With the introduction of array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) techniques in the diagnostic setting of patients with developmental delay and congenital malformations, many new microdeletion ...syndromes have been recognized. One of these recently recognized microdeletion syndromes is the 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, associated with variable clinical outcomes including developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and obesity, but also apparently normal phenotype. We report on a 16-year-old patient with developmental delay, exhibiting retinis pigmentosa with progressive visual failure from the age of 9 years, ataxia, and peripheral neuropathy. Chromosomal microarray analysis identified a 1.7-Mb 16p11.2 deletion encompassing the 593-kb common deletion (∼29.5 to ∼30.1 Mb; Hg18) and the 220-kb distal deletion (∼28.74 to ∼28.95 Mb; Hg18) that partially included the CLN3 gene. As the patient's clinical findings were different from usual 16p11.2 microdeletion phenotypes and showed some features reminiscent of juvenile neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis (JNCL, Batten disease, OMIM 204200), we suspected and confirmed a mutation of the remaining CLN3 allele. This case further illustrates that unmasking of hemizygous recessive mutations by chromosomal deletion represents one explanation for the phenotypic variability observed in chromosomal deletion disorders.
In the interphase cell nucleus, chromosomes adopt a conserved and non-random arrangement in subnuclear domains called chromosome territories (CTs). Whereas chromosome translocation can affect CT ...organization in tumor cell nuclei, little is known about how aneuploidies can impact CT organization. Here, we performed 3D-FISH on control and trisomic 21 nuclei to track the patterning of chromosome territories, focusing on the radial distribution of trisomic HSA21 as well as 11 disomic chromosomes. We have established an experimental design based on cultured chorionic villus cells which keep their original mesenchymal features including a characteristic ellipsoid nuclear morphology and a radial CT distribution that correlates with chromosome size. Our study suggests that in trisomy 21 nuclei, the extra HSA21 induces a shift of HSA1 and HSA3 CTs out toward a more peripheral position in nuclear space and a higher compaction of HSA1 and HSA17 CTs. We posit that the presence of a supernumerary chromosome 21 alters chromosome compaction and results in displacement of other chromosome territories from their usual nuclear position.
How did the private labs fit onto COVID-19 crisis? Galhaud, Jean-Philippe; Scherrer, Florian; Kemeny, Stephan ...
Annales de biologie clinique (Paris),
2020-Dec-01, Letnik:
78, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Confronted with the COVID-19 crisis, healthcare professionals have had to tackle an epidemic crisis of a huge magnitude for which they were not prepared. Medical laboratories have been on the front ...line, from collecting samples to performing the analysis required to diagnose this new pathology. Responding to the needs and to the urgency of the situation, the authorities relied on the network of private laboratories. In France, private laboratory medicine represents 70% of overall activity, and with a network of more than 4,000 local laboratories, private laboratory medicine has been the cornerstone of the « screen-trace-isolate » strategy. This article gives feedback from private laboratory medicine professionals, directly involved in the reorganization carried out at the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical stages, during the crisis from March to October 2020.
BackgroundSuccessive epidemic waves of COVID-19 illustrated the potential of SARS-CoV-2 variants to reshape the pandemic. Detecting and characterising emerging variants is essential to evaluate their ...public health impact and guide implementation of adapted control measures.AimTo describe the detection of emerging variant, B.1.640, in France through genomic surveillance and present investigations performed to inform public health decisions.MethodsIdentification and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.640 was achieved through the French genomic surveillance system, producing 1,009 sequences. Additional investigation of 272 B.1.640-infected cases was performed between October 2021 and January 2022 using a standardised questionnaire and comparing with Omicron variant-infected cases.ResultsB.1.640 was identified in early October 2021 in a school cluster in Bretagne, later spreading throughout France. B.1.640 was detected at low levels at the end of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant's dominance and progressively disappeared after the emergence of the Omicron (BA.1) variant. A high proportion of investigated B.1.640 cases were children aged under 14 (14%) and people over 60 (27%) years, because of large clusters in these age groups. B.1.640 cases reported previous SARS-CoV-2 infection (4%), anosmia (32%) and ageusia (34%), consistent with data on pre-Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants. Eight percent of investigated B.1.640 cases were hospitalised, with an overrepresentation of individuals aged over 60 years and with risk factors.ConclusionEven though B.1.640 did not outcompete the Delta variant, its importation and continuous low-level spread raised concerns regarding its public health impact. The investigations informed public health decisions during the time that B.1.640 was circulating.
Abstract Microduplications 22q11.2 have been recently characterized as a new genomic duplication syndrome showing an extremely variable phenotype ranging from normal or mild learning disability to ...multiple congenital defects and sharing some overlapping features with DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome (DGS/VCFS), including heart defects, urogenital abnormalities and velopharyngeal insufficiency. We present an atypical and inherited 0.8-Mb duplication at 22q11.2, in the distal segment of the DGS/VCFS syndrome typically deleted region (TDR), in a 3-year-old boy with motor delay, language disorders and mild facial phenotype. This 22q11.2 microduplication was identified by MLPA, designed to detect recurrent microdeletions and microduplications of chromosomal regions frequently involved in mental retardation syndromes and was further characterized by aCGH. The duplicated region encompasses 14 genes, excluding TBX1 but including CRKL , ZNF74 , PIK4CA , SNAP29 and PCQAP known to contribute to several aspects of the DGS/VCFS phenotype. To the best of our knowledge, only one case of an isolated duplication in the distal segment of the TDR between chromosome 22-specific low-copy repeats B (LCR22-B) and D (LCR22-D) has been published, but the present report is the first one with a detailed description of physical and developmental features in a patient carrying this kind of atypical 22q11.2 duplication. This case illustrates the importance of reporting unusual 22q11.2 duplications to further evaluate the incidence of these rearrangements in the general population and to improve genotype–phenotype correlations and genetic counseling.
Abstract High proportion of disease-associated copy number variant maps to chromosome 17. Genomic studies have provided an insight into its complex genomic structure such as relative abundance of ...segmental duplication and intercepted repetitive elements. 17q21.31, 17q11.2 and 17q12 loci are well known on this chromosome and are associated with microdeletion and microduplication syndrome. No syndrome associated with 17q21.33 locus have been described. We report clinical, cytogenetic and molecular investigations of a 13 years-old girl admitted for evaluation of microcephaly, scoliosis, skeletal defects and learning difficulties. We carried out detailed analysis of the clinical phenotype of this patient and investigated the genetic basis using Agilent 180K Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization. We identified a ∼0.9 Mb de novo microduplication on chromosome 17q21.33. Four genes, COL1A1 , SGCA , PPP1R9B and CHAD located within the duplicated region are possible candidates for clinical features present in our patients. Gene expression studies by real-time RT-PCR assay only showed an overexpression of SGCA ( P < 0.01), a component of the dystrophin glycoprotein complex. Defect of SGCA was previously shown to lead to severe childhood autosomal recessive muscular dystrophy (LGMD2D) which result in progressive muscle weakness and can also be associated with hyperlordosis or scoliosis. Further cases with similar duplications are expected to be diagnosed. This will contribute to the delineation of this potential new microduplication syndrome and to improve genetic counseling.