Publications by authors named "Yvonne Merki"

Due to substantial improvements in read accuracy, third-generation long-read sequencing holds great potential in blood group diagnostics, particularly in cases where traditional genotyping or sequencing techniques, primarily targeting exons, fail to explain serological phenotypes. In this study, we employed Oxford Nanopore sequencing to resolve all genotype-phenotype discrepancies in the Kidd blood group system (JK, encoded by ) observed over seven years of routine high-throughput donor genotyping using a mass spectrometry-based platform at the Blood Transfusion Service, Zurich. Discrepant results from standard serological typing and donor genotyping were confirmed using commercial PCR-SSP kits.

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Background And Objectives: Mixed-field agglutination in ABO phenotyping (A, B) has been linked to genetically different blood cell populations such as in chimerism, or to rare variants in either ABO exon 7 or regulatory regions. Clarification of such cases is challenging and would greatly benefit from sequencing technologies that allow resolving full-gene haplotypes at high resolution.

Materials And Methods: We used long-read sequencing by Oxford Nanopore Technologies to sequence the entire ABO gene, amplified in two overlapping long-range PCR fragments, in a blood donor presented with AB phenotype.

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In the era of blood group genomics, reference collections of complete and fully resolved blood group gene alleles have gained high importance. For most blood groups, however, such collections are currently lacking, as resolving full-length gene sequences as haplotypes (ie, separated maternal/paternal origin) remains exceedingly difficult with both Sanger and short-read next-generation sequencing. Using the latest third-generation long-read sequencing, we generated a collection of fully resolved sequences for all 6 main ABO allele groups: ABO∗A1/A2/B/O.

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Article Synopsis
  • High-frequency blood group antigens (HFA) are found in over 90% of people, making it hard to find compatible blood for those who lack these antigens and may have alloantibodies.* -
  • This study used high-throughput SNP genotyping on more than 37,000 Swiss blood donors to identify individuals with low-frequency blood group antigens (LFA).* -
  • 326 potential donors with rare blood group genotypes were identified, highlighting the genetic diversity among Swiss donors influenced by regional and cultural factors.*
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Background: McLeod syndrome (MLS) is hematologically defined by the absence of the red blood cell (RBC) antigen Kx on the transmembrane RBC protein, XK, representing a highly specific diagnostic marker. Direct molecular assessment of XK therefore represents a desirable diagnostic tool. Whereas pathogenic point mutations may be simply identified, partial and complete deletions of XK on Xp21.

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The GYPC gene encodes the glycophorins C and D. The two moieties express 12 known antigens of the Gerbich blood group system and functionally stabilize red blood cell membranes through their intracellular interaction with protein 4.1 and p55.

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