Publications by authors named "Agatha Schluter"

Senescence, marked by permanent cell cycle arrest may contribute to the decline in regenerative potential and neuronal function, thereby promoting neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we employed whole exome sequencing to identify a previously unreported biallelic missense variant in SVBP (p.Leu49Pro) in six patients from three unrelated families.

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Repeat expansions in FGF14 cause autosomal dominant late-onset cerebellar ataxia (SCA27B) with estimated pathogenic thresholds of 250 (incomplete penetrance) and 300 AAG repeats (full penetrance), but the sequence of pathogenic and non-pathogenic expansions remains unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that STRling and ExpansionHunter accurately detect FGF14 expansions from short-read genome data using outlier approaches. By combining long-range PCR and nanopore sequencing in 169 patients with cerebellar ataxia and 802 controls, we compare FGF14 expansion alleles, including interruptions and flanking regions.

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Article Synopsis
  • X-ALD (adrenoleukodystrophy) is caused by the loss of the ABCD1 transporter, leading to an accumulation of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) that disrupt vital cellular functions for axonal maintenance.
  • Using advanced imaging techniques, researchers found that this VLCFA excess leads to mitochondrial fragmentation in mouse models and patient cells, affecting mitochondrial health.
  • Targeting DRP1, a key protein involved in mitochondrial fission, showed promise in preventing these issues and preserving axonal integrity, indicating potential therapeutic strategies for X-ALD.
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Background: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) have become indispensable tools to solve rare Mendelian genetic conditions. Nevertheless, there is still an urgent need for sensitive, fast algorithms to maximise WES/WGS diagnostic yield in rare disease patients. Most tools devoted to this aim take advantage of patient phenotype information for prioritization of genomic data, although are often limited by incomplete gene-phenotype knowledge stored in biomedical databases and a lack of proper benchmarking on real-world patient cohorts.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers studied GAA repeat expansions in the FGF14 gene, which have been linked to spinocerebellar ataxia 27B (SCA27B), to understand its frequency and characteristics in late-onset cerebellar ataxia (LOCA) patients.
  • They screened 64 undiagnosed LOCA patients, finding that 28% had the FGF14 expansion, with gait ataxia and mild dysarthria being common symptoms.
  • The study concluded that SCA27B is the leading cause of LOCA in their patient group, suggesting FGF14 GAA expansion screening should be a standard first step in genetic testing for these patients.*
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The Rad50 interacting protein 1 (Rint1) is a key player in vesicular trafficking between the ER and Golgi apparatus. Biallelic variants in RINT1 cause infantile-onset episodic acute liver failure (ALF). Here, we describe 3 individuals from 2 unrelated families with novel biallelic RINT1 loss-of-function variants who presented with early onset spastic paraplegia, ataxia, optic nerve hypoplasia, and dysmorphic features, broadening the previously described phenotype.

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Background: We previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15-20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in ~ 80% of cases.

Methods: We report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia.

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Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare and severe condition that follows benign COVID-19. We report autosomal recessive deficiencies of , , or in five unrelated children with MIS-C. The cytosolic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-sensing OAS1 and OAS2 generate 2'-5'-linked oligoadenylates (2-5A) that activate the single-stranded RNA-degrading ribonuclease L (RNase L).

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Background: We previously reported inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity in 1-5% of unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and auto-antibodies against type I IFN in another 15-20% of cases.

Methods: We report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3,269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19 (1,301 previously reported and 1,968 new patients), and 1,373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia. A quarter of the patients tested had antibodies against type I IFN (234 of 928) and were excluded from the analysis.

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Background: Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARS) are key enzymes catalysing the first reactions in protein synthesis, with increasingly recognised pleiotropic roles in tumourgenesis, angiogenesis, immune response and lifespan. Germline mutations in several ARS genes have been associated with both recessive and dominant neurological diseases. Recently, patients affected with microcephaly, intellectual disability and ataxia harbouring biallelic variants in the seryl-tRNA synthetase encoded by seryl-tRNA synthetase 1 () were reported.

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Sulphated proteoglycans are essential in skeletal and brain development. Recently, pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins involved in the proteoglycan biosynthesis have been identified in a range of chondrodysplasia associated with intellectual disability. Nevertheless, several patients remain with unidentified molecular basis.

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Background And Objectives: Genetic white matter disorders (GWMD) are of heterogeneous origin, with >100 causal genes identified to date. Classic targeted approaches achieve a molecular diagnosis in only half of all patients. We aimed to determine the clinical utility of singleton whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing (sWES-WGS) interpreted with a phenotype- and interactome-driven prioritization algorithm to diagnose GWMD while identifying novel phenotypes and candidate genes.

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Human mitochondrial RNase P (mt-RNase P) is responsible for 5' end processing of mitochondrial precursor tRNAs, a vital step in mitochondrial RNA maturation, and is comprised of three protein subunits: TRMT10C, SDR5C1 (HSD10), and PRORP. Pathogenic variants in TRMT10C and SDR5C1 are associated with distinct recessive or x-linked infantile onset disorders, resulting from defects in mitochondrial RNA processing. We report four unrelated families with multisystem disease associated with bi-allelic variants in PRORP, the metallonuclease subunit of mt-RNase P.

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Phosphoinositides are lipids that play a critical role in processes such as cellular signalling, ion channel activity and membrane trafficking. When mutated, several genes that encode proteins that participate in the metabolism of these lipids give rise to neurological or developmental phenotypes. PI4KA is a phosphoinositide kinase that is highly expressed in the brain and is essential for life.

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Article Synopsis
  • At least 10% of critical COVID-19 pneumonia cases are linked to genetic defects in type I interferon immunity and autoantibodies against these cytokines, with rare X-linked variants found in 16 male individuals aged 7 to 71 years.
  • In a study involving 1,202 males with unexplained critical COVID-19, none of the asymptomatically infected participants had these deleterious variants, indicating a significant genetic component to severe illness.
  • The research highlights that X-linked recessive TLR7 deficiency plays a crucial role in about 1.8% of critical COVID-19 cases in males under 60, as effective TLR7 and plasmacytoid dendritic cells are vital for
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Aims: Mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation are at the core of axonal degeneration in several multifactorial neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. The transcriptional coregulator RIP140/NRIP1 (receptor-interacting protein 140) modulates these functions in liver and adipose tissue, but its role in the nervous system remains unexplored. Here, we investigated the impact of RIP140 in the Abcd1 mouse model of X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), a genetic model of chronic axonopathy involving the convergence of redox imbalance, bioenergetic failure, and chronic inflammation.

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  • COVID-19 seems to affect men more severely than women, potentially due to genetic differences, particularly in the androgen receptor (AR) gene.
  • Researchers analyzed data from severely ill COVID-19 patients and found that shorter variations of the polyQ segment in the AR gene were linked to better outcomes, while longer polyQ variants were associated with severe disease in different male cohorts.
  • The study suggests that low testosterone levels in men with long polyQ variants may lead to worse clinical outcomes and highlights the potential for testosterone treatment as a therapeutic option for these patients.
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Purpose: Postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD-95), encoded by DLG4, regulates excitatory synaptic function in the brain. Here we present the clinical and genetic features of 53 patients (42 previously unpublished) with DLG4 variants.

Methods: The clinical and genetic information were collected through GeneMatcher collaboration.

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Objective: To identify the genetic cause in an adult ovarioleukodystrophy patient resistant to diagnosis.

Methods: We applied whole-exome sequencing (WES) to a vanishing white matter disease patient associated with premature ovarian failure at 26 years of age. We functionally tested an intronic variant by RT-PCR on patient's peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and by minigene splicing assay.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the varying outcomes of COVID-19 infection, from asymptomatic cases to severe pneumonia.
  • Researchers identified rare loss-of-function variants at 13 specific human loci related to immune response that are more prevalent in patients with severe illness.
  • Experimental tests revealed that these genetic variants can make human cells more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, indicating that certain immune deficiencies may contribute to severe COVID-19 cases.
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  • Non-febrile seizures in healthy children can occur due to minor infections and may be linked to genetic factors.
  • A case study of a 3-month-old girl in a COVID-19 family context showed her experiencing non-febrile seizures without signs of meningitis or epilepsy, confirmed by various medical tests.
  • Whole exome sequencing revealed a genetic mutation in both the infant and her mother, highlighting a potential genetic predisposition to seizures, even as COVID-19 may lead to hyperimmune responses in infants.
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Biotin is an essential cofactor for carboxylases that regulates the energy metabolism. Recently, high-dose pharmaceutical-grade biotin (MD1003) was shown to improve clinical parameters in a subset of patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis. To gain insight into the mechanisms of action, we investigated the efficacy of high-dose biotin in a genetic model of chronic axonopathy caused by oxidative damage and bioenergetic failure, the Abcd1 mouse model of adrenomyeloneuropathy.

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