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Italian Journal of Pediatrics May 2024In this study, we used targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate the genetic basis of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in a 19-year-old Tunisian man who...
BACKGROUND
In this study, we used targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate the genetic basis of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in a 19-year-old Tunisian man who presented with severe hypothyroidism and goiter.
CASE PRESENTATION
The propositus reported the appearance of goiter when he was 18. Importantly, he did not show signs of mental retardation, and his growth was proportionate. A partial organification defect was detected through the perchlorate-induced iodide discharge test. NGS identified a novel homozygous mutation in exon 18 of the SLC26A7 gene (P628Qfs*11), which encodes for a new iodide transporter. This variant is predicted to result in a truncated protein. Notably, the patient's euthyroid brother was heterozygous for the same mutation. No renal acid-base abnormalities were found and the administration of 1 mg of iodine failed to correct hypothyroidism.
CONCLUSIONS
We described the first case of goitrous CH due to a homozygous mutation of the SLC26A7 gene diagnosed during late adolescence.
Topics: Humans; Male; Sulfate Transporters; Mutation; Young Adult; Homozygote; Congenital Hypothyroidism; Goiter; Antiporters
PubMed: 38812002
DOI: 10.1186/s13052-024-01672-3 -
ISME Communications Jan 2024Plants host a large array of commensal bacteria that interact with the host. The growth of both bacteria and plants is often dependent on nutrients derived from the...
Plants host a large array of commensal bacteria that interact with the host. The growth of both bacteria and plants is often dependent on nutrients derived from the cognate partners, and the bacteria fine-tune host immunity against pathogens. This ancient interaction is common in all studied land plants and is critical for proper plant health and development. We hypothesized that the spatial vicinity and the long-term relationships between plants and their microbiota may promote cross-kingdom horizontal gene transfer (HGT), a phenomenon that is relatively rare in nature. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the genome and its extensively sequenced microbiome to detect events of horizontal transfer of full-length genes that transferred between plants and bacteria. Interestingly, we detected 75 unique genes that were horizontally transferred between plants and bacteria. Plants and bacteria exchange in both directions genes that are enriched in carbohydrate metabolism functions, and bacteria transferred to plants genes that are enriched in auxin biosynthesis genes. Next, we provided a proof of concept for the functional similarity between a horizontally transferred bacterial gene and its Arabidopsis homologue . The Arabidopsis gene is essential for biosynthesis of the brassinosteroid phytohormones, and loss of function of the gene leads to dwarfism. We found that expression of the homologue from bacteria of the Actinobacteria phylum in the background complements the mutant and leads to normal plant growth. Together, these data suggest that cross-kingdom HGT events shape the metabolic capabilities and interactions between plants and bacteria.
PubMed: 38808121
DOI: 10.1093/ismeco/ycae073 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024A breakthrough "Green Revolution" in rice enhanced lodging resistance by using gibberellin-deficient semi-dwarf varieties. However, the gibberellic acid (GA) signaling...
A breakthrough "Green Revolution" in rice enhanced lodging resistance by using gibberellin-deficient semi-dwarf varieties. However, the gibberellic acid (GA) signaling regulation on rice disease resistance remains unclear. The resistance test showed that a positive GA signaling regulator mutant was more susceptible while a negative GA signaling regulator () mutant was less susceptible to sheath blight (ShB), one of the major rice diseases, suggesting that GA signaling positively regulates ShB resistance. To isolate the regulator, which simultaneously regulates rice lodging and ShB resistance, SLR1 interactors were isolated. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H), bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), and Co-IP assay results indicate that SLR1 interacts with Calcineurin B-like-interacting protein kinase 31 (CIPK31). mutants exhibited normal plant height, but showed semi-dwarfism. In addition, the SLR1 level was much higher in than in the wild-type, suggesting that might accumulate SLR1 to inhibit GA signaling and thus regulate its semi-dwarfism. Recently, we demonstrated that CIPK31 interacts and inhibits Catalase C (CatC) to accumulate ROS, which promotes rice disease resistance. Interestingly, CIPK31 interacts with Vascular Plant One Zinc Finger 2 (VOZ2) in the nucleus, and expression of CIPK31 accumulated VOZ2. Inoculation of AG1-IA revealed that the mutant was more susceptible to ShB. Thus, these data prove that CIPK31 promotes lodging and ShB resistance by regulating GA signaling and VOZ2 in rice. This study provides a valuable reference for rice ShB-resistant breeding.
PubMed: 38794377
DOI: 10.3390/plants13101306 -
Medicine May 2024Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH, OMIM # 250250) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, which includes cartilage-hair hypoplasia-anauxetic dysplasia (CHH-AD) spectrum...
RATIONALE
Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH, OMIM # 250250) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, which includes cartilage-hair hypoplasia-anauxetic dysplasia (CHH-AD) spectrum disorders. CHH-AD is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the RNA component of the mitochondrial RNA-processing Endoribonuclease (RMRP) gene.
PATIENT CONCERNS
Here, we report 2 cases of Korean children with CHH-AD.
DIAGNOSES
In the first case, the patient had metaphyseal dysplasia without hypotrichosis, diagnosed by whole exome sequencing (WES), and exhibited only skeletal dysplasia and lacked extraskeletal manifestations, such as hair hypoplasia and immunodeficiency. In the second case, the patient had skeletal dysplasia, hair hypoplasia, and immunodeficiency, which were identified by WES.
INTERVENTIONS
The second case is the first CHH reported in Korea. The patients in both cases received regular immune and lung function checkups.
OUTCOMES
Our cases suggest that children with extremely short stature from birth, with or without extraskeletal manifestations, should include CHH-AD as a differential diagnosis.
LESSONS SUBSECTIONS
Clinical suspicion is the most important and RMRP sequencing should be considered for the diagnosis of CHH-AD.
Topics: Humans; Republic of Korea; Osteochondrodysplasias; Male; Female; Hair; Hirschsprung Disease; Mutation; Dwarfism; Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases; Hypotrichosis; Exome Sequencing; Infant; Child, Preschool; Endoribonucleases; Child; RNA, Long Noncoding
PubMed: 38787970
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037247 -
Journal of Clinical Immunology May 2024Mutations in genes of the DNA polymerase complex have been linked to impaired immunological function next to distinct syndromic features. Biallelic mutations in PRIM1...
Mutations in genes of the DNA polymerase complex have been linked to impaired immunological function next to distinct syndromic features. Biallelic mutations in PRIM1 are associated with a primordial dwarfism syndrome with variable hypogammaglobulinemia. The disease is mostly lethal in infancy due to pulmonary infections as well as hepatic cirrhosis. We studied 3 novel patients with PRIM1-deficiency with a focus on immunological consequences. All three shared dysmorphic features including a prominent forehead, triangular face and bilateral cryptorchidism. P1 carried the novel homozygous PRIM1 splice variant c.103+2T>G, allowing residual protein expression and associated with a mild clinical phenotype. P2 and P3 carried the known homozygous variant c.638+36C>G and died in infancy. Paradoxically, B cell lymphopenia was most pronounced in P1. No other significant lymphocyte abnormalities were detected. Interestingly, all 3 patients showed variable, but intermittently excessive Type I interferon signatures. In summary, the B-cell deficiency in PRIM1-deficiency is markedly variable and the severity of syndromic manifestations is not predictive of the immunological phenotype. We highlight a potential contribution of pathological type I interferon activation to disease pathogenesis which warrants further investigations.
Topics: Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Alleles; B-Lymphocytes; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Interferon Type I; Mutation; Phenotype
PubMed: 38773012
DOI: 10.1007/s10875-024-01733-6 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024There are three major categories of waterfowl parvoviruses, namely goose parvovirus (GPV), Muscovy duck parvovirus, and novel goose parvovirus (NGPV). NGPV can infect...
INTRODUCTION
There are three major categories of waterfowl parvoviruses, namely goose parvovirus (GPV), Muscovy duck parvovirus, and novel goose parvovirus (NGPV). NGPV can infect both Cherry Valley ducks and mule ducks, resulting in short beaks and dwarfism syndrome, and the incidence of short beaks and dwarfism syndrome rises annually, posing a significant threat to the waterfowl breeding and the animal husbandry. Therefore, clarifying the biological characteristics and genetic evolution of NGPV is very important for the prevention and control of NGPV.
METHODS
Ducks with short beaks and dwarfism syndrome from Shandong and Henan Province were investigated by dissection and the tissue samples were collected for study. The NGPV genome was amplified by PCR, and the genome was analyzed for genetic evolution.
RESULTS
Eight strains of NGPV were isolated, which were designated as HZ0512, HZ0527, HZ0714, HZ0723, HZ0726, HZ0811, HZ0815, and HN0403. The nucleotide homology among these strains ranged from 99.9% to 100%. The eight strains, along with other NGPVs, belong to GPV. The eight strains showed a 92.5%-98.9% nucleotide homology with the classical GPV, while a 96.0%-99.9% homology with NGPV.Therefore, it can be deduced that there have been no major mutations of NGPV in Shandong and Henan provinces in recent years.
DISCUSSION
This study lays a theoretical foundation for further studying the genetic evolution and pathogenicity of NGPV, thereby facilitating the prevention and control of NGPV.
PubMed: 38765684
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1373601 -
The Plant Genome May 2024Dwarfism is a useful trait in many crop plants because it contributes to improved lodging resistance and harvest index. The mutant allele dw-ref (dwarf-reference) of...
Dwarfism is a useful trait in many crop plants because it contributes to improved lodging resistance and harvest index. The mutant allele dw-ref (dwarf-reference) of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is characterized by an 882 bp tandem duplication in the fifth exon of the gene that is unstable and reverts to wild-type at a frequency greater than 0.001 in many genetic backgrounds. The goal of this research was to identify stable alleles of dw (dwarf3) that could be backcrossed into elite parent lines to improve height stability of the crop. To discover new alleles of dw, a panel consisting mostly of sorghum conversion lines (SC-lines) was screened by polymerase chain reaction for the 882 bp tandem duplication in the fifth exon of dw-ref. Sanger sequencing was used to characterize the DNA sequence of this fragment in genotypes that did not contain the 882 bp tandem duplication. Sequence analysis identified three indel mutations, including an 82 bp deletion, a 6 bp duplication, and a 15 bp deletion in this region of the gene. Field trials of the donor genotypes with these new alleles indicated no wild-type revertants of dw-sd3 (dwarf-stable dwarf), dw-sd4, and dw-sd5. These alleles were backcrossed into Tx430. Field trials of backcross progeny (BCF) with the dw-sd3, dw-sd4, and dw-sd5 alleles indicated no revertants. The plant height and flowering time characteristics of the backcross progeny were similar or slightly shorter and earlier than the recurrent parent. These findings demonstrate that dw-sd3, dw-sd4, and dw-sd5 alleles will be useful in breeding for the stable dwarf trait.
PubMed: 38764298
DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20466 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2024We present the evolution of GHD in adolescent males with persistent growth failure, in whom the diagnosis was established after a second GH stimulation test (GST).
INTRODUCTION
We present the evolution of GHD in adolescent males with persistent growth failure, in whom the diagnosis was established after a second GH stimulation test (GST).
METHODS
We performed a retrospective chart review of children who presented for short stature (height less < 2SD for mean/mid-parental height) and/or growth failure (sustained growth velocity < 0 SD) to pediatric endocrinology at Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital, New York and who had 2 GSTs. Data collected from electronic medical records were analyzed using SPSS v28.0.
RESULTS
Of 53 patients included, 42 were males. Average GH peak on initial GST was 15.48 ± 4.92 ng/ml, at 10.07 ± 2.65 years, mean height -1.68 ± 0.56SD(28% had <2SD), IGF-1 -1.00 ± 0.88SD. After 2.23 ± 1.22 years, at 12.04 ± 2.41years, height SDs decreased to -1.82 ± 0.63SD and IGF-1 was -1.08 ± 0.84SD. At repeat GST, average GH peak was 7.59 ± 2.12 ng/dL, with 36% ≤7 ng/dl and 32% in puberty. 12 males reached adult height of 0.08 ± 0.69 SD with a mean height gain of 1.83 ± 0.56SD(p<0.005), IGF-1 of -1.15 ± 0.81SD after 4.64 ± 1.4 years of GH.
CONCLUSION
We offer evidence for Evolving Growth Hormone Deficiency (EGHD) through repeat GST in children with persistent growth slowdown, even with pubertal progression; emphasizing the need for careful longitudinal follow-up to make accurate diagnosis.
Topics: Humans; Male; Human Growth Hormone; Adolescent; Retrospective Studies; Child; Growth Disorders; Female; Body Height; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; Proof of Concept Study; Dwarfism, Pituitary
PubMed: 38752175
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1398171 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports May 2024People with achondroplasia exhibit distinct physical characteristics, but their cognitive abilities remain within the normal range. The challenges encountered...
BACKGROUND
People with achondroplasia exhibit distinct physical characteristics, but their cognitive abilities remain within the normal range. The challenges encountered during surgical procedures and perioperative care for achondroplastic individuals, are underrepresented in the existing literature.
CASE PRESENTATION
In this report, the management of a 26-year-old North-African achondroplastic male is highlighted. The patient suffered a complete intra-articular distal femur fracture (AO/OTA 33-C1) and an ipsilateral patella fracture (AO/OTA 34-C1). The patient's unusual anatomical variations and the lack of suitable orthopedic implants posed significant surgical challenges, particularly in the context of a resource-limited developing country. Facial and spinal deformities, which are common in patients with achondroplasia, further complicated the anesthetic approach.
CONCLUSIONS
The limited information on operative management of fractures in achondroplastic patients necessitated independent decision-making and diverging from the convenient approach where clear guidance is available in the literature.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Male; Achondroplasia; Femoral Fractures; Patella; Intra-Articular Fractures; Fracture Fixation, Internal
PubMed: 38730409
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-024-04566-4