Objective: To assess the association between copy number (CN) variation in the survival motor neuron () locus and multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), progressive muscular atrophy (PMA), and primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) susceptibility and to determine the association of and CN with MMN, PMA, and PLS disease course.
Methods: In this monocenter study, we used multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification to determine and CN in Dutch patients with MMN, PMA, and PLS and controls. We stratified clinical parameters for and CN.
Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) is a method to determine the copy number of up to 60 genomic DNA sequences in a single multiplex PCR based reaction.MLPA probes consist of two oligonucleotides that can hybridize next to each other on a certain DNA sequence of interest, where they are ligated. All ligated probes are subsequently amplified by PCR using a single set of primers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe biological pathways involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remain elusive and diagnostic decision-making can be challenging. Gene expression studies are valuable in overcoming such challenges since they can shed light on differentially regulated pathways and may ultimately identify valuable biomarkers. This two-stage transcriptome-wide study, including 397 ALS patients and 645 control subjects, identified 2,943 differentially expressed transcripts predominantly involved in RNA binding and intracellular transport.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCampylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported form of human bacterial gastroenteritis in the world. Sound identification of infectious sources requires subtyping, but the most widely used methods have turnaround times measured in days and require specialist equipment and skills. A multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification-binary typing (MBiT) assay was developed for subtyping Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a multifactorial disease of environmental and genetic origin. In a previous large multicenter genome wide study, common genetic variation in the Kinesin-Associated Protein 3 (KIFAP3) gene (rs1541160) was reported to have a significant effect on survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. However, this could not be replicated in 3 smaller independent cohorts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF