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Genetic polymorphisms affecting telomere length and their association with cardiovascular disease in the Heinz-Nixdorf-Recall study.

Short telomeres are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate, if genetically determined telomere-length effects CVD-risk in the Heinz-Nixdorf-Recall study (HNRS) population. We selected 14 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with telomere-length (p<10-8) from the literature and after exclusion 9 SNPs were included in the analyses. Additionally, a genetic risk score (GRS) using these 9 SNPs was calculated. Incident CVD was defined as fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke, and coronary death. We included 3874 HNRS participants with available genetic data and had no known history of CVD at baseline. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to test the association between the SNPs/GRS and incident CVD-risk adjusting for common CVD risk-factors. The analyses were further stratified by CVD risk-factors. During follow-up (12.1&#xb1;4.31 years), 466 participants experienced CVD-events. No association between SNPs/GRS and CVD was observed in the adjusted analyses. However, the GRS, rs10936599, rs2487999 and rs8105767 increase the CVD-risk in current smoker. Few SNPs (rs10936599, rs2487999, and rs7675998) showed an increased CVD-risk, whereas rs10936599, rs677228 and rs4387287 a decreased CVD-risk, in further strata. The results of our study suggest different effects of SNPs/GRS on CVD-risk depending on the CVD risk-factor strata, highlighting the importance of stratified analyses in CVD risk-factors.

Humans↗

Whole-Exome and Whole-Genome Sequencing of Candidate Pharmacogenomic and Schizophrenia-Related Genes in Sudanese Families with Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is considered a neuro-developmental disorder leading to disastrous lifelong disability of the patients and their families. There is a lack of data regarding pharmacogenomics of schizophrenia in Sudan. This study aimed to identify different genes affecting the treatment outcomes in Sudanese patients with schizophrenia. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on seven families having more than one member diagnosed with schizophrenia. This was a small exploratory family-based sequencing study involving 18 affected individuals and 8 controls from seven families. Ethical clearance and informed consent were obtained. Demographic data were collected using a standardized data collection sheet. DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from patients and control groups. Then, whole-exome and genome sequencing were performed. Sixty-six genes associated with schizophrenia, treatment, and treatment resistance were selected from the variant calling file. Variants showing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. These variants were then classified based on their impact on the protein-coding sequence into high- and moderate-impact. Moreover, indel mutations were also identified. RESULTS: Twelve variants of seven genes (COMT, FMO1, LPL, CYP2E1, ABCC1, GRM3, CYP2C9) were identified as genes with impact and potential association with schizophrenia (p-value=0.006632). Forty-three genes had a moderate impact, and they showed a potential association with schizophrenia (p-value=0.0004436). Two variants were indel mutations (CYP2D6, DTNBP1) and showed association with schizophrenia (p-value=0.004741). The p-values were generated from different databases. CONCLUSION: This exploratory family-based sequencing study identified several potentially relevant pharmacogenomic and schizophrenia-associated variants in Sudanese families, warranting validation in larger and ethnically diverse cohorts.

antipsychotics↗

Genetic associations in sepsis and ARDS.

Critical illness syndromes, such as sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), are characterized by substantial clinical heterogeneity and remain major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that genetic variation contributes to susceptibility, disease severity, and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. However, the molecular mechanisms linking genetic predisposition to the pathophysiology of sepsis and ARDS remain incompletely understood. In this review, we evaluated genetic associations reported in sepsis and ARDS, including 13 genome-wide studies identifying 19 unique single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 17 distinct genomic loci, as well as 21 meta-analyses of candidate-gene studies identifying 21 SNPs across 16 genes. The identified variants were primarily associated with pathways involved in pathogen recognition, immune and inflammatory signaling, leukocyte recruitment, and endothelial dysfunction. Collectively, these findings support a polygenic basis for susceptibility to critical illness and highlight several biologically relevant pathways that may contribute to sepsis and ARDS pathogenesis. Improved understanding of the functional consequences of these variants may facilitate the identification of potential therapeutic targets and support the development of precision-guided approaches to critical care.

ARDS↗

Genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and marker development between Hydrangea serrata and H. macrophylla based on plastome and 45S nrDNA.

Ornamental hydrangeas (genus Hydrangea) are cultivated worldwide for their diverse flower colors and attractive morphology. Here, we assembled the complete plastid genome (plastome) and 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA (45S nrDNA) sequences of 22 individuals representing H. serrata, H. macrophylla, and related species (H. arborescens, H. paniculata, H. petiolaris, and H. hydrangeoides). The plastomes contained up to 2,344 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 367 insertions/deletions (InDels) within the genus, whereas the assembled 45S nrDNA sequences showed 119 SNPs and 10 InDels. Phylogenetic analyses based on plastome and 45S nrDNA sequences clearly separated H. serrata and H. macrophylla from the other Hydrangea species. In the plastome-based tree, H. petiolaris was placed in the same clade as H. arborescens, whereas in the 45S nrDNA-based tree it showed a close relationship to H. hydrangeoides. The H. serrata and H. macrophylla samples were not always separated according to their species boundaries, as observed in samples Hse8-Hse12. Notably, one H. serrata sample (Hse8), collected from a wild mountainous region of Japan, exhibited a closer genetic relationship to H. macrophylla samples, indicating that cultivated hydrangeas may have originated from a specific wild lineage of H. serrata adapted to mountainous habitats. Using plastome-derived molecular markers, 66 Hydrangea samples were further classified into five groups, with Group II comprising both cultivated H. macrophylla and a subset of wild H. serrata samples, suggesting a close genetic affinity between this group and the ancestral gene pool of cultivated H. macrophylla. Based on these genomic resources, eight plastome-derived molecular markers were developed to differentiate cultivated hydrangeas from wild genotypes and to assess genetic diversity within H. serrata and H. macrophylla, providing practical tools for germplasm identification, breeding, and genetic resource management of Hydrangea species.

hydrangea↗

Causal Relationship Between Ischemic Stroke and Vascular Dementia: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a major cause of disability and mortality worldwide, and vascular dementia (VaD) is a common dementia subtype associated with cerebrovascular injury. Observational studies have suggested a relationship between IS and VaD, but these studies are vulnerable to confounding and reverse causality. This protocol describes a reproducible two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) workflow for evaluating the potential causal association between IS and VaD using publicly available genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics. Genetic instruments associated with IS were extracted from a public GWAS dataset, and outcome associations for VaD were obtained from a public VaD GWAS dataset. The corresponding dataset IDs are provided in the Protocol section. After outcome matching and allele harmonization, 51 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were retained for the final MR analysis. The workflow includes instrumental variable selection, linkage disequilibrium clumping, allele harmonization, instrument strength assessment, inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis, weighted median analysis, MR-Egger analysis, heterogeneity testing, horizontal pleiotropy assessment, and leave-one-out sensitivity analysis. In the representative analysis, the IVW method showed a positive association between genetically predicted IS and VaD risk, and the weighted median method yielded a directionally concordant result. The MR-Egger estimate was directionally consistent but did not reach statistical significance. Therefore, these findings should be interpreted as suggestive evidence of a possible causal effect, rather than definitive proof of causality. This protocol may help researchers apply a transparent and reproducible MR workflow to investigate cerebrovascular disease-related outcomes using public GWAS data.

Humans↗

Membrane-bound O-acyltransferase 7 (MBOAT7) shapes lysosomal lipid homeostasis and function to control alcohol-associated liver injury.

Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified a link between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the MBOAT7 gene and advanced liver diseases. Specifically, the common MBOAT7 variant (rs641738) associated with reduced MBOAT7 expression is implicated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), and liver fibrosis. However, the precise mechanism underlying MBOAT7-driven liver disease progression remains elusive. Previously, we identified MBOAT7-driven acylation of lysophosphatidylinositol lipids as key mechanism suppressing the progression of NAFLD (Gwag et al., 2019). Here, we show that MBOAT7 loss of function promotes ALD via reorganization of lysosomal lipid homeostasis. Circulating levels of MBOAT7 metabolic products are significantly reduced in heavy drinkers compared to healthy controls. Hepatocyte- (Mboat7-HSKO), but not myeloid-specific (Mboat7-MSKO), deletion of Mboat7 exacerbates ethanol-induced liver injury. Lipidomic profiling reveals a reorganization of the hepatic lipidome in Mboat7-HSKO mice, characterized by increased endosomal/lysosomal lipids. Ethanol-exposed Mboat7-HSKO mice exhibit dysregulated autophagic flux and lysosomal biogenesis, associated with impaired transcription factor EB-mediated lysosomal biogenesis and autophagosome accumulation. This study provides mechanistic insights into how MBOAT7 influences ALD progression through dysregulation of lysosomal biogenesis and autophagic flux, highlighting hepatocyte-specific MBOAT7 loss as a key driver of ethanol-induced liver injury.

Animals↗

SNP genotyping in Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus radiata using targeted genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS): improved Bayesian SNP calling using a beta-binomial distribution and other optimized input parameters.

BACKGROUND: Single-nucleotide polymorphism markers (SNPs) have important applications in gene conservation, breeding, and fundamental genetics research. Our long-term goal is to develop routine approaches for SNP genotyping in forest trees. Ideally, these approaches would be inexpensive, able to accommodate a wide range of samples and SNPs, available through commercial providers, and produce high-quality SNP data. RESULTS: Using targeted genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), we developed SNP assays for two highly heterozygous tree species, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and radiata pine (Pinus radiata). Using Douglas-fir haploid and diploid data, we optimized Bayesian SNP calling by testing four input parameters: (1) allele and genotype prior probabilities, (2) Rho, the beta-binomial dispersion parameter, (3) estimated read error (BayesReadError), and (4) the logPO cutoff used to filter low confidence SNP calls. logPO is the Bayesian posterior odds ratio for a called SNP. Compared to assuming a binomial distribution of read counts (Rho&#x2009;=&#x2009;0), the beta-binomial distribution (Rho&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.33) substantially reduced call error and heterozygote undercalling. Compared to the other Bayesian parameters, genotype priors had little effect on genotyping success. For Douglas-fir, we tested 5,360 SNP assays, and then studied the performance of the best 4,000. For radiata pine, we tested 6,000 SNP assays, and then studied the performance of the best 4,570. In Douglas-fir and radiata pine, our Bayesian approach resulted in median call rates of 95% to 98% for the top-ranked SNPs, with an estimated call error of 1.60% for known homozygous genotypes and 2.27% for known heterozygotes. In radiata pine, median and mean call rates were above 91% for GBS and SNP genotyping using an Axiom fixed genotyping array. Additionally, the median correspondence between the GBS and Axiom genotypes was about 98% overall (mean 96%). CONCLUSIONS: By optimizing Bayesian SNP calling, selecting the best 4-5&#xa0;K SNPs, and excluding samples with low DNA amounts, we substantially reduced call error and heterozygote undercalling, resulting in SNP genotypes that were nearly identical to genotypes obtained using the Axiom array. Furthermore, genotyping performance should increase even further if our SNP rankings were used to develop less complex probe pools that target fewer SNPs.

Pinus↗

Genetic Identification of Burned Human Remains: A Systematic Review.

Background/Objectives: DNA-based identification of degraded human remains represents a major challenge in forensic science, particularly in cases involving burned, fragmented, or commingled bodies. Advances in forensic genetics have expanded the analytical capabilities for such samples; however, the effectiveness of different approaches and their integration within Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) workflows remain heterogeneous. This systematic review aims to critically evaluate current evidence on DNA-based identification of degraded remains, focusing on methodological strategies, emerging genomic technologies, and DVI applications, while integrating laboratory evidence and operational forensic practice into a structured analytical framework. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in Scopus and Web of Science from database inception to 5 June 2026, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligible studies included original research addressing DNA analysis of degraded, thermally altered, or highly compromised human remains in forensic or DVI contexts. After a multistep screening process involving title/abstract and full-text evaluation, 37 studies were included. Data were extracted and organized into three thematic categories: (i) core DNA analysis, (ii) advanced molecular technologies, and (iii) DVI case applications. Results: The findings demonstrate that DNA recovery from degraded remains is influenced by thermal exposure, tissue type, and sampling strategy. Teeth and dense cortical bone consistently provide higher DNA yield. While autosomal STR profiling remains the primary analytical approach, its limitations in highly degraded samples are mitigated through the complementary use of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y-chromosome STRs (Y-STRs), and SNP markers, together with advanced sequencing technologies such as massively parallel sequencing (MPS). Emerging technologies, including rapid DNA systems and predictive models based on macroscopic indicators, significantly enhance efficiency and success rates. DVI studies report identification rates exceeding 90-95% when multidisciplinary and structured workflows are applied. The evidence further supports a flexible triage-based analytical strategy, in which marker selection is guided by tissue preservation and degradation level. Conclusions: DNA-based identification of degraded human remains has evolved into an adaptive, multi-level forensic process. Successful outcomes rely on the integration of optimized sampling, hierarchical genetic analysis, and coordinated DVI strategies. The findings support a triage-based framework that links tissue selection, degradation assessment, and analytical methodology to maximize identification success. Future developments should focus on predictive models, advanced genomic tools, and standardized workflows to further improve identification in challenging forensic scenarios.

Humans↗

Dissemination of blaKPC-3-harbouring Klebsiella pneumoniae across ST48 and ST628 in multiple healthcare facilities in the Republic of Korea.

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-3 (KPC-3) remains rare in South Korea, where KPC-2 is the dominant carbapenemase, making the repeated detection of a concentrated blaKPC-3 signal over five years notable. We performed genomic analyses of blaKPC-3-harbouring K. pneumoniae from a regional healthcare network. Two chromosomally distinct lineages with concordant capsule loci (ST628/KL15 and ST48/KL62) presented multidrug-resistant phenotypes, and the virulence-associated loci were confined to ST48. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses revealed near-clonal relatedness within lineages, with 0-38 pairwise SNPs among ST628 isolates and 8 SNPs between the two ST48 isolates. Core-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) supported this structure, as ST628 isolates were assigned to complex type 19149 with 0-7 allelic differences, and ST48 isolates were assigned to complex type 19150 with 5 allelic differences. These patterns support vertical spread via clonal expansion across multiple facilities. Despite substantial chromosomal separation, most isolates carried the same IncFII(K) plasmid backbone and blaKPC-3, and they were nearly indistinguishable from a plasmid previously reported in South Korea. One isolate carried blaKPC-3 on a distinct multireplicon IncFIB(K)/IncFII(K) plasmid, indicating that the signal was not confined to a single plasmid backbone. In both plasmids, blaKPC-3 was embedded within Tn4401b. These findings indicate that a rare blaKPC-3 genotype can persist regionally through sustained clonal dissemination and that cross-lineage linkage is compatible with past horizontal transfer involving a conserved plasmid. These findings underscore the need for subtype-resolved, regionally coordinated genomic surveillance in connected healthcare networks to detect uncommon carbapenemase variants early.

Klebsiella pneumoniae↗

Genetic regulation of AIF1 shapes immune and liver injury profiles in chronic alcohol use.

BACKGROUNDIn chronic alcohol consumers, immune cells may drive the progression from mild liver injury to more severe alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), including alcohol-associated hepatitis (AAH) and cancer. Liver macrophages, both resident and infiltrating, express allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF1), which is upregulated during inflammation and enhances immune activation.METHODSUsing serum and urine samples from 868 individuals classified as having alcohol use disorder or not, based on DSM-IV/V criteria, along with serum and liver biopsy tissue from a second cohort of 27 patients diagnosed with AAH, we evaluated the impact of the AIF1 promoter single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs3132451; C/C, C/G, G/G) on liver function markers and immune cell profiles.RESULTSAIF1 transcript levels were genotype dependent: C/C homozygotes expressed 5.2% of the levels observed in G/G individuals, while C/G heterozygotes expressed 46%. Unlike most SNPs associated with harmful effects, the G/G genotype is highly prevalent, present in about 70% of patients. Among chronic alcohol users, G/G individuals exhibited elevated markers of liver injury and a more than 3-fold increase in hepatic immune cells, including infiltrating AIF1+ macrophages and neutrophils. Despite similar durations of alcohol misuse, G/G individuals had higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores compared with C/G individuals, indicating a significantly greater 90-day mortality risk. Notably, some immune abnormalities, such as elevated neutrophils, persisted in G/G males even after alcohol abstinence.CONCLUSIONThese findings suggest that functional genetic variation in AIF1 may contribute to the severity and persistence of ALD.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov NCT02231840.FUNDINGResearch support was provided from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the NIH under grants 1ZIAAA000440-02 and R24AA025017.

Humans↗

FTIR typing of the emerging NDM-14-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 clone.

UNLABELLED: The emergence and rapid dissemination of NDM-14-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 represents a major challenge for infection control, requiring timely and reliable outbreak detection tools. In this study, we evaluated Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a rapid typing method for outbreak investigation and compared its performance with whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A collection of 64 carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae isolates, including 30 NDM-14-producing ST147 isolates associated with a regional outbreak in the Canary Islands, was analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy and WGS. FTIR-based clustering was optimized using the polysaccharide spectral region and a customized distance cutoff. Genomic relatedness was assessed using multilocus sequence typing, core-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis at multiple thresholds, and clustering agreement indices. FTIR identified a dominant spectral cluster comprising 31 isolates, capturing all outbreak-related isolates with 100% sensitivity and 97% specificity. FTIR clustering showed concordance with genomic outbreak definitions at stringent SNP thresholds (10-18 SNPs), with accuracy exceeding 98%. Pairwise distance analysis revealed low FTIR dissimilarity among closely related isolates, whereas increased dispersion occurred at intermediate genomic distances (15-30 SNPs). Agreement indices showed improved concordance as genomic stringency increased, with the Modified Adjusted Rand Index values reaching 94.75 at the 10-SNP threshold. Importantly, FTIR identified an NDM-14-producing isolate from a distinct clonal background. Overall, FTIR spectroscopy provides a rapid and reliable first-line screening tool for identifying homogeneous outbreak clusters. However, due to lineage-dependent behavior and limited resolution at intermediate genomic distances, WGS remains essential for confirmatory analysis and precise delineation of transmission events. IMPORTANCE: The rapid spread of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a major challenge for infection control, particularly during hospital outbreaks where timely identification of transmission is essential. In this study, we evaluate Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a rapid typing approach and compare its performance with whole-genome sequencing in the context of an outbreak caused by NDM-14-producing K. pneumoniae ST147. Our results show that FTIR can reliably identify highly related isolates within a clonal outbreak, supporting early outbreak recognition. However, its performance is influenced by the underlying genomic structure of the population and may require dataset-specific optimization. These findings highlight the potential of FTIR as a first-line screening tool while emphasizing the need for cautious interpretation and integration with genomic methods for accurate outbreak delineation.

Klebsiella pneumoniae↗

Assessing the causal link between liver function and acute pancreatitis: A Mendelian randomisation study.

A correlation has been reported to exist between exposure factors (e.g. liver function) and acute pancreatitis. However, the specific causal relationship remains unclear. This study aimed to infer the causal relationship between liver function and acute pancreatitis using the Mendelian randomisation method. We employed summary data from a genome-wide association study involving individuals of European ancestry from the UK Biobank and FinnGen. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SCNPs), closely associated with liver function, served as instrumental variables. We used five regression models for causality assessment: MR-Egger regression, the random-effect inverse variance weighting method (IVW), the weighted median method (WME), the weighted model, and the simple model. We assessed the heterogeneity of the SNPs using Cochran's Q test. Multi-effect analysis was performed using the intercept term of the MR-Egger method and leave-one-out detection. Odds ratios (ORs) were used to evaluate the causal relationship between liver function and acute pancreatitis risk. A total of 641 SNPs were incorporated as instrumental variables. The MR-IVW method indicated a causal effect of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) on acute pancreatitis (OR = 1.180, 95%CI [confidence interval]: 1.021-1.365, P = 0.025), suggesting that GGT may influence the incidence of acute pancreatitis. Conversely, the results for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (OR = 0.997, 95%CI: 0.992-1.002, P = 0.197) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (OR = 0.939, 95%CI: 0.794-1.111, P = 0.464) did not show a causal effect on acute pancreatitis. Additionally, neither the intercept term nor the zero difference in the MR-Egger regression attained statistical significance (P = 0.257), and there were no observable gene effects. This study suggests that GGT levels are a potential risk factor for acute pancreatitis and may increase the associated risk. In contrast, ALP and AST levels did not affect the risk of acute pancreatitis.

Humans↗

Newly identified single-nucleotide polymorphism associated with the transition from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to liver fibrosis: results from a nested case-control study in the UK biobank.

BACKGROUND: Genetic factors may have a significant influence on the likelihood of liver fibrosis in individuals with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study was conducted to explore how single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) impacts the development of fibrosis in those suffering from NAFLD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Utilizing the UK Biobank dataset, we conducted a nested case-control analysis among NAFLD participants, defining the case group as those with liver fibrosis and cirrhosis during follow-up. For our in vitro investigations, we employed the LX-2 human hepatic stellate cell line. Our procedures included cultivating these cells, employing SAMM50-rs2073080 plasmid techniques to enhance the expression of recently discovered SNPs, and conducting biochemical assays. To quantify gene expression, we used real-time PCR with fluorescence detection. RESULTS: The study analyzed data from 5467 participants (1094 cases and 4373 controls). Genome-wide association analysis identified nine significant loci, including the novel rs2073080 variant, strongly associated with NAFLD-associated hepatic fibrosis. In vitro TGF-&#x3b2; modeling revealed significant upregulation of &#x3b1;-SMA and COL1A1, confirming model effectiveness. Oxidative stress markers like elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels indicated liver damage in the TGF-&#x3b2; group. SAMM50-rs2073080 was upregulated in the NAFLD-associated fibrosis model. In vitro experiments on LX-2 cells showed that SAMM50-rs2073080 overexpression led to increased fibrosis, as indicated by higher cellular MDA levels and lower CAT and SOD levels, compared to the vector group. CONCLUSION: Our research highlights a significant association of SAMM50-rs2073080 with the progression of NAFLD to hepatic fibrosis, and the in vitro experiments further corroborated these findings.

Humans↗

Panmixia in a Widespread Butterfly: High Dispersal and Ecological Generalism Buffer Against Landscape Fragmentation.

Habitat fragmentation is widely expected to reduce population connectivity and increase genetic differentiation, although the strength of these effects depends on species-specific traits such as dispersal ability. Here, we investigated the population genetic structure of the cosmopolitan butterfly, Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), across western Germany using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data. To analyze the effects of landscape structure on genetic connectivity, we applied a paired study design comprising four landscape pairs, each consisting of a highly intensified, modern agricultural landscape and a more heterogeneous, traditional landscape. Our results revealed no evidence of genetic differentiation. Pairwise FST values were close to zero; we detected no isolation by distance, and clustering analyses supported a single genetic population. No meaningful associations between genetic variation and environmental variables were detected, with landscape effects explaining less than 0.4% of genomic variation. Consequently, we found no evidence for stronger genetic structuring in modern compared to more connected traditional landscapes. Our results suggest that extensive habitat fragmentation does not necessarily translate into reduced genetic connectivity in highly mobile, generalist species. In P. rapae , high dispersal ability and ecological generalism appear to buffer against the genetic consequences of landscape modification, resulting in panmictic population structure even across strongly contrasting agricultural landscapes.

Pieris rapae↗

Genome-wide scans reveal candidate genes associated with wing morph differentiation in Tetrix japonica.

Wing dimorphism is an important dispersal-related trait in insects, but its genomic basis remains poorly understood in pygmy grasshoppers. Here, we integrated genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses, population structure inference, selection scans, and functional annotation to investigate genomic differentiation between long- and short-winged Tetrix japonica. Principal component analysis (PCA), ADMIXTURE, and phylogenetic analyses revealed weak genome-wide separation between morphs, indicating differentiation on a largely shared genetic background. Genome-wide scans based on the fixation index (FST), nucleotide diversity ratios, and Tajima's D, using 50-kb non-overlapping windows and empirical top-5% outlier thresholds, identified multiple candidate regions across seven chromosomes. The broader long- and short-winged candidate sets spanned 9.35&#xa0;Mb and 9.37&#xa0;Mb and directly overlapped 82 and 77 genes, respectively. Candidate genes were associated with signaling/hormone regulation, membrane transport, metabolism, cytoskeletal organization, extracellular matrix structure, and development. Short-winged candidate genes were significantly enriched for ABC-type transporter activity and ATP hydrolysis activity. Because all individuals originated from a single laboratory-maintained population with weak genome-wide structure, these regions should be regarded as candidate loci from a screening-stage analysis that require validation in independent populations and by functional assays, rather than as confirmed targets of selection.

Animals↗

Polysomal Profiling Coupled to Allele-Specific Proteomics Reveals an EIF4H TranSNP Allele Possessing Higher mRNA Translation Potential.

To search for genetic sources of allele-specific mRNA translation, we leveraged heterozygous polymorphisms and variants present in the exome of HCT116 colorectal adenocarcinoma-derived cells, computing allelic fractions from both total and polysome-associated RNA from RNA-Seq data. Allelic imbalance in polysomal RNA led us to nominate 52 coding variants associated with allele-specific mRNA translation, of which 16 are nonsynonymous. To validate instances of allele-specific translation, a proteomics workflow was developed that combines label-free shotgun analysis, high-pH reversed-phase peptide fractionation, and targeted parallel reaction monitoring using isotope-labeled peptide standards. Using this approach, we provide proof-of-concept validation of the heterozygous G>A, R183H missense single-nucleotide variant rs1554710467 in the eukaryotic initiation factor 4H (EIF4H) gene. The variant is present in two EIF4H alternatively spliced variants, which showed equivalent translation efficiency in HCT116 cells but differ in abundance. The alternative peptide containing H183 was significantly more abundant than the corresponding reference peptide containing R183, consistent with the over-representation of the alternative allele in polysomal RNA in HCT116 cells. A dual-fluorescence ribosome-stalling assay confirmed the enhanced translation potential of the variant allele. The two EIF4H allelic proteins exhibited similar stability and subpolysomal localization. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using allele-specific proteomics at the endogenous protein levels by exploiting heterozygous coding variants. Overall, our approach extends the toolbox available to investigate allele-specific differences in mRNA translation potential, a relatively underexplored layer of gene expression regulation that could reveal interindividual differences in disease-relevant phenotypes.

Humans↗

Scalable medium-density genotyping platforms for cultivar identification, pedigree authentication, marker-assisted and genomic selection, and other applications in strawberry.

A broad spectrum of high-density genotyping approaches, including single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, genotyping-by-sequencing, and whole-genome reduced-representation sequencing, have been shown to perform well in strawberry (Fragaria &#xd7; ananassa), despite the inherent complexity of the octoploid genome. While these approaches are effective, their routine deployment in breeding programs can be constrained by cost, computational requirements, and workflow complexity. In parallel, many breeding programs continue to rely on locus-specific assays for marker-assisted selection, resulting in fragmented and inefficient genotyping strategies. Here, we describe medium-density amplicon-based genotyping platforms for strawberry designed to provide cost-effective, turnkey solutions that integrate markers used for marker-assisted selection with genome-wide markers suitable for genomic prediction in a single laboratory assay. These platforms were developed by targeting 1,650 or 4,811 target SNPs via amplicon sequencing, and are interoperable with existing high-density genotyping resources, including a widely used 50K SNP array, thereby facilitating data integration across platforms. We benchmarked their performance relative to the 50K SNP array across breeding-relevant applications, including identity and purity testing, pedigree authentication, marker-assisted selection, and genomic selection, and further evaluated the feasibility of genotype imputation to enhance genome-wide information content. Across analyses, the 1,650- and 4,811-amplicon platforms produced results comparable to higher-density platforms while substantially reducing genotyping cost and analytical overhead. This work demonstrates that targeted amplicon-based genotyping can support efficient, scalable, and integrated genome-informed breeding, enabling the routine application of both marker-assisted and genomic selection within strawberry breeding workflows. Open-source R workflows are provided to support streamlined analyses in breeding contexts.

Fragaria↗

Screening of the key single nucleotide polymorphisms in type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated with lower extremity arterial disease by machine learning.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetic lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) is a manifestation of diabetic lower extremity vascular complications. This study aimed to screen the key single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) gene signature in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and LEAD. METHODS: A total of 147 patients with T2DM complicated by LEAD and 144 patients with T2DM without LEAD were enrolled for transcriptome sequencing. The Plink software was used to preprocess the data. Five machine learning methods were adopted to build the SNP diagnosis models. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to quantify the predicted probabilities of the model. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the cluster Profiler package. Finally, regression statistical analysis was used to correlate the key SNPs with clinical information and biochemical indicators. RESULTS: A total of 24 SNPs were retained and 10 SNPs were risk allele genes. Nine SNPs (rs7412, rs1800629, rs699947, rs3918242, rs668, rs1800470, rs1800449, rs1800469, and rs1024611) were identified as the key SNPs sites. GO and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that these genes are mainly enriched in fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis. Finally, rs1800449 was associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). With high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), related site was rs1024611. The sites associated with total cholesterol (CHOL) were rs1800449 and rs7412.The site associated with apolipoprotein B (APOB) and apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1) were rs1800470 and rs1800469. CONCLUSION: This study authenticated nine SNPs for the diagnosis of T2DM patients with LEAD, which will be of great significance in the development of diagnostic molecular biomarkers for T2DM patients.

Humans↗