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Utilization of long-read sequencing for the detection of structural rearrangements with AgileStructure.

MOTIVATION: Changes in genome organisation contribute to genetic disease when they disrupt gene function or regulation. Structural rearrangements may interrupt coding sequence or alter expression through promoter loss or gain, chromatin changes, copy-number variation, or disruption of short-range regulatory elements. Although short-read sequencing excels at detecting small variants, it performs poorly at resolving breakpoints of large rearrangements, especially in repetitive or low-complexity regions. Long-read sequencing overcomes these limitations, but analytical tools have not kept pace, making accurate identification and annotation of large structural variants challenging. RESULTS: We developed AgileStructure, a desktop application for locating and annotating large‑scale genomic rearrangements using aligned long‑read data. The software enables user‑guided exploration of breakpoint‑spanning reads, supporting accurate interpretation of complex events and filling a key gap in current structural variant analysis workflows. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: Source code, binaries, user guide, and example aligned read data, are available on GitHub: https://github.com/msjimc/AgileStructure. An archived version is also available on Zenodo at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18610110.

Software

The genetic basis of chloride exclusion in grapevines.

Mediterranean regions are among the most important areas for global grape production, characterized by dry climates and frequent challenges associated with soil salinity. In these environments, chloride toxicity is a major factor limiting vine growth and fruit quality. Despite the critical role of chloride exclusion in salinity tolerance, the genetic mechanisms underlying this trait remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed natural variation in chloride exclusion using a diverse panel of 335 accessions representing 18 wild and cultivated Vitis species. This panel, comprising accessions from the southwestern United States and Mexico, captures a broad range of evolutionary adaptations to abiotic stress and provides a valuable genetic resource for breeding efforts aimed at introducing novel traits. Using genome-wide association and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, we identified a major QTL on chromosome 8, now designated qClEx8.1, containing candidate genes encoding cation/H⁺ exchangers (CHXs), which are involved in ion transport and homeostasis. To validate these findings, we analyzed a mapping population derived from Vitis acerifolia longii 9018 and the commercial rootstock GRN3, confirming the chromosome 8 locus as a major determinant of chloride exclusion. Structural variant analysis revealed nonsynonymous substitutions within CHX genes that may influence protein function and salinity tolerance. Additionally, we discovered a novel QTL on chromosome 19 enriched with G-type lectin S-receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinases, known regulators of stress signaling. By integrating phenotypic and genomic data across a diverse Vitis collection, this study advances our understanding of the genetic architecture underlying chloride exclusion and highlights candidate genes for breeding salt-tolerant rootstocks.

Vitis

Genomic wastewater surveillance of human and animal influenza A viruses in California during the 2024-2025 flu season.

BACKGROUND: Wastewater genomic surveillance provides an opportunity to detect human and animal influenza A virus (IAV). We aimed to implement an IAV genomic surveillance framework agnostic to subtype, which enables recovery of IAV from multiple hosts and estimation of proportions across subtypes. METHODS: We conducted IAV genomic surveillance in wastewater during the 2024-2025 flu season at multiple sites in California and compared these data with available human clinical IAV sequences and test positivity. We applied a custom whole-genome, multi-host IAV probe enrichment panel and adapted our custom expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm to deconvolute IAV mixtures in wastewater and infer subtype relative abundances. Absolute IAV concentrations were quantified using RT-PCR-based assays. H5N1 wastewater and clinical sequences were further characterized by constructing a whole-genome maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree. Finally, we performed variant analysis to examine amino acid substitutions detected in wastewater. FINDINGS: Our IAV probe enrichment method and EM algorithm successfully enriched all eight segments of three circulating IAV subtypes and accurately estimated subclade relative abundances for mixed IAV samples. Seasonal human H1N1pdm09 and H3N2 were detected throughout the study period from both wastewater and clinical sequencing data, with H1N1 subclades 6B.1A.5a.2a.1 and 6B.1A.5a.2a co-circulating, and H3N2 dominated by subclade 3C.2a1b.2a.2a.3a.1. Wastewater surveillance consistently detected H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b across three monitored wastewater sites, while clinical H5N1 detections, from anywhere in CA, were sporadic and rare. Whole-genome phylogenetic analysis revealed that wastewater H5N1 sequences clustered with reference sequences associated with dairy cow and avian infections, while all human clinical H5N1 sequences clustered exclusively with reference sequences associated with dairy cow infections. Amino acid substitutions were identified across viral segments, and no mutations associated with mammalian adaptation were observed from wastewater samples. INTERPRETATION: When IAV concentrations were dominated by seasonal human subtypes rather than H5N1, subtype patterns aligned between wastewater and clinical data. While sequencing IAV in wastewater was unable to distinguish if H5N1 detections were due to human or animal infections, it was able to provide clade-level information about H5N1 found in wastewater that could be useful in the future. Wastewater genomic surveillance can complement clinical surveillance, increasing ability to detect all circulating IAV subtypes and enhancing public health preparedness from a One Health perspective.

Journal Article

Integrating multi-ancestry common and rare variant mapping accelerates therapeutic target discovery.

Integrating human genetics into therapeutic discovery accelerates drug development. However, ancestral biases in historical cohorts have left critical functional variation largely uncharted. Here, we leverage the diverse NIH All of Us Research Program to conduct comprehensive common- and rare-variant association analyses for 624 quantitative traits across 369,655 ancestrally diverse individuals. We identified 6,181 genome-wide significant locus-trait associations (526 novel) and 416 gene-trait associations (105 novel) via rare-variant burden testing. By integrating fine-mapping with computational variant-effect predictors, we systematically prioritized rare, likely causal variants driving these signals. Jointly modeling common and rare variation with protein-class annotations significantly improved the identification of known drug targets compared to common-variant analysis alone. Notably, we identified NRG4 as a high-confidence candidate therapeutic target for preserving kidney function. Our findings demonstrate that characterization of rare and common variation across diverse populations enhances causal gene discovery and identifies novel, actionable therapeutic targets.

Journal Article

Immunologic characteristics in relation to high and low leukemogenic activity of radiation leukemia virus variants. I. Cellular analysis of immunosuppression.

Infection of adult C57BL/6 mice with variants of the radiation leukemia virus resulted in variable leukemia incidence. One variant, designated D-RadLV, induced lymphatic leukemia in 0 to 25% of mice after virus inoculation directly into the thymus of young adult mice. The leukemia incidence could be increased to 80 to 100% by host exposure to x-rays. The second variant, A-RadLV, induced lymphatic leukemia in 80 to 100% of similarly inoculated mice without the need for additional radiation treatment. Adult mice were inoculated with D-radLV or A-RadLV. Both variants reduced the immune response to sheep erythrocytes whereas only D-RadLV had an immunosuppressive effect after immunization with a thymus-independent immunogen polyvinyl-pyrrolidone (PVP). Results of transfer experiments indicated that the immunosuppressive effects were expressed at the immunocompetent cell level. Thymus-derived cells were affected by A-RadLV since their immunocompetent function was impaired, whereas D-RadLV affected the marrow cell population of immunocytes. Exposure of D-RadLV-inoculated mice to x-rays induced functional impairment of both thymus and marrow cells. Since the radiation leukemia virus induces "T" lymphatic leukemia it could be proposed that the initial tropism of the virus to thymocytes would lead to high leukemia induction potential, whereas virus tropism to bone marrow cells would yield a low leukemia incidence. The coleukemogenic effect of x-rays could perhaps be related with its capacity to alter and introduce a change in virus-lymphoid cells interaction.

Animals

Global prevalence of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia-associated variants estimated by analysis of large-scale genomic databases.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder with an overwhelming hemorrhagic phenotype. It is mainly caused by variants in the ENG and ACVRL1 genes. HHT prevalence is currently estimated to be 1 in 5000 individuals, but the disease is likely underdiagnosed due to variable clinical presentation, misdiagnosis, and delayed recognition. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the global genetic prevalence of HHT-associated variants in ENG and ACVRL1. METHODS: We analyzed 3 large population-scale genomic databases: gnomAD, All of Us, and Regeneron Genetics Center-Million Exome. We considered known pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants of ENG and ACVRL1 and extended the analysis to potentially pathogenic variants passing the pathogenic criteria established by the guidelines for HHT of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology. RESULTS: The genetic prevalence of HHT ranged from 1.753 to 2.555 in 5000 individuals, when considering only pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants, and from 2.874 to 4.327 in 5000 individuals, when also potentially pathogenic variants were considered. CONCLUSION: This study assesses the prevalence of HHT-associated variants in the general population. Our unbiased approach demonstrates that the genetic prevalence of the disease is substantially higher than currently estimated.

Humans

Stepwise Humanization of the Yeast TRAPP Core Enables Functional Analysis of TRAPP Variants.

The Transport Protein Particle (TRAPP) complex is a highly conserved multi-subunit tethering complex that plays a critical role in membrane trafficking. Mutations in TRAPP complex subunits have been implicated in a growing spectrum of rare genetic disorders, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying variant pathogenicity often remain unclear. Here, we developed a humanized yeast platform to enable systematic functional characterization of TRAPP complex variants of uncertain significance. Using a stepwise gene replacement strategy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we constructed a strain in which five yeast TRAPP core subunits were replaced with their human orthologues. The integration of human subunits was validated through quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. Growth assays revealed that partial humanization of the core complex recapitulates key functional aspects of TRAPP assembly and enables the functional investigation of variants of uncertain significance in vivo. Structural modeling and clash analysis provided insights into the impact of specific mutations on complex stability and subunit interactions. TRAPPC3 has not yet been definitively associated with human disease. Introduction of TRAPPC3 variants of uncertain clinical significance into the humanized strain resulted in pronounced growth defects and predicted structural clashes. This work demonstrates the power of humanized yeast as a model for elucidating potential genotype-phenotype relationships in TRAPPopathy disorders and provides a versatile platform to support variant interpretation, mechanistic studies, and potential therapeutic screening.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Localization of the nucleolar organizer by computer-aided analysis of a variant no. 21 in a human isolate.

A variant chromosome no. 21 consisting of two stalks and two satellites in tandem was detected during a survey of a human isolate. The variant segregated in three generations of a large kindred. One male had the variant no. 21, a metacentric Y, and a 47,XXY complement; however, no other evidence of chromosomal nondisjunction was found. Computer-aided analysis of sequentially stained variant no. 21 chromosomes indicated that silver-stained material corresponded to the proximal stalk region (as defined by Giemsa), but often covered both the distal stalk and satellite (also as defined by Giemsa). These data support the hypothesis that human nucleolar organizers are localized to the stalks of acrocentric chromosomes.

Azure Stains

Clinical and genetic variant re-analysis among pediatric probands undergoing genetic testing for arrhythmia syndromes.

BACKGROUND: Despite increases in genetic testing, longitudinal data regarding changes in diagnostic yield and variant reclassification for inherited arrhythmia syndromes are limited. OBJECTIVE: Determine longitudinal changes in diagnostic yield and variant classification. METHODS: Single-center retrospective study of probands <18 years undergoing genetic testing for suspected inherited cardiac conditions associated with arrhythmias, 2007 to 2018. Variants were classified as diagnostic (pathogenic/likely pathogenic), non-diagnostic (benign/likely benign [B/LB]), or variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Variant reclassification was performed in October 2023 using VarSome and American College of Medical Genetics criteria. We evaluated results by era (early 2007-2013 vs. later 2014-2018, coinciding with Sanger and next-generation sequencing, respectively) and by likelihood of disease based on clinical evaluation. RESULTS: Of 306 probands, initial testing was 23.2% diagnostic, 55.6% non-diagnostic (33.7% no variant, 21.9% B/LB), and 21.2% VUS. When comparing eras, diagnostic yield decreased (34.1%-15.3%), VUS increased (9.3%-29.9%), and non-diagnostic remained similar (55% to 57%). Variants for 22.7% (46/203) of probands with &#x2265;1 variant changed: 9.9% of diagnostic variants (7/71) downgraded to VUS or non-diagnostic, and 60.0% of VUS changed (23.1% upgraded, 36.9% downgraded). B/LB variants did not change. Probands with higher disease likelihood had 6-times the odds of diagnostic results compared to lower disease likelihood, regardless of era (odds ratio 6.3, 95% confidence interval 3.2-12.4, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Variant reclassification led to changes in 23% of probands, both downgrading and upgrading status, even among probands initially thought to be pathogenic. When comparing later to earlier eras, VUS variants increased while diagnostic yield decreased. Findings support the need for variant re-interpretation and periodic reclassification over time.

Humans

Structural comparison of glycophorins and immunochemical analysis of genetic variants.

Differences in amino acid sequence of erythrocyte membrane glycophorin A are correlated with M or N blood group activity. A second sialoglycoprotein, glycophorin B, has an amino acid sequence identical to that of glycophorin AN in the first 23 positions and carries N activity only, suggesting that different structural genes code for the glycoproteins carrying these antigens. Certain genetically variant cells lack glycophorin A, as determined by immunochemical methods, and serological MN activity. Other variants lack MN activity, but contain normal amounts of glycophorin A in the membrane.

Amino Acid Sequence

Genomic and structural analysis of dacB variants associated with cephalosporin resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The rise of resistance to fourth-generation cephalosporin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a global concern. The resistance is largely driven by variants of chromosomally encoded AmpC &#x3b2;-lactamase, known as Pseudomonas-derived cephalosporinase (PDC), which arise from the mutations in the ampC gene. In addition, alteration in dacB, which encode the penicillin-binding protein 4 (PBP4), can lead to the overexpression of ampC, thereby contributing to &#x3b2;-lactam resistance. Present work analyzed 208 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and detected multiple nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs), such as Y264C, G444D, and a double mutation (A394P-T428P). All nsSNPs were predicted to be deleterious by several prediction program. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suggested that these substitutions destabilize PBP4, increase structural flexibility, and contribute to the resistance mechanism, which favored their selection. To determine the effective therapeutics against these mutations, molecular docking was conducted with various antibiotics. Cefoperazone exhibited the highest binding affinity (-7.3&#xa0;kcal/mol) among multiple PBP4 variants. The Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and Molecular Mechanics Poisson Boltzmann Surface Area calculations (MMPBSA) further confirmed the favorable interactions between cefoperazone and PBP4 variants. In vitro MIC analyses supported these findings, indicating that cefoperazone displayed significant activity against clinical dacB mutants of P. aeruginosa. The study offers structural insight of dacB variants leading to antibiotic resistance and emphasizes the need to prioritize specific antibiotics to address the challenges arising from protein mutations.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Analysis of different variants of erythrocyte survival using digital computers.

In the paper a method is presented, enabling parameter estimation of erythrocyte survival patterns, what is an important element in the diagnosis of haemolytic anaemias. The method is based on a computer program, fitting the experimental data to eight variants of theoretical patterns with use of a weighted least squares criterion. A simple statistical test of approximation quality is described and several interpretational examples are given. The program may be easily handled by a physician with small programming experience.

Anemia, Hemolytic

Dissecting the shared genetic architecture of schizophrenia with ventricular subregion volumes.

Schizophrenia is characterized by cerebral ventricular enlargement as an early and consistent structural anomaly. While genetic factors significantly influence both schizophrenia and cerebral ventricular enlargement, the shared genetic etiology between them requires further investigation. Using summary statistics from recent large genome-wide association studies on schizophrenia and 9 ventricular subregion volumes phenotypes. Gaussian causal mixture modeling was applied to characterize the genetic architecture and overlap between schizophrenia and ventricular subregion volumes phenotypes. Local genetic correlation was investigated with Local Analysis of Variant Association. The conjunctional false discovery rate framework was used to identify the specific shared genetic loci, annotated with FUMA. Gaussian causal mixture modeling estimated schizophrenia to be more polygenic more polygenic (9574 trait-influencing variants) than ventricular subregion volumes phenotypes (157-1267 trait-influencing variants). Conjunctional false discovery rate analysis identified 42 shared genetic loci, 17 loci were identified as novel for both schizophrenia and the ventricular subregion volumes phenotypes. Local Analysis of Variant Association revealed that 11 distinct loci demonstrated significant differences, among which 4 loci were situated in the Major Histocompatibility Complex region. Annotated genes in shared loci were enriched in molecular signaling pathways involved in inflammation and the brain structure. The shared loci between them were annotated and enriched in Major Histocompatibility Complex and inflammation-related pathways, highlighting new opportunities for future investigation.

Schizophrenia

Parkinson Disease Pathogenic Variants: Cross-Ancestry Analysis and Microarray Data Validation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Known pathogenic variants (PVs) in Parkinson disease (PD) contribute to disease development but have yet to be fully explored by arrays on a large scale. This study evaluated genotyping success of the NeuroBooster array (NBA) and determined the frequencies of PVs across ancestries. METHODS: We analyzed the presence and allele frequency of PVs in 28,710 PD cases, 9,614 other neurodegenerative disorder cases, and 15,821 controls across 11 ancestries within the Global Parkinson's Genetics Program (GP2) data set. Cluster plots were used to assess the quality of PVs genotyped on NBA. RESULTS: Genes previously predicted to have high or very high confidence of causing PD tend to have more PVs and are present across ancestry groups. Of 34 known PD gene PVs assessed, 25 were typed by NBA and classified as "good" (n = 12), "medium" (n = 4), or "bad" (n = 9) quality variants. DISCUSSION: Our results confirm the likelihood that established PD genes are pathogenic and highlight the importance of ancestrally diverse research in PD. We also show the usefulness of the NBA as a reliable tool for the genotyping of rare variants of PD.

Journal Article

Comparative genomics of the monophasic variant of Salmonella Typhimurium: analysis of Colombian genomes and their relationship with international lineages.

The monophasic variant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STVM) represents a growing threat to global public health owing to its wide dissemination, capacity to adapt to multiple hosts, and antimicrobial resistance. In this study, 98 STVM isolates recovered in Colombia (57 from humans and 41 from pig farms and abattoirs) were genomically characterized between 2015 and 2022 and compared with 102 representative genomes of international lineages by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and phylogenomic analysis. Phylogenomic analysis revealed the existence of two well-defined endemic lineages in Colombia (Clusters 1 and 2), arising from independent introduction events and subsequent local stabilization. Both lineages comprise isolates of human and swine origin without clear phylogenetic separation by host species, suggesting active zoonotic cocirculation and closely integrated interspecies transmission dynamics. Marked differences were observed in the accessory genome, including the differential presence of prophages (e.g., Gifsy-2, Fels-2, SW9), virulence plasmids, and resistance profiles. The Colombian lineages exhibited a high frequency of the pSTV plasmid (85%, n = 84/98) and a substantial burden of resistance determinants to quinolones (such as qnrB19, 74.5%; gyrA S83F mutation, 19.4%), phenicols (floR), tetracyclines (tetA, tetB), &#x3b2;-lactams (blaTEM-1B), and heavy metals. In contrast, the Colombian genomes clustered with the European ST34 lineage lacked pSTV but retained resistance and heavy metal operons. These findings demonstrate that international and endemic lineages coexist in Colombia with independent evolutionary trajectories, underscoring the need to strengthen genomic surveillance under the "One Health" approach to anticipate emerging threats and develop integrated control strategies.IMPORTANCEThe monophasic variant of Salmonella Typhimurium (STVM) has emerged as a predominant serovar in both humans and swine internationally. In Colombia, a fundamental question driving this study was whether local isolates belonged to international lineages or represented endemic strains. This study provides the first comprehensive genomic characterization demonstrating that two Colombian endemic lineages circulate simultaneously between humans and pigs without phylogenetic separation by host species, confirming active zoonotic transmission. The results demonstrate the coexistence of both lineages, each with distinctive repertoires of mobile genetic elements and specific antimicrobial resistance profiles. Understanding these transmission dynamics and evolutionary patterns is crucial for public health, as it demonstrates how zoonotic pathogens can establish locally adapted lineages with distinct resistance patterns. The genomic evidence of sustained interspecies circulation highlights the critical need for integrated surveillance strategies under the "One Health" framework. This will enable anticipating emerging threats, tracing transmission routes, and developing targeted interventions in food production systems.

One Health

[Characteristics of the polysaccharide-containing somatic antigens isolated from the K-1 strain of the plague microbe and its antibiotic-resistant variants].

Immunochemical analysis of 2 polysaccharide-containing structures of the lypopolysaccharide of the plague causative agent (main somatic antigen and lipopolysaccharide) isolated from K-1 strain and a number of its antibiotic resistant mutants was carried out. It was shown that development of resistance to streptomycin alone or its combination with monomycin did not cause detectable changes in the monosaccharide composition and serological properties of the cultures tested. More significant changes associated with development of complex resistance, i.e. K-1 (Strr leads to Penr leads to Tetr) were accompanied by a decrease in the content of hexozamine and serological activity of the main somatic antigen determining the O-specificity of the lipopolysaccharide. Defective changes in the monosaccharide composition and serological properties of both the main somatic antigen and the polysaccharide were observed in the yellow variant of the streptomycin resistant mutant K-1.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

Comprehensive analysis of de novo variants across 2,497 orofacial cleft trios reveals novel genetic drivers of disease.

BACKGROUND: Orofacial clefts (OFCs) and other palate abnormalities (PAs) are among the most common birth defects worldwide and are characterized by the abnormal formation of the lip and/or palate. Genetic studies have traditionally classified OFC cases as either syndromic, involving OFCs alongside other congenital anomalies, or nonsyndromic, which represent the majority of cases and occur in isolation. Emerging genomic evidence indicates that genes traditionally associated with syndromic forms of OFC can also harbor variants contributing to isolated cases, challenging the notion of a strict dichotomy between these categories and supporting their integration for gene discovery. METHODS: In this study, we applied multiple analytic approaches to characterize the genetic architecture of OFC and PAs by integrating genomic data from 2,497 trios with probands diagnosed with an OFC (n=2,080) or PA (n=417). We compared these findings across OFC subtypes and syndromic status with those from 5,515 control trios to identify enriched biological pathways and mechanisms and to prioritize candidate genes using variant burden testing. RESULTS: We observed a significant enrichment of de novo protein-truncating and damaging missense variants in cases compared to controls (OR = 2.17, p = 1.21&#xd7;10-32), with particularly strong signals in biologically relevant gene sets involving OFC-associated, constrained, Mendelian disorder, and mouse candidate genes. Variant burden testing identified 39 OFC risk genes at FDR &#x2264; 0.05, which we then integrated with 593 established OFC genes to interrogate the functional underpinnings of OFC via network analysis. This analysis revealed 309 high-order interactor genes not previously associated with OFC. Notably, this OFC network clustered into ten distinct biological pathways, with nucleosome-associated genes showing significant enrichment among cases in our cohort (OR = 14.8, p = 8.1&#xd7;10-4). In a final integrative step, we combined evidence across all analyses to nominate 231 candidate genes, 32 of which contained at least two deleterious de novo variants in our cohort. CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the value of integrating diverse OFC and PA subtypes, syndromic status, and variant classes to elucidate the genetic architecture of these disorders, highlighting both phenotypic expansion of known disease genes and the emergence of novel gene-phenotype associations.

De Novo Variant Enrichment