• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.37.1-37.11
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• 2023

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory-autoimmune disease with a complex multi-organ pathogenesis, and it is known to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Various genetic, immunological, endocrine, and environmental factors contribute to SLE. Genomic variants have been identified as potential contributors to SLE susceptibility across multiple continents. However, the specific pathogenic variants that drive SLE remain largely undefined. In this study, we sought to identify these pathogenic variants across various continents using genomic and bioinformatic-based methodologies. We found that the variants rs35677470, rs34536443, rs17849502, and rs13306575 are likely damaging in SLE. Furthermore, these four variants appear to affect the gene expression of NCF2, TYK2, and DNASE1L3 in whole blood tissue. Our findings suggest that these genomic variants warrant further research for validation in functional studies and clinical trials involving SLE patients. We conclude that the integration of genomic and bioinformatic-based databases could enhance our understanding of disease susceptibility, including that of SLE.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.9
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• pp.1236-1243
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• 2014

Genetics is important for breeding and selection of horses but there is a lack of well-established horse-related browsers or databases. In order to better understand horses, more variants and other integrated information are needed. Thus, we construct a horse genomic variants database including expression and other information. Horse Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Expression Database (HSDB) (http://snugenome2.snu.ac.kr/HSDB) provides the number of unexplored genomic variants still remaining to be identified in the horse genome including rare variants by using population genome sequences of eighteen horses and RNA-seq of four horses. The identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were confirmed by comparing them with SNP chip data and variants of RNA-seq, which showed a concordance level of 99.02% and 96.6%, respectively. Moreover, the database provides the genomic variants with their corresponding transcriptional profiles from the same individuals to help understand the functional aspects of these variants. The database will contribute to genetic improvement and breeding strategies of Thoroughbreds.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.136-144
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• 2014

Besides single-nucleotide variants in the human genome, large-scale genomic variants, such as copy number variations (CNVs), are being increasingly discovered as a genetic source of human diversity and the pathogenic factors of diseases. Recent experimental findings have shed light on the links between different genome architectures and CNV mutagenesis. In this review, we summarize various genomic features and discuss their contributions to CNV formation. Genomic repeats, including both low-copy and high-copy repeats, play important roles in CNV instability, which was initially known as DNA recombination events. Furthermore, it has been found that human genomic repeats can also induce DNA replication errors and consequently result in CNV mutations. Some recent studies showed that DNA replication timing, which reflects the high-order information of genomic organization, is involved in human CNV mutations. Our review highlights that genome architecture, from DNA sequence to high-order genomic organization, is an important molecular factor in CNV mutagenesis and human genomic instability.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.48.1-48.8
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• 2023

Liver cancer is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Well-known risk factors include hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, along with exposure to aflatoxins, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Genomic variants play a crucial role in mediating the associations between these risk factors and liver cancer. However, the specific variants involved in this process remain under-explored. This study utilized a bioinformatics approach to identify genetic variants associated with liver cancer from various continents. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with liver cancer were retrieved from the genome-wide association studies catalog. Prioritization was then performed using functional annotation with HaploReg v4.1 and the Ensembl database. The prevalence and allele frequencies of each variant were evaluated using Pearson correlation coefficients. Two variants, rs2294915 and rs2896019, encoded by the PNPLA3 gene, were found to be highly expressed in the liver tissue, as well as in the skin, cell-cultured fibroblasts, and adipose-subcutaneous tissue, all of which contribute to the risk of liver cancer. We further found that these two SNPs (rs2294915 and rs2896019) were positively correlated with the prevalence rate. Positive associations with the prevalence rate were more frequent in East Asian and African populations. We highlight the utility of this population-specific PNPLA3 genetic variant for genetic association studies and for the early prognosis and treatment of liver cancer. This study highlights the potential of integrating genomic databases with bioinformatic analysis to identify genetic variations involved in the pathogenesis of liver cancer. The genetic variants investigated in this study are likely to predispose to liver cancer and could affect its progression and aggressiveness. We recommend future research prioritizing the validation of these variations in clinical settings.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.31.1-31.8
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• 2023

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy. It is widely believed that genetic factors play a significant role in the development of MM, as investigated in numerous studies. However, the application of genomic information for clinical purposes, including diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, remains largely confined to research. In this study, we utilized genetic information from the Genomic-Driven Clinical Implementation for Multiple Myeloma database, which is dedicated to clinical trial studies on MM. This genetic information was sourced from the genome-wide association studies catalog database. We prioritized genes with the potential to cause MM based on established annotations, as well as biological risk genes for MM, as potential drug target candidates. The DrugBank database was employed to identify drug candidates targeting these genes. Our research led to the discovery of 14 MM biological risk genes and the identification of 10 drugs that target three of these genes. Notably, only one of these 10 drugs, panobinostat, has been approved for use in MM. The two most promising genes, calcium signal-modulating cyclophilin ligand (CAMLG) and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), were targeted by four drugs (cyclosporine, belinostat, vorinostat, and romidepsin), all of which have clinical evidence supporting their use in the treatment of MM. Interestingly, five of the 10 drugs have been approved for other indications than MM, but they may also be effective in treating MM. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the genomic variants involved in the pathogenesis of MM and highlight the potential benefits of these genomic variants in drug discovery.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2024

With the rapid evolution of diagnostic tools, particularly next-generation sequencing, the identification of genetic diseases, predominantly those with pediatric-onset, has significantly advanced. However, this progress presents challenges that span from selecting appropriate tests to the final interpretation of results. This review examines various genetic testing methodologies, each with specific indications and characteristics, emphasizing the importance of selecting the appropriate genetic test in clinical practice, taking into account factors like detection range, cost, turnaround time, and specificity of the clinical diagnosis. Interpretation of variants has become more challenging, often requiring further validation and significant resource allocation. Laboratories primarily classify variants based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Clinical Genomic Science guidelines, however, this process has limitations. This review underscores the critical role of clinicians in matching patient phenotypes with reported genes/variants and considering additional factors such as variable expressivity, disease pleiotropy, and incomplete penetrance. These considerations should be aligned with specific gene-disease characteristics and segregation results based on an extended pedigree. In conclusion, this review aims to enhance understanding of the complexities of clinical genetic testing, advocating for a multidisciplinary approach to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective management of rare genetic diseases.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 1986

The HLA class II region encodes a series of polymorphic glycoproteins that form cell surface heterodimers each consisting of one $\alpha$ and one $\beta$ chain. Thess class II molecules are encoded by genes clustered within three loci. DP, DQ, and DR are functfonally implicated as regulatory signals in intercellular communication during the immune resposes. The phenotypic hallmark of the HLA complex is a high degree of structural and functional polymorphism. Detailed analysis. of such polymorphisms should aid in understanding the molecular basis for associations between HLA and diseases. We have used techniques of restriction enzyme fragment analysis by Southern blotting to investigate polymorphisms associated with DQ $\beta$ class II genes on haplotypes expressing the HLA-DR4 and -DQw3 specificities. The endonucleases Hind III and Bam HI were used to identify a specific DQ $\beta$ genomic polymorphism that precisely corrresponds with the reactivity of a monoclonal antibody A-10-83, previously shown to define a serologic split of DQw3. This study identifies two allelic DQ va. riants. DQw3.1 and DQw3.2. We used these specific genotypic markers to investigate the genomic basis of the association of DR4 with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus(IDDM) and seropositive juvenile rheumatoid arthritis(JRA). The DR4 positive IDDM demonstrate the predominant expression of DQw3.2 and the very rare expression of DQw3.l. However, in haplotype matched siblings from two IDDM families, all of the DR4 positive siblings display a IDDM-associated DQw3.2 allele. Thus, both affected and healthy individuals can carry the same haplotypes and genomic markers, demonstrating that thess specific allelic variants are genetic elements that indicate a increased risk of IDDM but are not in fact disease specific. We contrasted this result with a similar analysis of patients with another DR4-associated disease, JRA. In contrast to the preponderance of the DQw3.2 allele in IDDM, the JRA patients expressed either the DQw3.1 or the DQw3.2 allele and sometimes both, without apparent association with disease expession. The different genomic markers reported here within HLA-DQ region potentially an analysis of HLA-associated function and disease susceptibility.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.26.1-26.9
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• 2023

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) produces a severe hypersensitivity reaction caused by Herpes simplex virus or mycoplasma infection, vaccination, systemic disease, or other agents. Several studies have investigated the genetic susceptibility involved in SJS. To provide further genetic insights into the pathogenesis of SJS, this study prioritized high-impact, SJS-associated pathogenic variants through integrating bioinformatic and population genetic data. First, we identified SJS-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms from the genome-wide association studies catalog, followed by genome annotation with HaploReg and variant validation with Ensembl. Subsequently, expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) from GTEx identified human genetic variants with differential gene expression across human tissues. Our results indicate that two variants, namely rs2074494 and rs5010528, which are encoded by the HLA-C (human leukocyte antigen C) gene, were found to be differentially expressed in skin. The allele frequencies for rs2074494 and rs5010528 also appear to significantly differ across continents. We highlight the utility of these population-specific HLA-C genetic variants for genetic association studies, and aid in early prognosis and disease treatment of SJS.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.24-28
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• 2023

Chromosomal microarray (CMA) is primarily recommended for detecting clinically significant copy number variants (CNVs) in the genetic diagnosis of developmental delay, intellectual disability, autism, and congenital malformations. Prenatal CMA is recommended when a fetus has major congenital malformations. The main principles of CMA can be divided into array comparative genomic hybridization and single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays. In the current CMA platforms, these two principles are combined, and detection of genetic abnormalities including CNVs and absence of heterozygosity is facilitated. In this review, I described practical assessment of CMA testing regarding to laboratory management of CMA, interpretation of CNVs, and special considerations for comprehensive genetic counseling.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1027-1031
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• 2010

To examine the possibility of horizontal gene transfer between transgenic potatoes and microorganisms in potato fields, the gene flow from transgenic potatoes containing the nucleoside diphosphate kinase 2 (NDPK2) gene to microorganisms in soils was investigated. The soil samples collected from the potato fields from March to October 2007 were examined by PCR, Southern hybridization, and AFLP fingerprinting. The NDPK2 gene from soil genomic DNAs was not detected by both PCR and Southern hybridization, indicating that gene transfer did not occur in the potato fields. In addition, no discrepancy was found in pathogenicity and noticeable changes for the appearance of variants of Phytophthora infestans in each generation when serial inoculations and the analysis of genomic DNAs by AFLP were conducted. Thus, these data suggest that transgenic potatoes do not give significant impacts on the communities of soil microorganisms and the emergence of variants, although continued research efforts may be necessary to make a decisive conclusion.