3246 results for "*geneti*"

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• Inherited damaging mutations in immune-related genes favour the development of genetically heterogeneous synchronous colorectal cancer.

  Synchronous colorectal cancers are physically separated tumours that develop simultaneously in the intestine. To understand how common genetic and environmental backgrounds influence the development of multiple tumours, we conduct a genome-wide comparative analysis of somatic alterations of 20 syCRCs from 10 patients. We show that syCRCs have independent genetic origins, acquire discordant somatic alterations, and follow different clonal developments.

  Study EGAS00001001461

• Second hit rare genetic variants in families with seemingly GBA gene associated Parkinson’s disease

  Study EGAS00001004777

• Genotype and exome data for an Australian Aboriginal population: a reference panel for health-based research

  Genetic analyses, including genome-wide association studies and whole exome sequencing (WES), provide powerful tools for the analysis of complex and rare genetic diseases. To date there are no reference data for Aboriginal Australians to underpin the translation of health-based genomic research. Here we provide a catalog of variants called after sequencing the exomes of 72 Aboriginal individuals to a depth of 20X coverage in 80% of the sequenced nucleotides. We determined 320,976 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 47,313 insertions/deletions using the Genome Analysis Toolkit. We had previously genotyped a subset of the Aboriginal individuals (70/72) using the Illumina Omni2.5 BeadChip platform and found 99% concordance at overlapping sites, which suggests high quality genotyping. Finally, we compared our SNVs to six publicly available variant databases, such as dbSNP and the Exome Sequencing Project, and 70,115 of our SNVs did not overlap any of the single nucleotide polymorphic sites in all the databases. Our data set provides a useful reference point for genomic studies on Aboriginal Australians.

  Study EGAS00001001585

• Genetic history of the Comorian populations.

  At the dawn of the second millennium, the expansion of the Indian Ocean trading network aligned with the emergence of an outward-oriented community along the East African coast to create a cosmopolitan cultural and trading zone known as the Swahili Corridor. Based on analyses of genome-wide genotyping data in 140 individuals from coastal Kenya and the Comoros islands, along with 3,477 individuals from the Indian Ocean rim, we reconstruct historical population dynamics showing that the Swahili Corridor is largely an East Bantu genetic continuum. Within this continuity significant gene flows from the Middle East can be seen in the Swahili and Comorians at dates corresponding to the Islamization of East Africa. However the main external gene flow into insular populations of the Swahili Corridor, such as Comorian and Malagasy groups, came from Island Southeast Asia as early as the 10th century. Remarkably, our results reflect archaeological and linguistic data in suggesting that the Comoros archipelago is the oldest place of contact between Austronesian and African populations in the Swahili Corridor.

  Study EGAS00001002565

• Genetic history of the Swahili population

  At the dawn of the second millennium, the expansion of the Indian Ocean trading network aligned with the emergence of an outward-oriented community along the East African coast to create a cosmopolitan cultural and trading zone known as the Swahili Corridor. Based on analyses of genome-wide genotyping data in 140 individuals from coastal Kenya and the Comoros islands, along with 3,477 individuals from the Indian Ocean rim, we reconstruct historical population dynamics showing that the Swahili Corridor is largely an East Bantu genetic continuum. Within this continuity significant gene flows from the Middle East can be seen in the Swahili and Comorians at dates corresponding to the Islamization of East Africa. However the main external gene flow into insular populations of the Swahili Corridor, such as Comorian and Malagasy groups, came from Island Southeast Asia as early as the 10th century. Remarkably, our results reflect archaeological and linguistic data in suggesting that the Comoros archipelago is the oldest place of contact between Austronesian and African populations in the Swahili Corridor.

  Study EGAS00001002569

• The multifaceted genomic history of Ashaninka from Amazonian Peru

  Genome-wide profiles of Ashaninkas from Peruvian Amazonia reveal two genetic subgroups. Ashaninka ancestors derived from a south-north migration from southeastern South America. The Ashaninka1 subgroup testifies to an Arawakan-Caribbean genetic link in the Early Ceramic Age. The Ashaninka2 subgroup had recent interactions with Andean and Pacific Indigenous populations.

  Study EGAS00001006958

• MeDALL epigenetics study

  MeDALL- (Mechanisms of the Development of ALLergy) is a collaborative project supported by the European Union under the Health Cooperation Work Programme of the 7th Framework programme (grant agreement number 261357).MeDALL epigenetics study includes illumina 450k methylation measurements from 4 cohorts: Infancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA), Etudes des Déterminants pré et postnatals précoces du développement et de la santé de l’ENfant (EDEN), Children’s Allergy Environment Stockholm Epidemiology study(BAMSE), and Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA)

  Study EGAS00001002169

• Integrative analysis of whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing and methylome array of 20 carcinosarcomas.

  Carcinosarcomas of the female genital tract, or GCS, are uncommon but clinically highly aggressive neoplasms with biphasic histology of carcinomatous (C) and sarcomatous (S) elements. These tumors represent a unique model to study the genetic and phenotypic diversity of cancer cells and the link between cellular plasticity and resistance to therapy. The aim of ICGC GCS program is to genomically characterize C and S components of 20 tumors, from endometrium or ovary, through an integrative analysis of whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing and methylome array.

  Study EGAS00001002271

• This project aims to study human memory capacity, including short-term memory and long-term memory, systematically via genome-wide association studies

  Development of high-throughput genotyping platforms provides an opportunity to identify new genetic elements related to complex cognitive functions. Taking advantage of multi-level genomic analysis, here we studied the genetic basis of human short-term (STM, n=1,620) and long-term (LTM, n=1,526) memory functions. Heritability estimation based on single nucleotide polymorphism showed moderate heritability of short-term memory but very low heritability of long-term memory. In a two-step genome-wide association study, the markers rs13151012 and rs1558360 passed genome-wide significance (p < 5×10-8) in digit-span STM task and for the first principal component shared by two STM tasks; however, none of them survived the replication. In turn, we selected the ten most significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for replication tests. Among them, a SNP near ZFAT was significantly associated with STM performance in another independent population of 2,789; a polymorphism within BCAT2 was significantly associated with LTM in another independent population of 1,865. Furthermore, we performed a pathway analysis based on the current genomic data and found six pathways significantly associated with STM capacity and one pathway associated with LTM capacity.

  Study EGAS00001002875

• TRAIP promotes DNA damage response during genome replication and is mutated in primordial dwarfism

  DNA lesions encountered by replicative polymerases threaten genome stability and cell cycle progression. Here we report the identification of mutations in TRAIP, encoding an E3 RING ubiquitin ligase, in patients with microcephalic primordial dwarfism/Seckel syndrome. We establish that TRAIP relocalizes to sites of DNA damage where it is required for optimal phosphorylation of H2AX and RPA2 during S-phase in response to UV irradiation, as well as fork progression through UV-induced DNA lesions. TRAIP is necessary for efficient cell cycle progression and mutations in TRAIP therefore limit cellular proliferation, providing a potential mechanism for microcephaly and dwarfism phenotypes. Human genetics thus identifies TRAIP as a novel component of the DNA damage response to replication-blocking DNA lesions.

  Study EGAS00001001501

• Genomic analysis reveals novel secondary drivers and progression pathways in skin basal cell carcinoma

  Basal cell carcinoma of the skin (BCC) is the most common malignant neoplasm in humans. BCC is primarily driven by the aberrant activation of the Sonic Hedgehog (Hh) pathway. However, its extensive phenotypical variation remains to be explained. The genetic profiling of 293 BCCs revealed the highest mutation rate observed in cancer (65 Mutations/Mb), with strong prevalence of UV-light signature mutations. 85% of BCCs harbored mutations in Hh pathway genes: mutually exclusive PTCH1 (73%) and SMO (20%) (P=6.6x10-8), SUFU (8%), and in TP53 (61%). 85% of BCCs also harbored secondary driver mutations in other genes implicated in BCC tumorigenesis. Recurrent secondary driver mutations were observed in MYCN (30%), PPP6C (15%), STK19 (10%), LATS1 (8%), ERBB2 (4%), PIK3CA (2%), RAC1 (1%) and N/K/H-RAS (2%). Loss of function (LoF) and deleterious missense mutations were observed in PTPN14 (23%), RB1 (8%) and FBXW7 (5%). In line with the mutational profiles detected by RNAseq, we observed activation of the Hh pathway as well as upregulation of target genes of the Hippo-YAP pathway and activation of MYCN target genes. The functional analysis of the novel tumorigenic driver mutations in MYCN, PTPN14 and LATS1 demonstrates their relevance in BCC tumorigenesis and provides an expanded molecular understanding of BCC.

  Study EGAS00001001540

• Malignant pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas harbor mutations in transport and cell adhesion genes

  One out of ten patients with pheochromocytoma (PCC) and paraganglioma (PGL) develop malignant disease. Today there are no reliable pathological methods to predict malignancy at the time of diagnosis. Tumors harboring mutations in the succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) gene often metastasize but the sequential genetic events resulting in malignant progression are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify somatic mutations that contribute to the malignant transformation of PCC/PGL. We performed pair-wise (tumor-normal) whole-exome sequencing to analyze the somatic mutational landscape in five malignant and four benign primary PCC/sympathetic PGL (sPGL), including two biological replicates from each specimen. In total, 225 unique somatic mutations were identified in 215 genes, with an average mutation rate of 0.54 mutations/megabase. Malignant tumors had a significantly higher number of mutations compared to benign tumors (p<0.001). Three novel genes were identified as recurrently mutated; MYCN, MYO5B and VCL, and mutations in these genes were exclusively found in malignant sPGL tumors. Mutations in the MYO5B gene could be verified in two publicly available data sets. A gene ontology analysis of mutated genes showed enrichment of cellular functions related to cytoskeletal protein binding, myosin complex, and motor activity, many of which had functions in Rab and Rac/Rho GTPase pathways. Conclusively, we have identified recurrent mutations in genes related to intracellular transport and cell adhesion, and we have confirmed recurrent mutations of MYO5B in PCC/PGL cases with malignant potential. Our study suggests that deregulated Rab and Rac/Rho pathways may be important in PCC/PGL tumorigenesis.

  Study EGAS00001001601

• Targeted sequencing of 12 genes in patients with HLH

  Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rapid-onset, potentially fatal hyperinflammatory syndrome. A prompt molecular diagnosis is crucial for appropriate clinical management. Here, we validated and prospectively evaluated a targeted high-throughput sequencing approach for HLH diagnostics. We have carried out high-throughput sequencing of 12 genes linked to HLH in 58 HLH patients. We achieved a diagnosis in 22 out of 58 patients (38%). Genetically undiagnosed HLH patients had a later age at onset and manifested higher frequencies of known secondary HLH triggers. Rare, putatively pathogenic monoallelic variants were identified in 9 patients. Almost all cases with reduced natural killer (NK) cell function received a diagnosis, but the majority of the prospective cases remain genetically unexplained, highlighting genetic heterogeneity and environmental impact within HLH. A complete understanding of the genetic susceptibility to HLH thus requires further in-depth investigations, including genome sequencing and detailed immunological characterization.

  Study EGAS00001001605

• Conjunctival fibrosis and the innate barriers to Chlamydia trachomatis intracellular infection: a genome wide association study

  This data comes from a genome-wide association study in 1090 cases of scarring trachoma and 1531 controls from a non-selected multi-ethnic sampling of The Gambia. The data constitutes hard base calls at 1457295 features from the HumanOmni2.5-8 (Omni2.5) BeadChip. Three genotype-calling algorithms were used : Illuminus (Bioinformatics 2007, 23:2741–6), GenCall (Patent US7035740, 2006) and GenoSNP (Bioinformatics 2008, 24:2209–14). Data from each calling algorithm was filtered to retain only SNPs with a call rate ≥ 0.98. To obtain a merged set of SNPs, all genotypes that matched across call-sets were retained, whilst those that mismatched between call-sets were set to missing. Genotypes that were present in one call set and missing in others were also retained. The merged SNP set contained 1467876 SNPs, which were filtered for call rate ≥ 0.99 and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium P value < 5 x 10-8. The case and control groups were approximately equivalent with respect to gender and ethnicity. 70% of cases and 63% of controls were female. Self-described ethnic composition of the cases was 29% Jola, 27% Mandinka, 21% Wolof, 10% Fula and 13% other/no data. In controls the composition was 25% Jola, 24% Mandinka, 21% Wolof, 8% Fula and 22% other/no data. Median age was 49 (range 32-60) in cases and 37 (range 12-52) in controls (t = -3.6019, P = 0.0003). This data set has substantial levels of population structure, which reflects extensive networks of pairwise kinship between participants. First pass tests of association in EMMAX (Nat Genet 2010, 42:348–54) led to genome-wide deflation of the test statistics (λ = 0.982 SE = 1.74e-05) that could be directly attributed to the differing age and gender distributions between cases and controls. Modelling the phenotype to adjust for age and gender successfully controlled for this and no genome-wide deviation from the null was subsequently observed (λ = 1.001, SE = 8.7 x 10-7). Neither principal components analysis (PCA) nor tests of proportional identity by state (IBS) variance in PLINK identified significant levels of within or between group genetic variance. The phenotypes submitted in the phenotypes file include both uncorrected (case/control status) and corrected (age and gender corrected case/control status) phenotypes, as well as age and self-described ethnicity.

  Study EGAS00001001516

• Whole exome sequencing of germline DNA was performed and subsequent polymorphisms in genes known and putatively involved in the innate immune response to fungi were identified

  Disease can be conceptualized as the result of interactions between infecting microbe and holobiont, the combination of a host and its microbial communities. It is likely that genomic variation in the host, infecting microbe, and commensal microbiota are key determinants of infectious disease clinical outcomes. However, until recently, simultaneous, multiomic investigation of infecting microbe and holobiont components has rarely been explored. Herein, we characterized the infecting microbe, host, micro- and mycobiomes leading up to infection onset in a leukemia patient that developed invasive mucormycosis. We discovered that the patient was infected with a strain of the recently described Mucor velutinosus species which we determined was hypervirulent in a Drosophila challenge model and has a predisposition for skin dissemination. After completing the infecting M. velutinosus genome and genomes from four other Mucor species, comparative pathogenomics was performed and assisted in identifying 66 M. velutinosus-specific putatively secreted proteins, including multiple novel secreted aspartyl proteinases which may contribute to the unique clinical presentation of skin dissemination. Whole exome sequencing of the patient revealed multiple non-synonymous polymorphisms in genes critical to control of fungal proliferation, such as TLR6 and PTX3. Moreover, the patient had a non-synonymous polymorphism in the NOD2 gene and a missense mutation in FUT2, which have been linked to microbial dysbiosis and microbiome diversity maintenance during physiologic stress, respectively. In concert with host genetic polymorphism data, the micro- and mycobiome analyses revealed that the infection developed amid a dysbiotic microbiome with low α-diversity, dominated by staphylococci. Additionally, longitudinal mycobiome data showed that M. velutinosus DNA was detectable in oral samples preceding disease onset. Our genome-level study of the host-infecting microbe-commensal triad extends the concept of personalized genomic medicine to the holobiont-infecting microbe interface thereby offering novel opportunities for using synergistic genetic methods to increase understanding of infectious diseases pathogenesis and clinical outcomes.

  Study EGAS00001001542

• Data from the paper Context-specific Effects of TGFβ/SMAD3 in Cancer Are Modulated by the Epigenome. Tufegdzic et al, Cell Reports 2015

  The transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signalling pathway exerts opposing effects on cancer cells, acting either as a tumor-promoter or as a tumor-suppressor. Here we show these opposing effects are a result of the synergy between SMAD3, a downstream effector of TGFβ signalling, and the distinct epigenomes of breast tumor initiating cells (BTICs). These effects of TGFβ are associated with distinct gene expression programs, but genomic SMAD3 binding patterns are highly similar in the BTIC-promoting and BTIC- suppressing contexts. Our data show cell type-specific epigenetic configurations provide a modulatory layer by determining accessibility of genes to regulation by TGFβ/SMAD3. LBH, one such context-specific target gene, is regulated according to its DNA methylation status, and is crucial for TGFβ-dependent promotion of BTICs. Overall, these results reveal that the epigenome plays a central and previously overlooked role in shaping the context-specific effects of TGFβ in cancer.

  Study EGAS00001001570

• Distinct portrayal of lesions in synchronous multifocal lung adenocarcinoma revealed by genome sequencing

  Distinguishing multiple primary lung cancers in the synchronous multifocal intrapulmonary lesions has important significance on clinical staging and therapeutic decision. To investigate genomic aberration profiles, we applied whole genome and whole exome sequencing, and microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization on 15 intrapulmonary tumors derived from six patients with synchronous multifocal lung cancers having similar histological diagnosis. Any pair of intrapulmonary tumors in a single patient, which shared the identical genetic background and environment, showed an extinctive heterogeneity between each other. Phylogenetic relationship analysis indicated an independently branched evolution among all the tumors, suggesting they were multiple primary lung cancers. EGFR or KRAS mutations were found in 7 or 3 out of the 15 tumors, from 3 or 2 patients, respectively. Somatic mutational heterogeneity of these two genes in a single patient was also observed. Our analysis indicates genomic aberration profiling is valuable for identification of multiple primary lung cancer, especially when high histopathological concordance was observed between lesions. We also suggest a thoroughly molecular diagnosis against therapeutic target genes should be taken for each accessible nodule before making a plan for adjuvant therapy.

  Study EGAS00001001572

• Prenatal lead exposure is associated with decreased cord blood DNA methylation of the glycoprotein VI gene involved in platelet activation and thrombus formation

  Early-life lead exposure impairs neurodevelopment and later exposure affects the cardiovascular system. Lead has been associated with reduced global 5-methylcytosine DNA methylation, suggesting that lead toxicity acts through epigenetic mechanisms. The objective of this study is to clarify how early life lead exposure alters DNA methylation of specific genes, using an epigenomic approach. We measured lead concentrations in urine (gestational week, GW, 8) and erythrocytes (GW 14), using ICP-MS, for 127 pregnant mothers recruited in the MINIMat food and supplementation cohort in rural Bangladesh. Cord blood DNA methylation was analyzed with the Infinium HumanMethylation450K BeadChip and top sites were validated by methylation-sensitive high-resolution melt curve analysis. Maternal urinary lead concentrations (divided into quartiles) showed significant (after adjustment for FDR) inverse associations with methylation at nine CpGs. Three of these sites were in the 5’ end, including the promoter, of glycoprotein IV (GP6); cg18355337 (q=0.029, β=-0.30), cg25818583 (q=0.041, β=-0.18) and cg23796967 (q=0.047, β=-0.17). The methylation in another CpG site in GP6 was close to significant (cg05374025, q=0.057, β=-0.23). The erythrocyte lead concentrations (divided into quartiles) were also inversely associated with CpG methylation in GP6, although this was not statistically significant after FDR-adjustments. Eight CpG sites in GP6 constituted a differentially methylated region in relation to urinary lead (p=0.005, q=0.48) and erythrocyte lead (p=0.007, q=0.46). In conclusion, we found that moderate prenatal lead exposure appear to epigenetically affect GP6, a key component of platelet aggregation and thrombus formation, suggesting a novel link between early lead exposure and cardiovascular disease later in life.

  Study EGAS00001001575

• A genetic compendium of human brains from the UK Medical Research Council brain tissue resource

  Common neurodegenerative diseases have a complex genetic architecture. Highly penetrant diseases alleles are found in a significant minority of cases, and common risk alleles are present in a large proportion. Given the central role of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of these disorders, it is critical that mechanistic studies in human subjects and tissue samples are interpreted in an genetically enlightened context. To address this we performed exome sequencing on 1461 human brains accessible through the Medical Research Council (UK) brain banks network. Our findings confirm the complex genetic landscape of neurodegenerative disease. Clinical, pathological and genetic data for the 1461 brains with corresponding exome sequencing data are available within this dataset, enabling the genetic stratification and selection of post-mortem tissue samples for researchers.

  Study EGAS00001001599

• 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

• Long-term organoid culture of a small intestinal neuroendocrine tumor

  Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are rare and highly heterogeneous neoplasms whose incidence has markedly increased over the last decades. A grading system based on the tumor cells' proliferation index predicts high-risk for G3 NETs. However, low-to-intermediate grade (G1/G2) NETs have an unpredictable clinical course that varies from indolent to highly malignant. Cultures of human cancer cells enable to perform functional perturbation analyses that are instrumental to enhance our understanding of cancer biology. To date, no tractable and reliable long-term culture of G1/G2 NET has been reported to permit disease modeling and pharmacological screens. Here, we report of the first long-term culture of a G2 metastatic small intestinal NET that preserves the main genetic drivers of the tumor and retains expression patterns of the endocrine cell lineage. Replicating the tissue, this long-term culture showed a low proliferation index, and yet it could be propagated continuously without dramatic changes in the karyotype. The model was readily available for pharmacological screens using targeted agents and as expected, showed low tumorigenic capacity in vivo. Overall, this is the first long-term culture of NETs to faithfully recapitulate many aspects of the original neuroendocrine tumor.

  Study EGAS00001007093

• UK10K NEURO FSZ

  In the UK10K project we propose a series of complementary genetic approaches to find new low frequency/rare variants contributing to disease phenotypes. These will be based on obtaining the genome wide sequence of 4000 samples from the TwinsUK and ALSPAC cohorts (at 6x sequence coverage), and the exome sequence (protein coding regions and related conserved sequence) of 6000 samples selected for extreme phenotypes. Our studies will focus primarily on cardiovascular-related quantitative traits, obesity and related metabolic traits, neurodevelopmental disorders and a limited number of extreme clinical phenotypes that will provide proof-of-concept for future familial trait sequencing. We will analyse directly quantitative traits in the cohorts and the selected traits in the extreme samples, and also use imputation down to 0.1% allele frequency to extend the analyses to further sample sets with genome wide genotype data. In each case we will investigate indels and larger structural variants as well as SNPs, and use statistical methods that combine rare variants in a locus or pathway as well as single-variant approaches. These Finnish schizophrenia samples have been collected from a population cohort using national registers. The entire sample collection consists of 2756 individuals from 458 families of whom 931 are diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, each family having at least two affected siblings. 170 families originate from an internal isolate (Kuusamo) with a three-fold lifetime risk for the trait. The genealogy of the internal isolate is well documented and the individuals form a “megapedigree” reaching to the 17th Century. All diagnoses are based on DSM-IV and for a large fraction of cases there is cognitive data. For further details/descriptions with regard to this data set please contact Tiina Paunio (tiina.paunio@thl.fi)

  Study EGAS00001000118

• Exome sequencing of uterine leiomyosarcomas

  Uterine leiomyosarcomas (ULMSs) are aggressive smooth muscle tumors associated with poor clinical outcome. Despite previous cytogenetic and molecular studies, their molecular background has remained elusive. To examine somatic variation in ULMS, we performed exome sequencing on 19 tumors. Altogether 43 genes were mutated in at least two ULMSs. Most frequently mutated genes included tumor protein P53 (TP53; 6/19; 33%), alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX; 5/19; 26%), and mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12; 4/19; 21%). Unlike ATRX mutations, both TP53 and MED12 alterations have repeatedly been associated with ULMSs. All the observed ATRX alterations were either nonsense or frameshift mutations. ATRX protein levels were reliably analyzed by immunohistochemistry in altogether 44 ULMSs, and the majority of tumors (23/44; 52%) showed clearly reduced expression. Loss of ATRX expression has been associated with alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT), and thus the telomere length was analyzed with telomere-specific fluorescence in situ hybridization. The ALT phenotype was confirmed in all ULMSs showing diminished ATRX expression. Exome data also revealed one nonsense mutation in death-domain associated protein (DAXX), another gene previously associated with ALT, and the tumor showed ALT positivity. Aberrant expression of both TP53 and ATRX were associated with poor overall survival. In conclusion, exome sequencing revealed that TP53, ATRX, and MED12 are frequently mutated in ULMSs. ALT phenotype was commonly seen in tumors, indicating that ATR inhibitors, which were recently suggested as possible new drugs for ATRX-deficient tumors, could provide a potential novel therapeutic option for ULMS.

  Study EGAS00001001612

• Sequencing_component_for_the_whole_genome_methylation_analysis_in_PBMCs_and_cell_subsets__pilot_study_

  DNA methylation has been shown to play a major role in determining cellular phenotype by regulating gene expression. Moreover, dysregulation of differentially methylated genes has been implicated in disease pathogenesis of various conditions including cancer development as well as autoimmune diseases such as systemic Lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Evidence is rapidly accumulating for a role of DNA methylation in regulating immune responses in health and disease. However, the exact mechanisms remain unknown. The overall aim of the project is to investigate the role of epigenetic mechanisms in regulating immunity and their impact on autoimmune disease pathogenesis.The aim of this pilot study is to perform whole genome methylation analysis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and cell subsets (CD4, CD8, CD14, CD19, CD16 and whole PBMCs) obtained from 6 healthy volunteers. Whole genome methylation analysis will be performed using two methodological approaches, the Infinium Methylation Bead Array K450 (Illumina) and MeDIP-seq. mRNA expression arrays will also be performed in order to correlate DNA methylation with gene expression as well as genotyping on the Illumina OmniExpress chip

  Study EGAS00001000490

• Next Generation Children project - WGS study of patients in NICU and PICU and their families

  With growing evidence that rare single gene disorders present in the neonatal period, there is a need for rapid, systematic, and comprehensive genomic diagnoses in ICUs to assist acute and long-term clinical decisions. This study aimed to identify genetic conditions in neonatal (NICU) and paediatric (PICU) intensive care populations. Whole genome sequencing data.

  Study EGAS00001003002