Pike and salmon as sister taxa: Detailed intraclade resolution and divergence time estimation of Esociformes + Salmoniformes based on whole mitochondrial genome sequences

The increasing number of taxa and loci in molecular phylogenetic studies of basal euteleosts has brought stability in a controversial area. A key emerging aspect to these studies is a sister Esociformes (pike) and Salmoniformes (salmon) relationship. We evaluate mitochondrial genome support for a sister Esociformes and Salmoniformes hypothesis by surveying many potential outgroups for these taxa, employing multiple phylogenetic approaches, and utilizing a thorough sampling scheme. Secondly, we conduct a simultaneous divergence time estimation and phylogenetic inference in a Bayesian framework with fossil calibrations focusing on relationships within Esociformes + Salmoniformes. Our dataset supports a sister relationship between Esociformes and Salmoniformes; however the nearest relatives of Esociformes + Salmoniformes are inconsistent among analyses. Within the order Esociformes, we advocate for a single family, Esocidae. Subfamily relationships within Salmonidae are poorly supported as Salmoninae sister to Thymallinae + Coregoninae.     

Rapid gene identification in a Chinese osteopetrosis family by whole exome sequencing

Osteopetrosis is a rare genetically heterogeneous disorder of bone metabolism characterized by increased skeleton density. In the past, standard methods for genetic diagnosis of osteopetrosis have primarily been performed by candidate gene screening and positional cloning. However, these methods are time and labor consumptive; and the genetic basis of approximately 30% of the cases is yet to be elucidated. Here, we employed whole exome sequencing of two affected individuals from an osteopetrosis family to identify a candidate mutation in CLCN7 (Y99C). It was identified from a total of 1757 and 1728 genetic variations found in either patient, which were then distilled using filtering strategies and confirmed using Sanger sequencing. We identified this mutation in six family members, while not in population matched controls. This mutation was previously found in osteopetrosis patients by other researchers. Our evolutionary analysis also indicated that it is under extremely high selective pressure, and is likely to be critical for the correct function of ClC-7, and thus is likely to be the responsible cause of disease. Collectively, our data further indicated that mutation (Y99C) may be a cause of osteopetrosis, and highlights the use of whole exome sequencing as a valuable approach to identifying disease mutations in a cost and time efficient manner.     

Higher frequency of septic shock in septic patients with the 47C allele (rs4880) of the SOD2 gene

Aim

To analyze the effect of the two different versions of the manganese superoxide dismutase gene (SOD2) on sepsis. The SOD2 gene presents the 47C > T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; ID: rs4880) which produces MnSOD with different activities. The − 9Val MnSOD (47T allele) is less efficient than the − 9Ala version (47C allele). During sepsis there are abundance of ROS, high SOD2 expression and excess of H₂O₂ synthesis. High concentrations of H₂O₂ could affect the sepsis scenario and/or the sepsis outcome.

Methods

We determined the 47C > T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies in 529 critically ill patients with or without sepsis, facing outcome. To collect information on population frequencies, we obtained a pilot 47C > T genotypic and allelic frequencies in a random group of 139 healthy subjects.

Results

We compared the 47C allele carriers (47CC + 47CT genotypes) with 47TT homozygotes and noticed a significant association between 47C allele carriers and septic shock in septic patients (P = 0.025). With an adjusted binary multivariate logistic regression, incorporating 47C > T SNP and the main clinical predictors, we showed high SOFA scores [P < 0.001, OR = 9.107 (95% CI = 5.319–15.592)] and 47C allele [P = 0.011, OR = 2.125 (95% CI = 1.190–3.794)] were significantly associated with septic shock outcome. With this information we presented a hypothesis suggesting that this negative outcome from sepsis is possibly explained by effects on cellular stress caused by 47C allele.

Conclusion

In our population there was a significant higher frequency of septic shock in septic patients with the 47C allele of the SOD2 gene. This higher 47C allele frequency in septic patients with negative outcome could be explained by effects of higher activity MnSOD on cellular stress during the sepsis.     

Partial monosomy 21 (q11.2→q21.3) combined with 3p25.3→pter monosomy due to an unbalanced translocation in a patient presenting dysmorphic features and developmental delay

We describe a female patient of 1 year and 5 months-old, referred for genetic evaluation due to neuropsychomotor delay, hearing impairment and dysmorphic features. The patient presents a partial chromosome 21 monosomy (q11.2→q21.3) in combination with a chromosome 3p terminal monosomy (p25.3→pter) due to an unbalanced de novo translocation. The translocation was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and the breakpoints were mapped with high resolution array. After the combined analyses with these techniques the final karyotype was defined as 45,XX,der(3)t(3;21)(p25.3;q21.3)dn,-21.ish der(3)t(3;21)(RP11-329A2-,RP11-439F4-,RP11-95E11-,CTB-63H24 +).arr 3p26.3p25.3(35,333-10,888,738)) × 1,21q11.2q21.3(13,354,643-27,357,765) × 1. Analysis of microsatellite DNA markers pointed to a paternal origin for the chromosome rearrangement. This is the first case described with a partial proximal monosomy 21 combined with a 3p terminal monosomy due to a de novo unbalanced translocation.     

Investigation of lymphotoxin α genetic variants in migraine

Migraine is a common neurological disease with a genetic basis affecting approximately 12% of the population. Pain during a migraine attack is associated with activation of the trigeminal nerve system, which carries pain signals from the meninges and the blood vessels infusing the meninges to the trigeminal nucleus in the brain stem. The release of inflammatory mediators following cortical spreading depression (CSD) may further promote and sustain the activation and sensitization of meningeal nociceptors, inducing the persistent throbbing headache characterised in migraine. Lymphotoxin α (LTA) is a cytokine secreted by lymphocytes and is a member of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family. Genetic variation with the TNF and LTA genes may contribute to threshold brain excitability, propagation of neuronal hyperexcitability and thus initiation and maintenance of a migraine attack. Three LTA variants rs2009658, rs2844482 and rs2229094 were identified in a recent pGWAS study conducted in the Norfolk Island population as being potentially implicated in migraine with nominally significant p values of p = 0.0093, p = 0.0088 and p = 0.033 respectively. To determine whether these SNPs played a role in migraine in a general outbred population these SNPs were gentoyped in a large case control Australian Caucasian population and tested for association with migraine. All three SNPs showed no association in our cohort (p > 0.05). Validation of GWAS data in independent case-controls cohorts is essential to establish risk validity within specific population groups. The importance of cytokines in modulating neural inflammation and pain threshold in addition to other studies showing associations between TNF-α and SNPs in the LTA gene with migraine, suggests that LTA could be an important factor contributing to migraine. Although the present study did not support a role for the tested LTA variants in migraine, investigation of other variants within the LTA gene is still warranted.