Biallelic ADAM22 pathogenic variants cause progressive encephalopathy and infantile-onset refractory epilepsy

Pathogenic variants in A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase (ADAM) 22, the postsynaptic cell membrane receptor for the glycoprotein leucine-rich repeat glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1), have been recently associated with recessive developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. However, so far, only two affected individuals have been described and many features of this disorder are unknown. We refine the phenotype and report 19 additional individuals harboring compound heterozygous or homozygous inactivating ADAM22 variants, of whom 18 had clinical data available. Additionally, we provide follow-up data from two previously reported cases. All affected individuals exhibited infantile-onset, treatment-resistant epilepsy. Additional clinical features included moderate to profound global developmental delay/intellectual disability (20/20), hypotonia (12/20), delayed motor development (19/20). Brain MRI findings included cerebral atrophy (13/20), supported by post-mortem histological examination in patient-derived brain tissue, cerebellar vermis atrophy (5/20), and callosal hypoplasia (4/20). Functional studies in transfected cell lines confirmed the deleteriousness of all identified variants and indicated at least three distinct pathological mechanisms: defective cell membrane expression (1), impaired LGI1-binding (2), and/or impaired interaction with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 (3). We reveal novel clinical and molecular hallmarks of ADAM22 deficiency and provide knowledge that might inform clinical management and early diagnostics

Biallelic ADAM22 pathogenic variants cause progressive encephalopathy and infantile-onset refractory epilepsy

Pathogenic variants in A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase (ADAM) 22, the postsynaptic cell membrane receptor for the glycoprotein leucine-rich repeat glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1), have been recently associated with recessive developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. However, so far, only two affected individuals have been described and many features of this disorder are unknown. We refine the phenotype and report 19 additional individuals harbouring compound heterozygous or homozygous inactivating ADAM22 variants, of whom 18 had clinical data available. Additionally, we provide follow-up data from two previously reported cases. All affected individuals exhibited infantile-onset, treatment-resistant epilepsy. Additional clinical features included moderate to profound global developmental delay/intellectual disability (20/20), hypotonia (12/20) and delayed motor development (19/20). Brain MRI findings included cerebral atrophy (13/20), supported by post-mortem histological examination in patient-derived brain tissue, cerebellar vermis atrophy (5/20), and callosal hypoplasia (4/20). Functional studies in transfected cell lines confirmed the deleteriousness of all identified variants and indicated at least three distinct pathological mechanisms: (i) defective cell membrane expression; (ii) impaired LGI1-binding; and/or (iii) impaired interaction with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95. We reveal novel clinical and molecular hallmarks of ADAM22 deficiency and provide knowledge that might inform clinical management and early diagnostics. Van der Knoop et al. describe the clinical features of 21 individuals with biallelic pathogenic variants in ADAM22 and confirm the deleteriousness of the variants with functional studies. Clinical hallmarks of this rare disorder comprise progressive encephalopathy and infantile-onset refractory epilepsy.Peer reviewe

Determining the frequency of morphological characteristics in a sample of Brazilian children

Objective: To establish the frequency of 82 morphological features in a sample of Brazilian children (between 3 and 13 years old), to understand the influence of age, gender, and ethnicity. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study that evaluated 239 children with typical development (between 3 and 13 years old) regarding the presence of 82 morphological characteristics. A previously described protocol, based on the London Dysmorphology Database, was applied to evaluate the sample. This protocol was culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. Results: The frequency of 82 morphological characteristics was established in the sample; of 82 characteristics, 50% were considered morphological anomalies (frequency less than 4%). At least 25% of the sample presented more than one minor morphological anomaly. Age was shown to influence the frequency of the following morphological characteristics: widow's peak, prominent antihelix, prominent upper lip, irregular or crowded teeth, and clinodactyly, but had no influence on the frequency of minor morphological anomalies. Gender influenced dysplastic ears and attached earlobe, but had no influence on the frequency of minor morphological anomalies; ethnicity showed influence on camptodactyly and prominent antihelix. A statistically significant divergence was observed regarding 43 of the 73 morphological characteristics that could be compared with literature data (58.9%). Conclusions: The study determined the frequency of 82 morphological characteristics in 239 children with typical development. Age was the variable that showed more influence on the frequency of morphological characteristics, and comparison with literature data showed that the frequency depends on variables such as age and ethnicity

Determining the frequency of morphological characteristics in a sample of Brazilian children,

Abstract Objective: To establish the frequency of 82 morphological features in a sample of Brazilian children (between 3 and 13 years old), to understand the influence of age, gender, and ethnicity. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that evaluated 239 children with typical development (between 3 and 13 years old) regarding the presence of 82 morphological characteristics. A previously described protocol, based on the London Dysmorphology Database, was applied to evaluate the sample. This protocol was culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. Results: The frequency of 82 morphological characteristics was established in the sample; of 82 characteristics, 50% were considered morphological anomalies (frequency less than 4%). At least 25% of the sample presented more than one minor morphological anomaly. Age was shown to influence the frequency of the following morphological characteristics: widow's peak, prominent antihelix, prominent upper lip, irregular or crowded teeth, and clinodactyly, but had no influence on the frequency of minor morphological anomalies. Gender influenced dysplastic ears and attached earlobe, but had no influence on the frequency of minor morphological anomalies; ethnicity showed influence on camptodactyly and prominent antihelix. A statistically significant divergence was observed regarding 43 of the 73 morphological characteristics that could be compared with literature data (58.9%). Conclusions: The study determined the frequency of 82 morphological characteristics in 239 children with typical development. Age was the variable that showed more influence on the frequency of morphological characteristics, and comparison with literature data showed that the frequency depends on variables such as age and ethnicity

Bacteriocinogenic probiotic bacteria isolated from an aquatic environment inhibit the growth of food and fish pathogens

The conditions of aquatic environments have a great influence on the microbiota of several animals, many of which are a potential source of microorganisms of biotechnological interest. In this study, bacterial strains isolated from aquatic environments were bioprospected to determine their probiotic profile and antimicrobial effect against fish and food pathogens. Two isolates, identified via 16S rRNA sequencing as Lactococcus lactis (L1 and L2) and one as Enterococcus faecium 135 (EF), produced a bacteriocin-like antimicrobial substance (BLIS), active against Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Choleraesuis and Salmonella Typhimurium. Antimicrobial activity of BLIS was reduced when exposed to high temperatures and proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, pepsin, papain and pancreatin). All strains were sensitive to 7 types of antibiotics (vancomycin, clindamycin, streptomycin, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, rifampicin and ampicillin), exhibited a high rate of adherence to Caco-2 cells and expressed no hemolysin and gelatinase virulence factors. EF showed some resistance at pH 2.5 and 3.0, and L2/EF showed higher resistance to the action of bile salts. Finally, the presence of bacteriocin genes encoding for proteins, including Nisin (L1 and L2), Enterocin A, B, P, and Mundticin KS (EF) was detected. The molecular and physiological evidence suggests that the bacterial isolates in this study could be used as natural antimicrobial agents and may be considered safe for probiotic application

Molecular analysis of the CTSK gene in a cohort of 33 Brazilian families with pycnodysostosis from a cluster in a Brazilian Northeast region

Background: Pycnodysostosis is an autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia, the prevalence of which is estimated to be low (1 per million). Nevertheless, in recent years we have found 27 affected individuals from 22 families in Ceara State, a region of the Brazilian Northeast, giving a local prevalence of 3 per million. This local prevalence associated with a high parental consanguinity, suggesting a possible founder effect, prompted us to perform a molecular investigation of these families to test this hypothesis. Methods: The CTSK gene was sequenced by the Sanger method in the patients and their parents. In addition to 18 families from Ceara, this study also included 15 families from other Brazilian regions. We also investigated the origin of each family from the birthplace of the parents and/or grandparents. Results: We have studied 39 patients, including 33 probands and 6 sibs, from 33 families with pycnodysostosis and identified six mutations, five previously described (c.436G>C, c.580G>A, c.721C>T, c.830C>T and c.953G>A) and one novel frameshift (c.83dupT). This frameshift variant seems to have a single origin in Ceara State, since the haplotype study using the polymorphic markers D1S2344, D1S442, D1S498 and D1S2715 suggested a common origin. Most of the mutations were found in homozygosity in the patients from Ceara (83.3 %) while in other states the mutations were found in homozygosity in half of patients. We have also shown that most of the families currently living outside of Ceara have northeastern ancestors, suggesting a dispersion of these mutations from the Brazilian Northeast. Conclusions: The high frequency of pycnodysostosis in Ceara State is the consequence of the high inbreeding in that region. Several mutations, probably introduced a long time ago in Ceara, must have spread due to consanguineous marriages and internal population migration. However, the novel mutation seems to have a single origin in Ceara, suggestive of a founder effect.CNPq [402008/2010-3, 590148/2011-7]CAPES [3300017023p6]Fapesp [2015/22145-6]Univ Estadual Campinas, Fac Med Sci, Dept Med Genet, Skeletal Dysplasia Grp, Campinas, SP, BrazilChildrens Hosp Albert Sabin, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilMed Sci Fac Juazeiro do Norte FMJ, Juazeiro Do Norte, CE, BrazilUniv Estadual Campinas, Dept Med Genet, Fac Med Sci, Perinatal Genet Program, Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB, BrazilChildrens Clin, City Hall Guarulhos, Guarulhos, SP, BrazilFed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCAR, Dept Med, Sao Carlos, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo FCMUSP, Fac Med Sci, Childrens Inst, Med Genet Unit, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilChildrens Hosp Juvencio Mattos, Sao Luis, MA, BrazilClin Hosp Porto Alegre, Med Genet Serv, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Ctr Genet Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Ctr Genet Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilCNPq:402008/2010-3590148/2011-7CAPES: 3300017023p6]FAPESP:2015/22145-6Web of Scienc

Molecular analysis of the CTSK gene in a cohort of 33 brazilian families with Pycnodysostosis from a cluster in a brazilian northeast region

Pycnodysostosis is an autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia, the prevalence of which is estimated to be low (1 per million). Nevertheless, in recent years we have found 27 affected individuals from 22 families in Ceara State, a region of the Brazilian Northeast, giving a local prevalence of 3 per million. This local prevalence associated with a high parental consanguinity, suggesting a possible founder effect, prompted us to perform a molecular investigation of these families to test this hypothesis. The CTSK gene was sequenced by the Sanger method in the patients and their parents. In addition to 18 families from Ceara, this study also included 15 families from other Brazilian regions. We also investigated the origin of each family from the birthplace of the parents and/or grandparents. We have studied 39 patients, including 33 probands and 6 sibs, from 33 families with pycnodysostosis and identified six mutations, five previously described (c.436G>C, c.580G>A, c.721C>T, c.830C>T and c.953G>A) and one novel frameshift (c.83dupT). This frameshift variant seems to have a single origin in Ceara State, since the haplotype study using the polymorphic markers D1S2344, D1S442, D1S498 and D1S2715 suggested a common origin. Most of the mutations were found in homozygosity in the patients from Ceara (83.3 %) while in other states the mutations were found in homozygosity in half of patients. We have also shown that most of the families currently living outside of Ceara have northeastern ancestors, suggesting a dispersion of these mutations from the Brazilian Northeast. The high frequency of pycnodysostosis in Ceara State is the consequence of the high inbreeding in that region. Several mutations, probably introduced a long time ago in Ceara, must have spread due to consanguineous marriages and internal population migration. However, the novel mutation seems to have a single origin in Ceara, suggestive of a founder effect21CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP402008/2010-3; 590148/2011-73300017023p62015/22145-