Identification of Novel Variants Causing Moderate to Profound Progressive Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss.

Mutant alleles of , a gene that encodes a putative calcium-dependent cell-adhesion glycoprotein with multiple cadherin-like domains, are responsible for both recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL) and Usher syndrome 1D (). The encoded protein cadherin 23 (CDH23) plays a vital role in maintaining normal cochlear and retinal function. The present study's objective was to elucidate the role of allelic variants of in Saudi Arabian patients.

Identification of TMC1 as a relatively common cause for nonsyndromic hearing loss in the Saudi population.

Hearing loss (HL) is the most common sensory disorder worldwide and genetic factors contribute to approximately half of congenital HL cases. HL is subject to extensive genetic heterogeneity, rendering molecular diagnosis difficult. Mutations of the transmembrane channel-like 1 (TMC1) gene cause hearing defects in humans and mice.

Utility of whole exome sequencing in the diagnosis of Usher syndrome: Report of novel compound heterozygous MYO7A mutations.

Next generation sequencing (NGS), such as targeted panel sequencing, whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing has led to an exponential increase of elucidated genetic causes in both rare diseases, and common but heterogeneous disorders. NGS is applied in both research and clinical settings, and the clinical exome sequencing (CES), which provides not only the sequence variation data but also clinical interpretation, aids in reaching a final conclusion with regards to a genetic diagnosis. Usher syndrome is a group of disorders, characterized by bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, with or without vestibular dysfunction and retinitis pigmentosa.