Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

A Phase I clinical trial of cellular immunotherapy for persistent Hepatitis C infection

Abstract of paper. DOI for article containing abstracts for Virus Infection and Immune Related Diseases section - 10.1111/1440-1681.12170_7BE Loveland, P Latour, SK Roberts, A Gordon, W Kemp, M Kitson, J Torresi, B Grubor-Bauk, EJ Gowan

High-resolution mapping of a minor histocompatibility antigen gene on mouse chromosome 2.

Minor histocompatibility (H) loci are significant tissue transplantation barriers but are poorly understood at the genetic and molecular level. We describe the construction of a high-resolution genetic map that positions a class II MHC-restricted minor H antigen locus and orders 12 other genes and genetic markers within the we-un interval of mouse Chromosome (Chr) 2. An intersubspecific backcross between B10.UW/Sn-H-3b and CAST/Ei, an inbred stock of Mus musculus castaneus, was used for this purpose. A total of 1168 backcross mice were generated, and 71 we-un recombinants were identified. Significant compression of the genetic map in males versus females and transmission distortion of CAST-derived we, un, and Aw genes were observed. Monoclonal T cell lines specific for two minor H alloantigens, Hd-1a and Hd-2a, encoded by gene(s) that map to the we-un interval were used to antigen type the backcross mice. The results suggest the Hd-1a and Hd-2a antigens are most likely encoded by a single gene, now referred to as H-3b. The determined gene order is we-0.09 +/- 0.09-Itp-0.62 +/- 0.23-D2Mit77-0.26 +/- 0.15-[Evi-4, Pcna, Prn-p]-0.26 +/- 0.15-Scg-1-0.44 +/- 0.19-[Bmp2a, D2Mit70]-0.09 +/-. 0.09-[D2Mit19, D2Mit46]-1.59 +/- 0.36-D2Mit28-0.97 +/- 0.28-D2Ler1-1.50 +/- 0.35-H-3b-0.26 +/- 0.15-un (% recombination +/- 1 SE). Because the average resolution of the backcross is 0.09 cM, the backcross panel should facilitate the physical mapping and molecular identification of a number of genes in this chromosome region