Characteristics of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from Mauritanian patients

International audienceHalf of the world's population is infected with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori), and approximately 10% to 20% of these individuals will have clinical diseases such as ulcers or gastric cancer (GC). 1 The risk of developing a disease depends not only on host and environmental factors but also virulence factors of H pylori. Different virulence factors, mainly cagA and vacA, may affect the degree and intensity of the individual inflammatory response, which can result in a variety of clinical manifestations in children and adults. 2,

Genomic Evidence of Multiple Introductions of SARS-CoV-2 in Mauritania

The rapid and global spread of the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has raised serious public health concerns, including in Mauritania. We sequenced and analyzed the entire genome of 13 SARS-CoV-2 virus strains isolated from polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive symptomatic patients sampled from March 3 to May 31, 2021 to better understand SARS-CoV-2 introduction, propagation, and evolution in Mauritania. A phylogenetic tree using available data from the EpiCoV GISAID database and a variant network with non-Mauritanian sequences were constructed. Variant analysis of the 13 Mauritanian SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences indicated an average mutational percentage of 0.39, which is similar to that in other countries. Phylogenetic analysis revealed multiple spatiotemporal introductions, mainly from Europe (France, Belgium) and Africa (Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire), which also provided evidence of early community transmission. A total of 2 unique mutations, namely, NSP6_Q208K and NSP15_S273T, were detected in the NSP6 and NSP15 genes, respectively, confirming the aforementioned introduction of SARS-CoV-2 in Mauritania. These findings highlight the relevance of continuous genomic monitoring strategies for understanding virus transmission dynamics and acquiring knowledge to address forthcoming sources of infection in Africa

HB S [beta 6(A3)GLU -> VAL, GAG > GTG] AND beta-GLOBIN GENE CLUSTER HAPLOTYPE DISTRIBUTION IN MAURITANIA

International audienceOf 1050 Mauritanian blood donors screened from the two main racial groups, i.e., the Moors and Black Africans, 60 were found to carry Hb S [beta 6(A3) Glu -> Val, GAG>GTG], giving a global frequency of 5.71%. The prevalence observed in the Black African Mauritanians (10.69%) is almost five times that found in the Moor group (2.25%). Four of the five main beta(S) haplotypes were detected in this study: Senegal (77.8%), Benin (8.8%), Arab-Indian (5.5%) and Bantu (4.4%). These data showed that Hb S is a serious public health problem in Mauritania. They also confirm the ethnic heterogeneity of the Mauritanian population

A novel missense mutation of GJA8 causes congenital cataract in a large Mauritanian family

International audienceOBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: Inborn lens opacity is the most frequent cause of childhood blindness. In this study, we aimed to define the presumed genetic cause of a congenital cataract present in a Mauritanian family over the last nine generations.METHODS: A family history of the disease and eye examination were carried out for the family members. Next-generation sequencing using a panel of 116 cataract underlying genes was selectively conducted on the proband's DNA. Nucleotide and amino acid changes and their impact on the phenotype were evaluated using various data analyzing software.RESULTS: Congenital nuclear cataract, with autosomal dominant mode, was observed in the family. All patients had consequences on their vision in the first 2 years of life. Genetic screening revealed a new mutation c.166A>C (p.Thr56Pro) in GJA8, encoding the Cx50 α-connexin protein. This mutation co-segregated in all patients and was not observed in the unaffected family members and controls. The predicted secondary structure impacted by p.Thr56Pro revealed a localized disruption, in the first extra membrane loop of the wild-type sheet, which is replaced in the mutant protein by a turn then a coil. This conformational change was functionally predicted as probably damaging.CONCLUSION: A new mutation (c.166A>C) in GJA8 underlying a nuclear congenital cataract was identified in this study. Its segregation with the phenotype might be useful as a predicting marker of the disease

Identification a novel pathogenic LRTOMT mutation in Mauritanian families with nonsyndromic deafness

International audiencePurposeAlthough recessive mutations in GJB2 are the common genetic etiology of sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI), variants in LRTOMT gene were also identified, mostly in Middle East and North African populations.MethodsUsing Sanger sequencing we screened the exon 7 of LRTOMT in a cohort of 128 unrelated Mauritanian children with congenital deafness.ResultsOnly one biallelic missense mutation, predicted as pathogenic (c.179 T > C;p.Leu60Pro) was found at homozygous state in four families. This variant, not reported before, showed a deleterious effect by SIFT (score: 0.01) and a disease-causing effect by Mutation Taster (prob: 1). Exploration of the encoded protein 3D structure revealed a disruption from an organized α helix (in the normal protein structure) into a random conformation. Early fitting of a cochlear implant seemed to improve the audition ability of the mutation carrier.ConclusionFurther screening using a panel of deafness genes may expose other variants underlying hearing impairment in our population

Screening of BRCA1/2 variants in Mauritanian breast cancer patients

Abstract Background and study aim Carrying a pathogenic BRCA1/2 variant increases greatly young women’s risk of developing breast cancer (BC). This study aimed to provide the first genetic data on BC in Mauritania. Methods Using NGS based screening; we searched for BRCA1/2 variants in DNA samples from 137 patients diagnosed for hereditary BC. Results We identified 16 pathogenic or likely pathogenic (PV) variants carried by 38 patients. Two predominant BRCA1 PV variants were found: c.815_824dup and c.4986 + 6 T > C in 13 and 7 patients, respectively. Interestingly, three novels BRCA1/2 predicted pathogenic variants have also been detected. Notably, no specific distribution of BRCA1/2 variants was observed regarding triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) or patient gender status. Conclusions In this first genetic profiling of BC in Mauritania, we identified a substantial number of BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants. This finding could be important in the future diagnosis and prevention policy of hereditary BC in Mauritania

Type 2 diabetes in Mauritania: Prevalence of the undiagnosed diabetes, influence of family history and maternal effect

International audienceAim: We estimated the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes, analyzed the influence of family history on the occurrence of T2D and evaluated its aggregation pattern in the Mauritanian population. Methods: The prevalence of unknown diabetes was obtained using data compiled from 1278 Mauritanian adults applying a questionnaire and fasting serum glucose tests. Detailed family history of diabetes and clinical characteristics were gathered from 421 T2D patients. Results: The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes was 4.7 +/- 1.2% in the studied population (3.1% in men and 6.4% in women). 27% of T2D patients reported at least one relative with diabetes. Association between family history and diabetes was higher among first degree compared to second degree relatives (p = 0.003). We observed more probands with an affected mother than those who have a father with diabetes (p = 0.002), suggesting a preferential maternal effect which did not extend to second degree relatives. Conclusions: These results show that the prevalence of diabetes in the Mauritanian population could be higher than currently thought. Family history screening may be used in the management of this condition in Mauritania. (C) 2012 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Mutations in CDC14A, Encoding a Protein Phosphatase Involved in Hair Cell Ciliogenesis, Cause Autosomal-Recessive Severe to Profound Deafness

International audienceBy genetic linkage analysis in a large consanguineous Iranian family with eleven individuals affected by severe to profound congenital deafness, we were able to define a 2.8 Mb critical interval (at chromosome 1p21.2-1p21.1) for an autosomal-recessive nonsyndromic deafness locus (DFNB). Whole-exome sequencing allowed us to identify a CDC14A biallelic nonsense mutation, c.1126C>T (p.Arg376∗), which was present in the eight clinically affected individuals still alive. Subsequent screening of 115 unrelated individuals affected by severe or profound congenital deafness of unknown genetic cause led us to identify another CDC14A biallelic nonsense mutation, c.1015C>T (p.Arg339∗), in an individual originating from Mauritania. CDC14A encodes a protein tyrosine phosphatase. Immunofluorescence analysis of the protein distribution in the mouse inner ear showed a strong labeling of the hair cells’ kinocilia. By using a morpholino strategy to knockdown cdc14a in zebrafish larvae, we found that the length of the kinocilia was reduced in inner-ear hair cells. Therefore, deafness caused by loss-of-function mutations in CDC14A probably arises from a morphogenetic defect of the auditory sensory cells’ hair bundles, whose differentiation critically depends on the proper growth of their kinocilium