CyberGenomics: Application of behavioral genetics in cybersecurity

Cybersecurity (CS) is a contemporary field for research and applied study of a range of aspects from across multiple disciplines. A cybersecurity expert has an in-depth knowledge of technology but is often also recognized for the ability to view technology in a non-standard way. This paper explores how CS specialists are both a combination of professional computing-based skills and genetically encoded traits. Almost every human behavioral trait is a result of many genome variants in action altogether with environmental factors. The review focuses on contextualizing the behavior genetics aspects in the application of cybersecurity. It reconsiders methods that help to identify aspects of human behavior from the genetic information. And stress is an illustrative factor to start the discussion within the community on what methodology should be used in an ethical way to approach those questions. CS positions are considered stressful due to the complexity of the domain and the social impact it can have in cases of failure. An individual risk profile could be created combining known genome variants linked to a trait of particular behavior using a special biostatistical approach such as a polygenic score. These revised advancements bring challenging possibilities in the applications of human behavior genetics and CS.publishedVersio

Diversity analysis of pathogenic genomic variants and genes that cause the autosomal recessive diseases using whole exome sequencing

In thesis analysed data reveals which pathogenic genome variants appear in healthy individuals from the general Lithuanian population and which of them have statistically significantly higher frequency in the Lithuanian population, in comparison with other populations. To achieve aim of the study, the Lithuanian exome data from the project “Genetic diversity of the population of Lithuania and changes of its genetic structure related with evolution and common diseases” were used. As a source of known pathogenic variants, the data from ClinVar database were used. In all studied individuals, 321 unique SNV (single nucleotide variant) and 30 unique INDEL were identified as pathogenic. Each person, in average, had 45 SNV genomic variants that were identified as pathogenic. There were identified 15 pathogenic genomic variants that are inherited in autosomal recessive manner and statistically significantly differ from other European populations, 10 of them had a higher frequency and 5 had a lower frequency than the frequencies of Europeans. There were determined 103 pathogenic variants, which differed statistically from the global frequencies of respective genomic variants. Two pathogenic variants of studied data were found only in Žemaitija and one only in Aukštaitija. Study of genome pathogenic variants in healthy individuals can have practical benefits for Lithuanian population diagnostics and interpretation results of ClinVar pathogenic variant database is important for all that use this database

Patogeninių genomo variantų ir jų genų, lemiančių autosomines recesyviąsias ligas, įvairovės analizė, panaudojant viso egzomo sekoskaitą

In thesis analysed data reveals which pathogenic genome variants appear in healthy individuals from the general Lithuanian population and which of them have statistically significantly higher frequency in the Lithuanian population, in comparison with other populations. To achieve aim of the study, the Lithuanian exome data from the project “Genetic diversity of the population of Lithuania and changes of its genetic structure related with evolution and common diseases” were used. As a source of known pathogenic variants, the data from ClinVar database were used. In all studied individuals, 321 unique SNV (single nucleotide variant) and 30 unique INDEL were identified as pathogenic. Each person, in average, had 45 SNV genomic variants that were identified as pathogenic. There were identified 15 pathogenic genomic variants that are inherited in autosomal recessive manner and statistically significantly differ from other European populations, 10 of them had a higher frequency and 5 had a lower frequency than the frequencies of Europeans. There were determined 103 pathogenic variants, which differed statistically from the global frequencies of respective genomic variants. Two pathogenic variants of studied data were found only in Žemaitija and one only in Aukštaitija. Study of genome pathogenic variants in healthy individuals can have practical benefits for Lithuanian population diagnostics and interpretation results of ClinVar pathogenic variant database is important for all that use this database

Challenges in exome analysis by LifeScope and its alternative computational pipelines

Background: Every next generation sequencing (NGS) platform relies on proprietary and open source computational tools to analyze sequencing data. NGS tools for Illumina platforms are well documented which is not the case with AB SOLiD systems. We applied several computational and variant calling pipelines to analyse targeted exome sequencing data obtained using AB SOLiD 5500 system. Our investigated tools comprised proprietary LifeScope’s pipeline in combination with open source color-space competent mapping programs and a variant caller. We present instrumental details of the pipelines that were used and quantitative comparative analysis of variant lists generated by LifeScope’s pipeline versus open source tools. Results: Sufficient coverage of targeted regions was achieved by all investigated pipelines. High variability was observed in identities of variants across the mapping programs. We observed less than 50 % concordance of variant lists produced by approaches based on different mapping algorithms. We summarized different approaches with regards to coverage (DP) and quality (QUAL) properties of the variants provided by GATK and found that LifeScope’s computational pipeline is superior. Fusion of information on mapping profiles (pileup) at genomic positions of variants in several different alignments proved to be a useful strategy to assess questionable singleton variants. Conclusions: We quantitatively supported a conclusion that Lifescope’s pipeline is superior for processing sequencing data obtained by AB SOLiD 5500 system. Nevertheless the use of alternative pipelines is encouraged because aggregation of information from other mapping and variant calling approaches helps to resolve questionable calls and increases the confidence of the call. It was noted that a coverage threshold for variant to be considered for further analysis has to be chosen in data-driven way to prevent a loss of important information

The prevalence of rare variants potentially important for the response to medicines used for CVD treatment in the Lithuanian population

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death among Europeans and around the world. Major factors that are considered relevant for the efficacy or adverse drug reactions (ADRs) caused by drugs used for CVD treatment have been identified through GWAS studies mostly using low density common variant genotyping arrays. In this study whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out to identify genomic variants relevant for CVD treatment. The study group included 98 (49 males and 49 females) self-reported healthy unrelated individuals from the Lithuanian population with at least three generations of Lithuanian ethnicity and residency in the same ethnolinguistic region. After performing WES genetic loci of 55 genes that were reported as relevant to the efficacy or ADRs caused by drugs used for CVD treatment were analyzed using LifeScopeTM and ANNOVAR software. The analysis of small indels in the selected regions revealed 13 exonic frameshift indels and a single intronic splice site variant that may affect the efficacy or cause ADRs in patients treated for CVD. Over 400 potentially relevant SNVs in different frequencies were detected in the genes reported to be important for CVD treatment. The strength of evidence analysis identified 14 SNVs most likely to be relevant for CVD treatment. The frequency distribution of several variant alleles that have been shown to be highly important for CVD treatment in the CYP2D6 (rs16947) and ADRB1 (rs1801253) as well as several variants in the CYP2C9 and NAT2 genes were determined to be significantly (p<0.05) different from other Caucasian populations showing the potential benefit of pharmacogenomic testing prior to treatment in the Lithuanian population. The research was carried out under the LITGEN project. LITGEN project (VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-01-013) was funded by the European Social Fund under the Global Grant measure

A novel CHD7 variant disrupting acceptor splice site in a patient with mild features of CHARGE syndrome: a case report

Background CHARGE syndrome (MIM# 214800)—which is characterised by a number of congenital anomalies including coloboma, ear anomalies, deafness, facial anomalies, heart defects, atresia choanae, genital hypoplasia, growth retardation, and developmental delay—is caused by a heterozygous variant in the CHD7 (MIM# 608892) gene located on chromosome 8q12. We report the identification of a novel c.5535-1G > A variant in CHD7 and provide the evaluation of its effect on pre-mRNA splicing. Case presentation In this study, we report on a female presenting features of CHARGE syndrome. A novel heterozygous CHD7 variant c.5535-1G > A located in the acceptor splice site of intron 26 was identified in the proband’s DNA sample after analysis of whole exome sequencing data. In silico predictions indicating that the variant is probably pathogenic by affecting pre-mRNA splicing were verified by genetic analysis based on reverse transcription of the patient’s RNA followed by PCR amplifications performed on synthesised cDNA and Sanger sequencing. Sanger sequencing of cDNA revealed that the c.5535-1G > A variant disrupts the original acceptor splice site and activates a cryptic splice site only one nucleotide downstream of the pathogenic variant site. This change causes the omission of the first nucleotide of exon 27, leading to a frameshift in the mRNA of the CHD7 gene. Our results suggest that the alteration induces the premature truncation of the CHD7 protein (UniProtKB: Q9P2D1), thus resulting in CHARGE syndrome. Conclusion Genetic analysis of novel splice site variant underlines its importance for studying the pathogenic splicing mechanism as well as for confirming a diagnosis

Molecular and functional characterisation of a novel intragenic 12q24.21 deletion resulting in MED13L haploinsufficiency syndrome

Background and Objectives: Heterozygous pathogenic variants in the MED13L gene cause impaired intellectual development and distinctive facial features with or without cardiac defects (MIM #616789). This complex neurodevelopmental disorder is characterised by various phenotypic features, including plagiocephaly, strabismus, clubfoot, poor speech, and developmental delay. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance and consequences of a novel heterozygous intragenic MED13L deletion in a proband with clinical features of a MED13L-related disorder through extensive clinical, molecular, and functional characterisation. Materials and Methods: Combined comparative genomic hybridisation and single-nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-CGH) was used to identify the changes in the proband’s gDNA sequence (DECIPHER #430183). Intragenic MED13L deletion was specified via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Sanger sequencing of the proband’s cDNA sample. Western blot and bioinformatics analyses were used to investigate the consequences of this copy number variant (CNV) at the protein level. CRISPR-Cas9 technology was used for a MED13L-gene-silencing experiment in a culture of the control individual’s skin fibroblasts. After the MED13L-gene-editing experiment, subsequent functional fibroblast culture analyses were performed. Results: The analysis of the proband’s cDNA sample allowed for specifying the regions of the breakpoints and identifying the heterozygous deletion that spanned exons 3 to 10 of MED13L, which has not been reported previously. In silico, the deletion was predicted to result in a truncated protein NP_056150.1:p.(Val104Glyfs*5), partly altering the Med13_N domain and losing the MedPIWI and Med13_C domains. After MED13L gene editing was performed, reduced cell viability; an accelerated aging process; and inhibition of the RB1, E2F1, and CCNC gene expression were found to exist. Conclusions: Based on these findings, heterozygous intragenic 12q24.21 deletion in the affected individual resulted in MED13L haploinsufficiency due to the premature termination of protein translation, therefore leading to MED13L haploinsufficiency syndrome

CyberGenomics: Application of behavioral genetics in cybersecurity

Cybersecurity (CS) is a contemporary field for research and applied study of a range of aspects from across multiple disciplines. A cybersecurity expert has an in-depth knowledge of technology but is often also recognized for the ability to view technology in a non-standard way. This paper explores how CS specialists are both a combination of professional computing-based skills and genetically encoded traits. Almost every human behavioral trait is a result of many genome variants in action altogether with environmental factors. The review focuses on contextualizing the behavior genetics aspects in the application of cybersecurity. It reconsiders methods that help to identify aspects of human behavior from the genetic information. And stress is an illustrative factor to start the discussion within the community on what methodology should be used in an ethical way to approach those questions. CS positions are considered stressful due to the complexity of the domain and the social impact it can have in cases of failure. An individual risk profile could be created combining known genome variants linked to a trait of particular behavior using a special biostatistical approach such as a polygenic score. These revised advancements bring challenging possibilities in the applications of human behavior genetics and CS

Novel GLI3 variant causes Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome in three generations of a Lithuanian family

BACKGROUND: Preaxial polydactyly type IV, also referred as polysyndactyly, has been described in a few syndromes. We present three generations of a family with preaxial polydactyly type IV and other clinical features of Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome (GCPS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Sequencing analysis of the GLI3 coding region identified a novel donor splice site variant NC_000007.14(NM_000168.6):c.473+3A>T in the proband and the same pathogenic variant was subsequently identified in other affected family members. Functional analysis based on Sanger sequencing of the proband's complementary DNA (cDNA) sample revealed that the splice site variant c.473+3A>T disrupts the original donor splice site, thus leading to exon 4 skipping. Based on further in silico analysis, this pathogenic splice site variant consequently results in a truncated protein NP_000159.3:p.(His123Argfs*57), which lacks almost all functionally important domains. Therefore, functional cDNA analysis confirmed that the haploinsufficiency of the GLI3 is the cause of GCPS in the affected family members. CONCLUSION: Despite the evidence provided, pathogenic variants in the GLI3 do not always definitely correlate with syndromic or nonsyndromic clinical phenotypes associated with this gene. For this reason, further transcriptomic and proteomic evaluation could be suggested