Next-generation sequencing through multigene panel testing for the diagnosis of hereditary epidermolysis bullosa in Chinese population

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a heritable blistering disorder. We performed a next-generation sequencing-based multigene panel test and successfully predicted 100% of the EB types, including, 36 EB simplex (EBS), 13 junctional EB (JEB), 86 dystrophic EB (DEB), and 3 Kindler EB. Chinese JEB and recessive DEB (RDEB) patients have relatively mild phenotypes; for severe type separately accounts for 45.5% and 23.8%, respectively. We identified 96 novel and 49 recurrent pathogenic variants in 11 genes, although we failed to detect the second mutation in one JEB and five RDEB patients. We identified one novel p.E475K mosaic mutation in the clinically normal mother of one out of 13 EBS patients with KRT5 mutations, one recurrent p.G2034R mosaic mutation, and one novel p.G2043R mosaic mutation in the clinically normal relatives of two out of 19 dominant DEB patients. This study shows that next-generation technology could be an effective tool in diagnosing EB.     

Expression of TRIM22 mRNA in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with direct-acting antiviral drugs

Hepatitis C is a global public health problem, and Pakistan is the second largest country in the globe with highest prevalence rate of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Until 2014, pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) has been the standard therapy for HCV, however, owing to its adverse side effects and very low sustained virologic response (SVR) rates therapeutics trend is shifted toward direct-acting antivirals. Tripartite motif containing 22 (TRIM22) is a dynamic antiviral protein that can inhibit multiple viruses in vivo. Expression of TRIM22 mRNA has been linked to outcome of PEG-IFN and ribavirin therapy, where its higher expression leads to rapid virus clearance. However, in terms of therapy with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) or double DAA, impact of TRIM22 expression is largely unknown. These new drugs show more than 90% of SVR rates and lesser side effects and have proven to be better than IFN therapy. Endogenous IFN system suppresses various pathogens through the induction of antiviral effectors termed as interferon-stimulating genes (ISGs). We have studied the expression levels of one of these antiviral effectors, TRIM22 in response to sofosbuvir (SOF) and daclatasvir (DAC) in combination with RBV, using quantitative PCR in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HCV-infected patients. We have observed sustained virus clearance in more than 90% of patients treated with DAA and double DAA and have seen the expression of TRIM22 to be higher in patients who attained SVR as compared to the untreated patients. We have also observed downregulation of TRIM22 in patients who failed to attain rapid virus clearance, and upregulation in those who achieved rapid clearance of virus. Genetic factors that determine the lower TRIM22 expression in these patients are needed to be explored that may also play a role in lower response to anti-HCV therapy. Endogenous IFN system and effects of antiviral proteins in response to DAA therapy is needed to be studied in order to better understand the host response toward these drugs to make them more effective.     

Compositional analyses reveal correlations between taxon-level gut bacterial abundance and peripheral T cell marker expression in African infants

ABSTRACT

Although exclusive breastfeeding has been linked to lower rates of postnatal HIV transmission compared to nonexclusive breastfeeding, mechanisms underlying this are unclear. Across a longitudinally sampled cohort of South African infants, we showed that exclusively breastfed (EBF) infants had altered gut bacterial communities when compared to nonexclusively breastfed (NEBF) infants, as well as reduced peripheral CD4 + T cell activation and lowered chemokine and chemokine receptor expression in the oral mucosa. We further demonstrated that the relative abundance of key taxa was correlated with peripheral CD4 + T cell activation. Here, we supplement those findings by using compositional data analyses to identify shifts in the abundance of several Bifidobacteria strains relative to select strains of Escherichia, Bacteroides, and others that are associated with the transition to NEBF. We illustrate that the abundance ratio of these taxa is tightly correlated with feeding modality and is a strong predictor of peripheral T cell activation. More broadly, we discuss our study in the context of novel developments and explore future directions for the field.     

乳腺癌21基因检测的研究进展

乳腺癌是一类具有异质性的肿瘤，不同患者的治疗方法和疗效都不相同。尽管目前仍在努力为激素受体（hormone receptor，HR）阳性（+）、人表皮生长因子受体2（human epidermal growth factor receptor 2,HER-2）阴性（-）、淋巴结（axillary lymph node，ALN）阴性（-）的早期乳腺癌患者寻找合适的治疗方法，但其术后是否需要化疗仍然是肿瘤科医生面临的一个难题。以往治疗主要依赖于经典的组织病理学和免疫组织化学技术，随着精准医疗时代的到来，我们需要更定量的诊断方法和合理的个体化治疗。虽然化疗可降低疾病复发风险并提高生存率，但它带来的不良反应事件会降低患者的生活质量，尤其低复发风险（recurrence risk,RS)有可能超过化疗益处。21基因检测不仅可以预测这类早期乳腺癌化疗疗效及评估预后，还可提供精准的个体化治疗方案指导用药，为患者增添信心。本文就乳腺癌21基因检测的研究进展进行综述。     

Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

以肺动脉高压为首发表现的先天性中枢性低通气综合征临床特征和基因分析

目的探讨先天性中枢性低通气综合征(CCHS)的临床和基因变异特征。方法分析1例首发表现为不明原因肺动脉高压的CCHS患儿的临床资料,并总结国内外文献中CCHS病例的临床特点、致病机制和基因变异情况。结果11月龄女婴,主要表现为浮肿、尿少、低血压、嗜睡、发绀、抽搐及颅内压增高。B型脑利钠肽、丙氨酸氨基转移酶升高,凝血酶原时间延长。颅脑磁共振示右侧额叶出血;超声心动图示中重度肺动脉高压。靶向捕获二代测序未发现可能的致病基因。采用Sanger法验证示患儿PHOX 2 B基因第3外显子存在多聚丙氨酸重复扩展变异,基因型为20/25。患儿入院后采用无创通气,睡眠时呼吸浅慢、微弱,伴血氧下降;血气分析提示二氧化碳潴留。随后改用夜间无创通气、降肺压药物治疗。复查肺动脉压力明显下降,生命体征稳定。随访至24月龄,夜间只需较低压力水平的无创通气,生长发育无异常。结论对于不明原因的肺动脉高压伴撤机困难患儿,需警惕CCHS。疑诊者应尽早针对CCHS相关基因进行靶向捕获二代测序及PHOX 2 B基因Sanger法验证。早期给予无创通气有望改善预后。     

中国优秀马拉松运动员ACE基因I/D多态性频率分布特征

通过分析中国马拉松运动员ACE基因I/D多态频率分布特征,探讨其作为杰出耐力基因标记的可行性。选择我国马拉松健将、国际健将级运动员26名作为马拉松运动员组,汉族学生216名作为对照组。对两组受试者进行ACE基因I/D多态性测定。结果显示:我国马拉松运动员组的等位基因频率和基因型频率与对照组比较无显著差异,其中15名国际健将中无一DD型纯合子,提示我国优秀马拉松运动员的纯合子DD型频率低下是其ACE基因多态频率分布的主要特征。