A low-noise transimpedance amplifier for BLM-based ion channel recording

High-throughput screening (HTS) using ion channel recording is a powerful drug discovery technique in pharmacology. Ion channel recording with planar bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) is scalable and has very high sensitivity. A HTS system based on BLM ion channel recording faces three main challenges: (i) design of scalable microfluidic devices; (ii) design of compact ultra-low-noise transimpedance amplifiers able to detect currents in the pA range with bandwidth >10 kHz; (iii) design of compact, robust and scalable systems that integrate these two elements. This paper presents a low-noise transimpedance amplifier with integrated A/D conversion realized in CMOS 0.35 µm technology. The CMOS amplifier acquires currents in the range ±200 pA and ±20 nA, with 100 kHz bandwidth while dissipating 41 mW. An integrated digital offset compensation loop balances any voltage offsets from Ag/AgCl electrodes. The measured open-input input-referred noise current is as low as 4 fA/Root Hz at ±200 pA range. The current amplifier is embedded in an integrated platform, together with a microfluidic device, for current recording from ion channels. Gramicidin-A, alpha-haemolysin and KcsA potassium channels have been used to prove both the platform and the current-to-digital converter

Improving Signal To Noise Ratio And Time Resolution For Solid-State Nanopore Measurements

Nanopores have seen broad applicability as single-molecule sensors because of their spatiotemporally localized transduction and high intrinsic gain. In this dissertation, we seek to increase the bandwidths accessible to nanopore measurements through improvements to nanopores, associated measurements electronics, and their integration. Solid-state pores, in particular, can generate signals that are often more than an order of magnitude larger than their biological counterparts. These larger signals make solid-state pores much more amenable to high-bandwidth measurements. Earlier work showed DNA translocation measurements with sub-microsecond temporal resolution using silicon nitride nanopores. In this dissertation, we further improve the temporal resolution to 100 ns by a recently developed CMOS nanopore amplifier (CNP2) with 10 MHz bandwidth capacity using silicon nitride pores thinned with electronic beam techniques to \u3c 3 nm thickness, with pore diameter compatible for ssDNA that hugs the molecules as it translocates. Overall signal-to-noise-ratio-limited bandwidth is optimized through appropriate choice of pore size, salt and bias voltage. To further reduce Cpore, we are passivating silicon-nitride pores with thick dielectrics. We have previously reported on fused-silica based solid state membrane carrying platform which allows us to reduce Cpore to values \u3c 1 pF. We also make use of this versatile, low-capacitance platform to suspend other thin, two-dimensional membrane such as MoS2 to take advantage of the atomic thickness of these 2D materials to increase spatial resolution. In this dissertation, we present data of improvements in DNA translocation recordings in both time resolution and signal to noise ratio (SNR) from combining our custom electronics with these low-capacitance, high-conductance ultra-thin pores. The ultra-low measurement noise allows us to observe an excess current dependent noise due to the pore itself, and the rich dynamics as DNA translocate through the nanopore. We also explore other applications beyond single nanopore such as nanopore arrays and nanoribbon-nanopore devices

Моделювання та аналіз сигналів біонанопорового секвенування ДНК для виявлення генетичних мутацій

Робота присвячена розвитку методів цифрової обробки геномних сигналів, які представляють собою дані щодо будови ДНК, з метою використання методів обробки сигналів до задачі аналізу геномних даних. За фраг-ментами послідовностей нуклеотидів змодельовано сигнали іонного струму крізь біологічну нанопору при секвенції ДНК для випадків норми, точкових мутацій, вставки та видалення ділянки ДНК. Модельні сигнали іонного струму у білковій нанопорі отримано на основі реальних послідовностей нуклеотидів з атласів ракового геному. В роботі використано кореляційний аналіз для визначення подібності сигналів нанопорового секвенування ДНК за допомо-гою функції взаємної кореляції між двома сигналами іонного струму крізь білкову нанопору, зокрема між сигна-лами у нормі та з наявністю мутації. За розташуванням максимуму взаємної кореляційної функції визначається тип мутації (інсерція або делеція), а також проводиться вирівнювання однакових нуклеотидних послідовностей за допомогою визначеного зсуву сигналу. Проаналізовано застосування методів машинного навчання до класифікації геномних сигналів нанопорового секвенування ДНК. Для визначення найкращих моделей класифікації застосовано алгоритми на основі дерев рішень, дискримінантного аналізу, методу опорних векторів, логістичної регресії, методу k-найближчих сусідів та ансамблевого навчання. Для різних методів машинного навчання визначено та порівняно точність класифікації на 4 класи: норма, точкова мутація (місенс або нонсенс), мутація делеції та інсерції декількох нуклеотидів. Показано, що результати застосування методів машинного навчання до проблеми класифікації сигналів нанопорового секве-нування ДНК суттєво залежать від рівня шуму у зареєстрованих сигналах іонного струму крізь білкову нанопору та типу мутації. Найкращі результати класифікації отримано для методу опорних векторів. Застосування лінійної, квадратичної та кубічної функцій ядра показало високу точність вірно класифікованих сигналів – від 93 до 100%.The application of genomic signal processing methods to the problem of modeling and analysis of nanoporous DNA sequencing signals is considered in the paper. Based on the nucleotide sequences in the norm and in the case of muta-tions, 1200 signals are simulated, which represent 4 classes: norm, missense mutation, insertion mutation and deletion mu-tation. Correlation analysis was used to determine the similarity of nanoporous DNA sequencing signals using a cross-cor-relation function between two current signals in the protein nanopore, specifically signal in norm and in the presence of mutation. The location of the correlation peak determines the type of mutation (insertion or deletion), as well as the align-ment of the same nucleotide sequences using a defined signal shift. The results of applying machine learning methods to the problem of classification of nanoporous DNA sequencing signals significantly depend on the noise level of the registered current signals through the protein nanopore and the type of muta-tion. Given a relatively low noise level, when the values of the ion current through a protein nanopore for different nucleo-tides do not intersect, the classification accuracy reaches 100%. In the case of increasing the standard deviation of the law of distribution of noise components, there is an overlap of the levels of current values in the nanopore in the case of its blocking by nucleotides of the close size. As a result, errors in the definition of normal and single nucleotide mutations (missense or nonsense) often occur, especially if the levels of current steps in the nanopore for two nucleotides are similar (for example, guanine and thymine, thymine and adenine, adenine and cytosine) and noise masks their contribution to reduction current in the nanopore. Mutations of insertion and deletion of a certain nucleotide sequence are often classified without errors, because these mutations are characterized by a shift of several nucleotides between normal signals and pathology, which increases the distance between these signals. Among the machine learning methods that have demonstrated the high accuracy of classification of the signals of nanopore-based DNA sequencing, the methods of linear discriminant, k-nearest neighbors classifier (with Euclidean distance and the sufficient number of nearest neighbors), as well as the method of reference vectors should be mentioned. The best results were obtained for the classification method of support vector machines. The use of linear, quadratic and cubic kernel functions shows the high accuracy of correctly classified signals — from 93 to 100%

Modern venomics – Current insights, novel methods and future perspectives in biological and applied animal venom research

Venoms have evolved >100 times in all major animal groups, and their components, known as toxins, have been fine-tuned over millions of years into highly effective biochemical weapons. There are many outstanding questions on the evolution of toxin arsenals, such as how venom genes originate, how venom contributes to the fitness of venomous species, and which modifications at the genomic, transcriptomic, and protein level drive their evolution. These questions have received particularly little attention outside of snakes, cone snails, spiders, and scorpions. Venom compounds have further become a source of inspiration for translational research using their diverse bioactivities for various applications. We highlight here recent advances and new strategies in modern venomics and discuss how recent technological innovations and multi-omic methods dramatically improve research on venomous animals. The study of genomes and their modifications through CRISPR and knockdown technologies will increase our understanding of how toxins evolve and which functions they have in the different ontogenetic stages during the development of venomous animals. Mass spectrometry imaging combined with spatial transcriptomics, in situ hybridization techniques, and modern computer tomography gives us further insights into the spatial distribution of toxins in the venom system and the function of the venom apparatus. All these evolutionary and biological insights contribute to more efficiently identify venom compounds, which can then be synthesized or produced in adapted expression systems to test their bioactivity. Finally, we critically discuss recent agrochemical, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic (so-called translational) aspects of venoms from which humans benefit

Modern venomics--Current insights, novel methods, and future perspectives in biological and applied animal venom research

Venoms have evolved >100 times in all major animal groups, and their components, known as toxins, have been fine-tuned over millions of years into highly effective biochemical weapons. There are many outstanding questions on the evolution of toxin arsenals, such as how venom genes originate, how venom contributes to the fitness of venomous species, and which modifications at the genomic, transcriptomic, and protein level drive their evolution. These questions have received particularly little attention outside of snakes, cone snails, spiders, and scorpions. Venom compounds have further become a source of inspiration for translational research using their diverse bioactivities for various applications. We highlight here recent advances and new strategies in modern venomics and discuss how recent technological innovations and multi-omic methods dramatically improve research on venomous animals. The study of genomes and their modifications through CRISPR and knockdown technologies will increase our understanding of how toxins evolve and which functions they have in the different ontogenetic stages during the development of venomous animals. Mass spectrometry imaging combined with spatial transcriptomics, in situ hybridization techniques, and modern computer tomography gives us further insights into the spatial distribution of toxins in the venom system and the function of the venom apparatus. All these evolutionary and biological insights contribute to more efficiently identify venom compounds, which can then be synthesized or produced in adapted expression systems to test their bioactivity. Finally, we critically discuss recent agrochemical, pharmaceutical, therapeutic, and diagnostic (so-called translational) aspects of venoms from which humans benefit.This work is funded by the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST, www.cost.eu) and based upon work from the COST Action CA19144 – European Venom Network (EUVEN, see https://euven-network.eu/). This review is an outcome of EUVEN Working Group 2 (“Best practices and innovative tools in venomics”) led by B.M.v.R. As coordinator of the group Animal Venomics until end 2021 at the Institute for Insectbiotechnology, JLU Giessen, B.M.v.R. acknowledges the Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG) in the programme “LOEWE – Landes-Offensive zur Entwicklung Wissenschaftlich-ökonomischer Exzellenz” of Hesse's Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and the Arts. B.M.v.R. and I.K. further acknowledge funding on venom research by the German Science Foundation to B.M.v.R. (DFG RE3454/6-1). A.C., A.V., and G.Z. were supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program through Marie Sklodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (grant agreements No. A.C.: 896849, A.V.: 841576, and G.Z.: 845674). M.P.I. is supported by the TALENTO Program by the Regional Madrid Government (2018-T1/BIO-11262). T.H.'s venom research is funded by the DFG projects 271522021 and 413120531. L.E. was supported by grant No. 7017-00288 from the Danish Council for Independent Research (Technology and Production Sciences). N.I. acknowledges funding on venom research by the Research Fund of Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University (project Nos. ABAP20F28, BAP18F26). M.I.K. and A.P. acknowledge support from GSRT National Research Infrastructure structural funding project INSPIRED (MIS 5002550). G.A. acknowledges support from the Slovenian Research Agency grants P1-0391, J4-8225, and J4-2547. G.G. acknowledges support from the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia. E.A.B.U. is supported by a Norwegian Research Council FRIPRO-YRT Fellowship No. 287462

New concepts in energy and mass transport within carbon nanotubes

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2012.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 164-177).The unique structure of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) contributes to their distinguished properties, making them useful in nanotechnology. CNTs have been explored for energy transport in next-generation, such as light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors, and phonon wave guides due to their high axial electrical and thermal conductivity. Also, their subnanometer scale with atomically smooth surfaces is promising for selective mass transport in nanoscale, such as molecular transport, selective gas permeation, and nanofluidics. The first part of this thesis considers CNTs as substrates for guided chemical reactivity and thermal waves for energy generation. Coupling an exothermic chemical reaction with a nanowire possessing a high axial thermal conductivity creates a self-propagating reactive wave. Such waves are realized using a 7-nm cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (TNA) annular shell around a CNT and are amplified by 104 times the bulk TNA value, propagating more than 2 m/s, with an effective thermal conductivity of 1.28 ± 0.2 kW/m/K at 2860 K. Thermally excited carriers in the direction of the propagating reaction produces a concomitant electrical pulse of high specific power, as large as 7 kW/kg, that we identify as a thermopower wave. The specific power increases with a decreasing system size, resulting in usually efficient sub-micron and nano-sized pulse power sources. In the second portion, we develop a nanopore platform using the interior of a single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) for study of single ion transport. Such pores can undergo a resonance in ion transport such that coherent waveforms are generated (CR). The asymmetric electrostatic barriers at their ends show that above the threshold bias, traversing the nanopore end is not rate limiting and that the pore blocking behavior of two parallel nanotubes follows an idealized Markov process. We report two channels undergoing this CR simultaneously, the dynamics of ion transport for different cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+) and the effect of varying the applied voltage on transport across the SWNT channel. Finally, the diameter and temperature dependence (1-2 nm) of ion transport shows the distinct trend in dwell time and blockade current that study its transfer mechanism by proton 'hop' and 'turn', and single ion transport.by Wonjoon Choi.Ph.D

Electronics for Sensors

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore new advanced solutions in electronic systems and interfaces to be employed in sensors, describing best practices, implementations, and applications. The selected papers in particular concern photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) interfaces and applications, techniques for monitoring radiation levels, electronics for biomedical applications, design and applications of time-to-digital converters, interfaces for image sensors, and general-purpose theory and topologies for electronic interfaces

Therapeutic approaches and development of genomic diagnostic tools for Usher syndrome

Tesis por compendio[ES] El síndrome de Usher (USH) es un trastorno raro autosómico recesivo definido principalmente por sordera neurosensorial (SNHL), y una distrofia retiniana conocida como retinosis pigmentaria (RP). La patología muestra heterogeneidad genética, puesto que se conocen al menos 10 genes responsables. No obstante, las mutaciones en USH2A son la causa más frecuente de la enfermedad, en gran medida por la recurrencia de la variante patogénica c.2299delG. En esta tesis se ha desarrollado un ensayo de edición génica para revertir dicha anomalía genética por medio del sistema CRISPR/Cas9. Se diseñaron y probaron varios complejos CRISPR específicos de locus, y el más eficiente fue usado para la corrección de la mutación c.2299delG en células derivadas de pacientes. La tasa de corrección de la mutación obtenida fue del 2.5%. Otro objetivo de esta tesis ha sido la caracterización genética de pacientes USH aún sin diagnóstico molecular. Una primera fase implicó la secuenciación masiva dirigida de las regiones codificantes de todos los genes asociados a la enfermedad. Este estudio, cuya cohorte incluyó 58 pacientes no escrutados previamente, permitió la identificación de 42 nuevas mutaciones presuntamente patológicas, y una tasa general de detección de alelos responsables de la enfermedad de prácticamente el 83%. Sorprendentemente, uno de los sujetos presentaba mutaciones en CEP250, uno de los últimos genes correlacionados con la enfermedad. Una exhaustiva revisión clínica reveló que la degeneración retiniana se trataba en realidad de una distrofia de conos y bastones en lugar de RP clásica, lo cual permitió consolidación del gen CEP250 como responsable de un fenotipo similar al USH. El resto de casos sin resolver induce a sospechar de la existencia de otros genes vinculados con USH. Así pues, se analizó el exoma íntegro de dichos casos negativos del panel por medio de secuenciación de exoma completo, lo cual proporcionó resultados relevantes en seis de las muestras estudiadas. Uno de tales sujetos resultó ser un claro caso de fenocopia de USH, al albergar mutaciones patogénicas en dos genes independientes, TECTA y REEP6, siendo el primero responsable de la SNHL y el segundo de la RP. De forma parecida, en otro paciente se detectaron variantes patológicas para RP en el gen EYS, pero no se identificó paralelamente ningún cambio genético que explicara la SNHL. Tres individuos adicionales resultaron haber sido erróneamente diagnosticados como USH, dada la conclusiva inexistencia o ambigüedad de la sordera. Uno de ellos fue definido como homocigoto de una mutación en CNGB1, ya reconocido como responsable de RP. En el segundo de dichos sujetos se identificó una mutación en homocigosis en el gen GRN, cuyos defectos en estado heterocigoto están asociados a demencia frontotemporal y más raramente combinada con RP si ambos alelos se encuentran alterados. Por otro lado, el tercer paciente fue resuelto como heterocigoto compuesto de variantes en WDR19, un gen asociado en mayor medida a una distrofia retiniana acompañada de trastornos renales y, más raramente, a la forma aislada del síntoma. En el último de los seis casos resaltados de este objetivo se detectó una mutación homocigota sin sentido en el gen ASIC5, cuyo papel en el organismo todavía se desconoce. Sin embargo, se han correlacionado funciones visuales y auditivas para miembros de la misma familia proteica. En conjunto, los hallazgos obtenidos en este trabajo avalan la importancia del uso de las más novedosas tecnologías en la búsqueda de soluciones para enfermedades raras, las cuales presentan por ahora un pronóstico terapéutico bastante desamparado. Asimismo, otras consecuencias positivas en cuanto a la caracterización genética de los pacientes son la corroboración (o rectificación) del diagnóstico inicial, así como la contribución a la estimación demográfica y correlaciones de genotipo-fenotipo, que en definit[CA] La síndrome d'Usher (USH) és una malaltia rara autosòmic recessiu definit principalment per sordera neurosensorial (SNHL) i una distròfia retiniana coneguda com a retinosi pigmentària (RP). La patologia mostra heterogeneïtat genètica, ja que es coneixen almenys 10 gens responsables. No obstant això, les mutacions en USH2A són la causa més freqüent de la malaltia, a causa de la recurrència de la variant patogènica c.2299delG. En aquesta tesi s'ha desenvolupat un assaig d'edició gènica per a revertir la dita anomalia genètica per mitjà del sistema CRISPR/Cas9. Es van dissenyar i van probar diversos complexos CRISPR específics de locus, i el més eficient va ser usat per a la correcció de la mutació en cèl·lules derivades de pacients. La taxa de correcció de la mutació obtinguda va ser del 2.5%. Un altre objectiu d'aquesta tesi ha sigut la caracterització genètica de pacients USH encara sense diagnòstic molecular. Una primera fase va implicar la seqüenciació massiva dirigida de les regions codificants de tots els gens associats a la malaltia. Aquest estudi, la cohort de la qual va incloure 58 pacients no escrutats prèviament, va permetre la identificació de 42 noves mutacions presumptament patològiques, i una taxa general de detecció d'al·lels responsables de la malaltia de pràcticament el 83%. Sorprenentment, un dels subjectes presentava mutacions en CEP250, un dels últims gens correlacionats amb la malaltia. Una exhaustiva revisió clínica va revelar que la degeneració retiniana es tractava en realitat d'una distròfia de cons i bastons en lloc de RP clàssica. Aquestes troballes han permés la consolidació del gen CEP250 com a responsable d'un fenotip similar al USH. La resta de casos sense resoldre induïx a sospitar de l'existència d'altres gens vinculats amb USH. Així, doncs, es va analitzar l'exoma íntegre dels casos negatius del panell a través de seqüenciació d'exoma complet, cosa que va proporcionar resultats rellevants en sis de les mostres estudiades. Un de tals subjectes va resultar ser un clar cas de fenocopia d'USH, a l'albergar mutacions patogèniques en dos gens independents, TECTA i REEP6, sent el primer responsable de la SNHL i el segon de la RP. De forma semblant, en un altre pacient es van detectar variants patològiques per a RP al gen EYS, però no es va identificar paral·lelament cap canvi genètic que explicara la SNHL. Tres individus addicionals van resultar haver sigut erròniament diagnosticats com USH, donada la final inexistència o ambigüitat de la sordera. Un d'ells va ser definit com a homozigot d'una mutació en CNGB1, ja reconegut com a responsable de RP. En el segon d'aquestes subjectes es va identificar una mutació en homozigosi en el gen GRN, els defectes del qual estan associats a demència frontotemporal en estat heterozigot, i més rarament en combinació amb RP si ambdós al·lels es troben alterats. D'altra banda, el tercer pacient va ser resolt com a heterozigot compost de variants en WDR19, un gen associat en major grau a una distròfia retiniana acompanyada de trastorns renals i, més rarament, a la forma aïllada del símptoma. En l'últim dels sis casos ressaltats d'aquest objectiu es va detectar una mutació homozigota sense sentit en el gen ASIC5, el paper en l'organisme del qual encara es desconeix. Amb tot, s'han correlacionat funcions visuals i auditives per a membres de la mateixa família proteica. En conjunt, les troballes obtingudes en aquest treball avalen la importància de l'ús de les més noves tecnologies en la recerca de solucions per a malalties rares, les quals presenten per ara un pronòstic terapèutic prou desemparat. Així mateix, altres conseqüències positives quant a la caracterització genètica dels pacients són la corroboració (o rectificació) del diagnòstic inicial, així com la contribució a l'estimació demogràfica i correlacions de genotip-fenotip, que en definitiva ajuden en la compressió d'US[EN] Usher syndrome (USH) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder defined essentially by sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and a retinal dystrophy known as retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The condition shows a genetic heterogeneity, since there are at least 10 genes known to be causative of the syndrome. However, mutations in USH2A are the most frequent cause of the disease, due in a large measure to the recurrence of the c.2299delG pathogenic variant. A gene editing assay to reverse this specific genetic anomaly was developed in this thesis by means of the groundbreaking CRISPR/Cas9 system. Several locus-specific CRISPR complexes were designed and tested, and the most efficient was used to proceed with the c.2299delG mutation correction on patient-derived cells. The trial resulted in a mutation correction rate of 2.5%. Another goal of this thesis was the genetic characterization of molecularly undiagnosed USH patients. Given the genetic diversity of the disease, the procedure required the implementation of high-throughput sequencing, a technology that enables in bulk sequencing of any number of selected loci (or the indiscriminate totality) of the genome. The first phase implied the targeted sequencing of the coding-relevant regions of all known causative or disease-associated genes at the moment. The study, comprising a cohort of 58 previously unscreened patients, enabled the identification of 42 novel putative pathogenic mutations, and an etiologic-allele detection ratio shy of 83%. Remarkably, one of the subjects harbored nonsense mutations in CEP250, which is one of the latest USH-associated genes. However, an exhaustive review of the clinical features unmasked the retinal degeneration as a cone-rod dystrophy rather than RP, which reinforced the linkage of the gene to an USH-like phenotype. The remaining portion of unresolved cases lead to suspicion of the existence of other genes accountable for USH. Hence, the complete exome of such panel-negative cases was screened through whole exome sequencing. This venture provided relevant findings in six of the surveyed samples. One subject was plainly exposed as an USH phenocopy by harboring pathogenic splice-site mutations in two independent genes, TECTA and REEP6, the former responsible for the SNHL and the latter for the RP. Similarly, RP-causative variants in EYS were detected in another patient, yet no pathogenic changes explaining the HL were discovered. Three additional individuals were ultimately unveiled as USH misdiagnosed cases, being the HL actually absent or ambiguous. One of the patients in this set was homozygous for a mutation in CNGB1, already known to be accountable for RP. The other two cases showed a more peculiar outcome being compound heterozygous for putatively pathogenic variants in genes generally associated to other disorders. One presented a homozygous mutation in GRN, a gene associated to frontotemporal dementia under heterozygous condition and less commonly to combined RP for homozygous alterations. The third subject was found to be a carrier of mutations in WDR19, a gene best associated with retinal disorders accompanied by renal signs and rarely with the isolated visual symptom. The last case presented a homozygous nonsense variant in the ASIC5 gene, whose role has yet to be learned. However, some correlations to visual and hearing functions have been reported for members of the same protein family. Altogether, the results obtained from this work attest to the importance of applying the most up-to-date technologies in the search of solutions for rare diseases that realistically pose a despairing therapeutic prognosis. In addition, the positive consequences of the genetic characterization of the patients are the corroboration (or else correction) of the initial diagnosis, and the contribution to the appraisal of demographic and genotype-phenotype correlations, which ultimately aid in the understanding USH and other related diseases.This work was financially supported by the Institute of Health Carlos III and FEDER funds (ISCIII; grants PI13/00638, PI16/00425, PI16/00539, and PIE13/00046), Fundación ONCE (grant 2015/0398), XVIII Fundaluce-FARPE, and “Telemaratón: Todos Somos Raros, Todos Somos Únicos” (grant IP58). C.F.-G. is a recipient of a fellowship (grant IFI14/00021) from the ISCIII. R.P.V.-M. is a Miguel Servet researcher (grant CP11/00090 funded by ISCIII, Madrid, Spain). The funds from the ISCIII are partially supported by the European Regional Development Fund. R.-P.V.M. is also a Marie Curie fellow (grant CIG322034 from the European Commission).Fuster García, C. (2020). Therapeutic approaches and development of genomic diagnostic tools for Usher syndrome [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/137034TESISCompendi