly diagnosed MM patients. We found a median of 5 subclones per patient and unique subclones in focal lesions. Central features of spatial heterogeneity included a consistent down-regulation of the chemoattractant cytokines CXCL7 and CXCL12 in focal lesion tumor cells as well as a significant depletion of macrophages in the focal lesion microenvironment. In contrast, a site-specific expansion of T-cell clones was not detected in focal lesions. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the relevance of considering spatial heterogeneity with potential implications for immunotherapies and molecular studies analyzing the role of gene signatures and MM-microenvironment interactions in disease progression.

  Study EGAS00001006090

• Next-Generation Sequencing of AV Nodal Reentry Tachycardia patients

  Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common form of regular paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. This arrhythmia affects women twice as frequently as men, and is often diagnosed in patients below 40 years of age. Familial clustering, early onset of symptoms, and lack of structural anomaly indicate involvement of genetic factors in AVNRT pathophysiology. We hypothesized that AVNRT patients have a high prevalence of variants in genes that are highly expressed in the atrioventricular conduction axis of the heart and potentially involved in arrhythmic diseases. Next-generation sequencing of 67 genes was applied to the DNA profile of 298 AVNRT patients and 10 AVNRT family members using HaloPlex Target Enrichment System.In total, we identified 229 variants in 60 genes; 215 missenses, four frame shifts, four codon deletions, three missense and splice sites, two stop-gain variants, and one start-lost variant. Sixty-five of these were not present in the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) database. Furthermore, we report two AVNRT families with co-segregating variants. Seventy-five of 284 AVNRT patients (26.4%) and three family members to different AVNRT probands had one or more variants in genes affecting the sodium handling. Fifty-four out of 284 AVNRT patients (19.0%) had variants in genes affecting the calcium handling of the heart. We furthermore find a large proportion of variants in the HCN1-4 genes. We did not detect a significant enrichment of rare variants in the tested genes.This could be an indication that AVNRT might be an electrical arrhythmic disease with abnormal sodium and calcium handling.

  Study EGAS00001002745

• The long term effects of chemotherapy on normal blood - Nanoseq dataset

  In developed countries, ~10% of individuals are exposed to systemic chemotherapy for cancer and other diseases. Many chemotherapeutic agents act by increasing DNA damage in cancer cells, hence triggering cell death. However, there is limited understanding of the extent and consequences of collateral DNA damage to normal tissues. To investigate the impact of chemotherapy on mutation burdens and cell population structure of a normal tissue we sequenced blood cell genomes from 23 individuals, aged 3-80 years, treated with a range of chemotherapy regimens. Substantial additional mutation loads with characteristic mutational signatures were imposed by some chemotherapeutic agents, but there were differences in burden between different classes of agent, different agents of the same class and different blood cell types. Chemotherapy also induced premature changes in the cell population structure of normal blood, similar to those of normal ageing. The results constitute an initial survey of the long-term biological consequences of cytotoxic agents to which a substantial fraction of the population is exposed during the course of their disease management, raising mechanistic questions and highlighting opportunities for mitigation of adverse effects.

  Dataset EGAD00001015340

• Mutational landscape of the transcriptome offers putative targets for immunotherapy of myeloproliferative neoplasms

  In this study, we aimed to comprehensively characterize in 113 myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) patients the mutational landscape of the granulocyte transcriptome using RNA sequencing data. We implemented workflows for fusion and variant calling, and differential splicing analysis for patients with hotspot SF3B1 mutations. Finally, we characterized the neoantigen landscape on individualized level taking each patient's HLA genotype (derived from the same RNA-seq dataset) into account.

  Study EGAS00001003486

• Integration of human pancreatic islet genomic data refines regulatory mechanisms at Type 2 Diabetes susceptibility loci

  Human genetic studies have emphasised the dominant contribution of pancreatic islet dysfunction to development of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). However, limited annotation of the islet epigenome has constrained efforts to define the molecular mechanisms mediating the, largely regulatory, signals revealed by Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). We characterised patterns of chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq, n=17) and DNA methylation (whole-genome bisulphite sequencing, n=10) in human islets, generating high-resolution chromatin state maps through integration with established ChIP-seq marks. We found enrichment of GWAS signals for T2D and fasting glucose was concentrated in subsets of islet enhancers characterised by open chromatin and hypomethylation, with the former annotation predominant. At several loci (including CDC123, ADCY5, KLHDC5) the combination of fine-mapping genetic data and chromatin state enrichment maps, supplemented by allelic imbalance in chromatin accessibility pinpointed likely causal variants. The combination of increasingly-precise genetic and islet epigenomic information accelerates definition of causal mechanisms implicated in T2D pathogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001002592

• To determine the genomic profile of Triple Negative Breast Cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDX cohort)

  Specific BRCA and immune configurations determine optimal response to platinum-based chemotherapy in triple negative breast and ovarian carcinomas (PDX_WGS)

  Study EGAS00001005995

• A Study to Evaluate Denosumab in Young Patients With Primary Breast Cancer (D-Beyond)

  This is a prospective, single arm phase IIa trial in which patients with early breast cancer will receive pre-operatively two doses of denosumab 120mg subcutaneously one week apart (maximum 12 days) followed by surgery. Tumor, normal breast tissue and blood samples will be collected at baseline and at surgery. Post-operative treatment will be at the discretion of the investigator.Primary objective: to determine if a short course of RANKL inhibition with denosumab can induce a decrease in tumor proliferation rates as determined by Ki67 immunohistochemistry (IHC) in newly diagnosed, early stage breast cancer in pre-menopausal women.

  Study EGAS00001003252

• EXPRESSION OF ANTIBODY-DRUG CONJUGATE TARGETS IN BREAST CANCER METASTASES AND NORMAL TISSUE

  Using bulk mRNA sequencing, we investigated the expression of 72 ADC targets, which are clinically approved or under investigation, in 909 samples (64 primary untreated, 749 metastatic, 96 normal) from 30 female patients from our post-mortem tissue donation program UPTIDER (NCT04531696). The study explores changes in target expression across multiple samples to identify novel targets of clinical interest and validation

  Study EGAS50000001334

• Differentiation-associated ISG expression of NK cells in chronic viral hepatitis

  Little is known about the effects of ISGs on NK cell responses in chronic viral hepatitis. Here, we determined the expression, regulation and function of ISGs in NK cells with respect to phenotype and function, we performed high-throughput single cell RNA sequencing of circulating CD3-CD56+ NK cells from healthy donors (HD) and patients with chronic HBV or HCV infections.

  Study EGAS00001007771

• Whole-exome sequencing of PTC, benign nodule and normal tissues in 28 patients

  In order to comprehensively investigate the genetic relationship between PTC tumors and benign nodules, we totally collected 127 fresh-frozen biopsies samples from 28 patients with concurrent thyroid benign nodule and PTC (n=20) or simple benign nodule (n=8). We carried out whole-exome sequencing on all the 127 biopsies samples and RNA-sequencing in total of 40 samples.

  Study EGAS00001002312

• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (SICCA): Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) Genome-Wide Genotyping

  The Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (SICCA) is a multisite observational cohort study that recruited a large cohort of geographically diverse participants. Enrollment of participants began in late 2004 at five (one domestic and four international) sites, in which all groups used the same protocol-directed methods to provide uniform evaluations; collect oral, ocular, and rheumatologic data; and collect specimens. The sites were located at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Rigshopitalet (formerly at Glostrup Hospital), Copenhagen, Denmark; Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan; King's College, London, UK (joined in 2007); and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). In 2009, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India; Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA were added as additional SICCA sites. UCSF is the coordinating center for SICCA. All specimens and data collected for SICCA are housed at UCSF. To facilitate the research focused on understanding the genetics of Sjögren'sSjögren's syndrome, high-density SNP genotype data and SICCA clinical information are being made available to the research community. This includes participants recruited from all SICCA research groups (RG). These participants (3,382), blood relatives (439), and unrelated healthy controls (25) had their whole blood or saliva sample (Oragene) extracted for DNA for the GWAS at the UCSF DNA Bank. Eighty eight percent of the participants are women, most are of European or Asian ancestry and the median age is 55. To assess potential batch effects when doing case-control comparisons using planned external controls, 30 DNA samples from each of three studies were genotyped with SICCA DNA samples: The Genetic Architecture of Smoking and Smoking Cessation - Collaborative Genetic Study of Nicotine Dependence (COGEND) - PI: Laura Bierut. NEI-Age-related disease study (AREDS) - Genetic Variation in Refractive Error Substudy - PI: Dwight Stambolian. Controls from the National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH's) Human Genetics Initiative. Genome-Wide Association Study of Schizophrenia - PI: Pablo V. Gejman. Molecular Genetics of Schizophrenia - nonGAIN Sample (MGS_nonGAIN) - PI: Pablo V. Gejman. Genotyping was performed at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR). Data quality control, dbGaP preparation and posting, and imputation to 1000 Genomes to increase SNP density was performed by the Center for Biomedical Statistics at the University of Washington. Data analysis was performed at UCSF using software PLINK, EIGENSOFT, and SNPTEST.

  Study phs000672

• Estonian Microbiome Project second time point dataset

  Out of the 2,509 Estonian Microbiome Project participants, a sub-cohort of over 300 individuals provided an additional stool sample after a median follow-up period of 4.4 years. All participants of the EstMB cohort gave informed consent for the data and samples to be used for scientific purposes. In the second time point, the participants were instructed to send the samples by post immediately after taking the sample and time their sample collection to avoid shipping on the weekends. The median time between sampling and arrival at the freezer in the core facility for the second time point was 53 hours and 1 minute (mean: 59 hours and 22 minutes; minimum: 34 minutes; maximum: 168 hours and 7 minutes [note: additionally, one outlying measurement was 508 hours and 27 minutes. The shotgun metagenomics paired-end sequencing was performed by Novogene Bioinformatics Technology Co., Ltd., using Illumina NovaSeq6000 platform, resulting in 4.62 ± 0.44 Gb of data per sample (insert size 350 bp, read length 2 × 250 bp).

  Dataset EGAD50000001686

• Whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis of untreated head and neck cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) matched patient tumor tissue and normal mucosa tissue.

  WES analysis was performed on untreated patient tumor/normal mucosa tissue and matched patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to investigate the preservation of tumor-specific genomic alterations in the in vivo context. 183 total samples were sequenced with paired reads on 8-10 lanes from different flowcells. They were loaded as 3538 separate files to maintain the data as it was received from BGI - each sample is therefore composed of 5 separate EGAN with 2-4 files each, adding a 0.1 - .. - 0.5 to each BioSample ID to generate sample aliases. All R1 (and R2, separately) files referring to a BioSample ID should be concatenated to obtain fastq files corresponding to single patients or PDXs.

  Dataset EGAD50000002325

• The_Genomic_Advances_in_Sepsis__GAinS__RNA_seq

  Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. This cohort comprises a subset of patients enrolled in the Genomic Advances in Sepsis (GAinS) study, an established biobank of adult sepsis patients. Patients with sepsis due to community acquired pneumonia or faecal peritonitis were recruited from 34 hospitals across the UK from 2005-2018, with samples for functional genomics and detailed clinical information collected on the first, third and/or fifth day following ICU admission. RNA was extracted from leukocytes isolated at the bedside using LeukoLOCK kits. We have previously identified sepsis response signatures (SRSs), transcriptomic endotypes that are associated with differential early mortality (Davenport et al, Lancet Respir Med, 2016; Burnham et al, AJRCCM, 2017) and response to treatment in a clinical trial (Antcliffe et al, AJRCCM, 2018). We generated RNA sequencing data on 903 samples, including 134 samples repeated from our previously released microarray data. Libraries were prepared using NEB Ultra II Library Prep kits (Illumina) and sequenced on a NovaSeq 6000. Reads were aligned to the reference genome (GRCh38) using STAR and gene counts quantified using featureCounts (annotation Ensembl v99). Counts were TMM-normalised and log-transformed. Following QC, processed data were available on 864 samples from 667 unique patients.

  Study EGAS00001003772

• Early progression to active tuberculosis is a highly heritable trait driven by 3q23 in Peruvians

  In a genome-wide genetic study of early progression to active tuberculosis (TB), we genotyped 4,002 active TB cases and their household contacts in Lima, Peru. We first established TB progression has a strong genetic basis, and is comparable to traits with well-established genetic bases (h2g=0.212). We identified a novel association between early TB progression and variants located in a putative enhancer region on chromosome 3q23 (rs73226617, OR = 1.18; P = 3.93 x 10-8). With in silico and in vitro analyses we identified genetic variant rs73226617 or rs148722713 as the likely functional variant and ATP1B3 as a potential causal target gene with monocyte specific function.

  Study phs002025

• Therapeutic Trial of Potassium and Acetazolamide in Andersen-Tawil Syndrome

  Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is an ion channel disorder that causes episodes of muscle weakness and potentially life-threatening heart arrhythmias. The majority of ATS cases are caused by a mutation in the KCNJ2 gene, which is linked to potassium channels in the heart, brain, and skeletal muscle; other cases are presumed to be caused by an undetermined gene lesion. To date, the treatment for ATS has been largely anecdotal, and no treatments have been formally assessed in a controlled clinical trial. This study will determine whether potassium supplements and/or acetazolamide, which is a diuretic medication, affect the duration of muscle weakness and heart rhythm abnormalities in people with ATS. Participation in this study will last about 11 months. Participants will first attend a 3-day inpatient visit that will include a medical history, physical examination, blood work, heart rhythm testing by an electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitor, strength testing, a health questionnaire, and daily potassium supplementation. Participants will also track the number and length of weakness episodes that they experience while in the hospital. On the last day of the inpatient visit, participants will be provided with multiple bottles containing either potassium or placebo. Participants will then return home for an 18-week treatment period that will consist of six 3-week-long treatments of either potassium or placebo, with the treatment schedule being randomly determined. Upon completing the first 18-week treatment period, participants will attend a second 3-day inpatient visit that will include the same tests and procedures as the first. The only difference will be that participants will receive acetazolamide along with potassium. This will be followed by a second 18-week treatment period that will consist of six 3-week-long treatments of either acetazolamide or placebo. At the end of the second treatment period, participants will fill out another health questionnaire. Throughout both 18-week treatment periods, participants will phone in daily to track any muscle or heart problems. They will also provide blood samples on a weekly basis. At Weeks 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, and 17 of both treatment periods, participants will wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours and then mail it in. A final outpatient visit will occur 8 weeks after the end of the second treatment period and will include heart rhythm testing, muscle strength testing, and blood work.

  Study phs001316

• Genome-wide analysis of genetic risk factors for rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal Australians provides support for pathogenic molecular mimicry

  Background. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) following Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections is heritable and prevalent in Indigenous populations. Molecular mimicry between human and GAS proteins triggers pro-inflammatory cardiac valve-reactive T-cells. Methods. Genome-wide genetic analysis was undertaken in 1263 Aboriginal Australians (398 RHD cases; 865 controls). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped using Illumina HumanCoreExome BeadChips. Direct typing and imputation was used to fine-map the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region. Epitope binding affinities were mapped for human cross-reactive GAS proteins, including M5 and M6. Results. The strongest genetic association was intronic to HLA-DQA1 (rs9272622; P=1.86x10-7). Conditional analyses showed rs9272622 and/or DQA1*AA16 account for the HLA signal. HLA-DQA1*0101_DQB1*0503 (OR 1.44, 95%CI 1.09-1.90, P=9.56x10-3) and HLA-DQA1*0103_DQB1*0601 (OR 1.27, 95%CI 1.07-1.52, P=7.15x10-3) were risk haplotypes; HLA_DQA1*0301-DQB1*0402 (OR 0.30, 95%CI 0.14-0.65, P=2.36x10-3) was protective. Human myosin cross-reactive N-terminal and B repeat epitopes of GAS M5/M6 bind with higher affinity to DQA1/DQB1 alpha/beta dimers for the two risk haplotypes than the protective haplotype. Conclusions. Variation at HLA_DQA1-DQB1 is the major genetic risk factor for RHD in Aboriginal Australians studied here. Cross-reactive epitopes bind with higher affinity to alpha/beta dimers formed by risk haplotypes, supporting molecular mimicry as the key mechanism of RHD pathogenesis.

  Study EGAS00001002678