Publications by authors named "Scott Hickey"

Article Synopsis
  • RORA is a gene linked to the development and function of the cerebellum, and this study explores the largest group of individuals with RORA-related neurodevelopmental disorders (RORA-NDD).
  • The study involved 40 participants with various pathogenic variants of RORA, revealing a range of clinical features including developmental and intellectual disabilities, as well as cerebellar symptoms that can vary in onset and severity.
  • Findings indicate that certain missense variants are associated with more severe cerebellar issues, and common elements of RORA-NDD include developmental disabilities, cerebellar symptoms, and different types of myoclonic epilepsy.
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  • - Borgs are large extrachromosomal elements associated with "Candidatus Methanoperedens" archaea, and researchers used nanopore sequencing to validate and reconstruct genomes, revealing 13 complete and four near-complete genomes that share 40 key genes.
  • - These conserved genes helped identify new Borgs in peatland soil and map their evolutionary relationships, showing two main clades; importantly, Borg genes related to electron transfer and cell surface proteins are more highly expressed than those of the host.
  • - The study also reconstructed the first complete genome of a Methanoperedens thought to host Borgs, revealing unique methylation patterns that may help distinguish their genomes, and suggests that Borgs could exist independently from
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  • Telomeres are protective structures at the ends of chromosomes that help maintain their stability, but their repetitive nature makes measuring them accurately difficult.
  • The study introduces Telo-seq, a new method that uses advanced long-read sequencing to accurately assess the length and composition of telomeres in humans at different genetic levels.
  • Telo-seq can track telomere shortening over time and distinguish between different cancer cell types, making it a powerful tool for researching telomere biology related to aging, development, and cancer.
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TANGO2 deficiency disorder (TDD) is a rare, autosomal recessive condition caused by pathogenic variants in TANGO2, a gene residing within the region commonly deleted in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS).

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Immunoglobulin (IGH, IGK, IGL) loci in the human genome are highly polymorphic regions that encode the building blocks of the light and heavy chain IG proteins that dimerize to form antibodies. The processes of V(D)J recombination and somatic hypermutation in B cells are responsible for creating an enormous reservoir of highly specific antibodies capable of binding a vast array of possible antigens. However, the antibody repertoire is fundamentally limited by the set of variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) alleles present in the germline IG loci.

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Studying RNA splicing factor mutations is challenging due to difficulties in distinguishing wild-type and mutant cells within complex human tissues and inaccuracies associated with reconstructing splicing signals from short-read sequencing data. Here, we present Genotyping of Transcriptomes (GoT)-Splice, a protocol that overcomes these limitations by combining GoT with enhanced long-read single-cell transcriptome and cell-surface proteomics profiling. We describe steps for long-read library preparation and analysis, followed by cDNA re-amplification, enrichment of mutation of interest, sample indexing, and GoT library preparation.

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  • The study focuses on a protein called SPOUT1/CENP-32, which is crucial for proper chromosome alignment during cell division.
  • When this protein is depleted, it causes problems like centrosome detachment and chromosome misalignment, leading to significant developmental issues.
  • The research also links genetic variants in humans to neurodevelopmental delays and identifies a disorder called SpADMiSS, characterized by symptoms like developmental delays, microcephaly, seizures, and short stature due to defects in cell division.
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  • RNA splicing factors often mutate in blood disorders like myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), affecting how blood cells develop, but the role of these mutations in blood formation is still not fully understood.
  • Researchers used a new method, GoT-Splice, which combines gene profiling and advanced single-cell analysis to study how mutations in a specific splicing factor (SF3B1) influence blood progenitor cells.
  • Their findings showed that SF3B1 mutations lead to abnormal splicing patterns and an increase in specific blood cell types before MDS is clinically evident, highlighting the importance of understanding these mutations in early disease progression.
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MED27 is a subunit of the Mediator multiprotein complex, which is involved in transcriptional regulation. Biallelic MED27 variants have recently been suggested to be responsible for an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder with spasticity, cataracts and cerebellar hypoplasia. We further delineate the clinical phenotype of MED27-related disease by characterizing the clinical and radiological features of 57 affected individuals from 30 unrelated families with biallelic MED27 variants.

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Moyamoya disease, a cerebrovascular disease leading to strokes in children and young adults, is characterized by progressive occlusion of the distal internal carotid arteries and the formation of collateral vessels. Altered genes play a prominent role in the aetiology of moyamoya disease, but a causative gene is not identified in the majority of cases. Exome sequencing data from 151 individuals from 84 unsolved families were analysed to identify further genes for moyamoya disease, then candidate genes assessed in additional cases (150 probands).

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Jansen-de Vries syndrome (JdVS) is a neurodevelopmental condition attributed to pathogenic variants in Exons 5 and 6 of PPM1D. As the full phenotypic spectrum and natural history remain to be defined, we describe a large cohort of children and adults with JdVS. This is a retrospective cohort study of 37 individuals from 34 families with disease-causing variants in PPM1D leading to JdVS.

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Current practices vary widely regarding the immunological work-up and management of patients affected with defects in thymic development (DTD), which include chromosome 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome (22q11.2del) and other causes of DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) and coloboma, heart defect, atresia choanae, retardation of growth and development, genital hypoplasia, ear anomalies/deafness (CHARGE) syndrome.

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We describe the phenotype of 22 male patients (20 probands) carrying a hemizygous missense variant in MED12. The phenotypic spectrum is very broad ranging from nonspecific intellectual disability (ID) to the three well-known syndromes: Opitz-Kaveggia syndrome, Lujan-Fryns syndrome, or Ohdo syndrome. The identified variants were randomly distributed throughout the gene (p = 0.

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Variants in the AUTS2 gene are associated with a broad spectrum of neurological conditions characterized by intellectual disability, microcephaly, and congenital brain malformations. Here, we use a human cerebral organoid model to investigate the pathophysiology of a heterozygous de novo missense AUTS2 variant identified in a patient with multiple neurological impairments including primary microcephaly and profound intellectual disability. Proband cerebral organoids exhibit reduced growth, deficits in neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation and disrupted NPC polarity within ventricular zone-like regions compared to control cerebral organoids.

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Hypoglossia is a rare congenital anomaly resulting in a small rudimentary tongue. It is classified under the oromandibular-limb hypogenesis syndrome and can be found in isolation (Type IA) but is more often associated with other congenital disorders, such as limb defects. Isolated hypoglossia cases are rare, and while feeding disorders are common, in some cases, neonatal airway obstruction is the most problematic.

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Purpose: Genome-wide sequencing is increasingly being performed during pregnancy to identify the genetic cause of congenital anomalies. The interpretation of prenatally identified variants can be challenging and is hampered by our often limited knowledge of prenatal phenotypes. To better delineate the prenatal phenotype of Coffin-Siris syndrome (CSS), we collected clinical data from patients with a prenatal phenotype and a pathogenic variant in one of the CSS-associated genes.

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De novo variants are increasingly recognized as a common cause of early infantile epileptic encephalopathies. We present a 4-year-old male with epileptic encephalopathy characterized by seizures, autism spectrum disorder, and global developmental delay. Whole genome sequencing of the proband and his unaffected parents revealed a novel de novo missense variant in GRIA2 (c.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to identify the molecular causes behind a family experiencing Behçet's-like mucocutaneous ulcers and immune issues.
  • Whole genome sequencing and immunological evaluations revealed a new variant in the RELA gene that disrupts a crucial protein, contributing to the observed immune dysregulation.
  • The findings indicate that this RELA variant not only causes similar symptoms to previously reported cases but also expands the understanding of related conditions, aiding in faster diagnosis and treatment for patients with this genetic deficiency.
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-related neurodevelopmental disorder is a recently described intellectual disability syndrome often with speech difficulties. Here, we describe an individual with a heterozygous frameshift variant in (NM_182931.2:c.

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Noncoding and synonymous coding variants that exert their effects via alternative splicing are increasingly recognized as an important category of disease-causing variants. In this report, we describe two siblings who presented with hypotonia, profound developmental delays, and seizures. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the proband at 5 yr showed diffuse cerebral and cerebellar white matter volume loss.

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There is increasing recognition for the contribution of genetic mosaicism to human disease, particularly as high-throughput sequencing has enabled detection of sequence variants at very low allele frequencies. Here, we describe an infant male who presented at 9 mo of age with hypotonia, dysmorphic features, congenital heart disease, hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, and bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Whole-genome sequencing of the proband and the parents uncovered an apparent de novo mutation in the X-linked gene.

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Some of the most spectacular adaptive radiations begin with founder populations on remote islands. How genetically limited founder populations give rise to the striking phenotypic and ecological diversity characteristic of adaptive radiations is a paradox of evolutionary biology. We conducted an evolutionary genomics analysis of genus , a landscape-dominant, incipient adaptive radiation of woody plants that spans a striking range of phenotypes and environments across the Hawaiian Islands.

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