The fliL gene significantly affects the motility and sporulation abilities of Clostridioides difficile / 生物工程学报

Flagella are the main motility structure of Clostridioides difficile that affects the adhesion, colonization, and virulence of C. difficile in the human gastrointestinal tract. The FliL protein is a single transmembrane protein bound to the flagellar matrix. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the FliL encoding gene flagellar basal body-associated FliL family protein (fliL) on the phenotype of C. difficile. The fliL gene deletion mutant (ΔfliL) and its corresponding complementary strains (: : fliL) were constructed using allele-coupled exchange (ACE) and the standard molecular clone method. The differences in physiological properties such as growth profile, antibiotic sensitivity, pH resistance, motility, and spore production ability between the mutant and wild-type strains (CD630) were investigated. The ΔfliL mutant and the : : fliL complementary strain were successfully constructed. After comparing the phenotypes of strains CD630, ΔfliL, and : : fliL, the results showed that the growth rate and maximum biomass of ΔfliL mutant decreased than that of CD630. The ΔfliL mutant showed increased sensitivity to amoxicillin, ampicillin, and norfloxacin. Its sensitivity to kanamycin and tetracycline antibiotics decreased, and the antibiotic sensitivity partially returned to the level of CD630 strain in the : : fliL strain. Moreover, the motility was significantly reduced in the ΔfliL mutant. Interestingly, the motility of the : : fliL strain significantly increased even when compared to that of the CD630 strain. Furthermore, the pH tolerance of the ΔfliL mutant significantly increased or decreased at pH 5 or 9, respectively. Finally, the sporulation ability of ΔfliL mutant reduced considerably compared to the CD630 strain and recovered in the : : fliL strain. We conclude that the deletion of the fliL gene significantly reduced the swimming motility of C. difficile, suggesting that the fliL gene is essential for the motility of C. difficile. The fliL gene deletion significantly reduced spore production, cell growth rate, tolerance to different antibiotics, acidity, and alkalinity environments of C. difficile. These physiological characteristics are closely related to the survival advantage in the host intestine, which is correlated with its pathogenicity. Thus, we suggested that the function of the fliL gene is closely related to its motility, colonization, environmental tolerance, and spore production ability, which consequently affects the pathogenicity of C. difficile.

Potential unreliability of ALK variant allele frequency in the efficacy prediction of targeted therapy in NSCLC / 医学前沿

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is the most common fusion gene involved in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and remarkable response has been achieved with the use of ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs). However, the clinical efficacy is highly variable. Pre-existing intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) has been proven to contribute to the poor treatment response and the resistance to targeted therapies. In this work, we investigated whether the variant allele frequencies (VAFs) of ALK fusions can help assess ITH and predict targeted therapy efficacy. Through the application of next-generation sequencing (NGS), 7.2% (326/4548) of patients were detected to be ALK positive. On the basis of the adjusted VAF (adjVAF, VAF normalization for tumor purity) of four different threshold values (adjVAF < 50%, 40%, 30%, or 20%), the association of ALK subclonality with crizotinib efficacy was assessed. Nonetheless, no statistical association was observed between median progression-free survival (PFS) and ALK subclonality assessed by adjVAF, and a poor correlation of adjVAF with PFS was found among the 85 patients who received first-line crizotinib. Results suggest that the ALK VAF determined by hybrid capture-based NGS is probably unreliable for ITH assessment and targeted therapy efficacy prediction in NSCLC.

Using Next-Generation Sequencing Technology to Confirm the HLA Rare Alleles Detected by PCR-SSOP / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To confirm the HLA genotypes of the samples including 4 cases of magnetic bead probe HLA genotyping result pattern abnormality and 3 cases of ambiguous result detected by PCR sequence-specific oligonudeotide probe (SSOP) method.@*METHODS@#All samples derived from HLA high-resolution typing laboratory were detected by PCR-SSOP. A total of 4 samples of magnetic bead probe HLA genotyping result pattern abnormality and 3 samples of ambiguous result were further confirmed by PCR sequence-based typing (SBT) technology and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology.@*RESULTS@#A total of 4 samples of magnetic bead probe HLA genotyping result pattern abnormality were detected by PCR-SSOP method. The results of SBT and NGS showed that the HLA-A genotype of sample 1 did not match any known genotypes. NGS analysis revealed that the novel allele was different from the closest matching allele A*31:01:02:01at position 154 with G>A in exon 2, which resulting in one amino acid substitution at codon 28 from Valine to Methionine (p.Val28Met). The HLA-C genotype of sample 2 was C*03:119, 06:02, sample 3 was C*03:03, 07:137, and sample 4 was B*55:02, 55:12. A total of 3 samples with ambiguous result were initially detected by PCR-SSOP method. The re-examination results of SBT and NGS showed that the HLA-B genotype of sample 5 was B*15:58, 38:02, sample 6 was DRB1*04:05, 14:101, and sample 7 was DQB1*03:34, 05:02. Among them, alleles C*03:119, C*07:137 and DRB1*14:101 were not included in the Common and Well-documented Alleles (CWD) v2.4 of the Chinese Hematopoietic Stem Cell Donor Database.@*CONCLUSION@#The abnormal pattern of HLA genotyping results of magnetic probe by PCR-SSOP method suggests that it may be a rare allele or a novel allele, which needs to be verified by sequencing.

Causes of HLA-A2 reactive antibodies and analysis of their eplets / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To analyze differences of eplets between the patient who generated HLA allele-specific antibodies after platelet transfusion with donors. 【Methods】 The HLA genotypes of the patient and donors were detected by PCR-SBT, and the Luminex single antigen beads coating was used to screen HLA-Ⅰ antibodies in the patient’s serum. HLA Matchmaker was utilized to analyze different amino acids and eplets. 【Results】 The patient carried HLA-A*02∶03 allele, and HLA-A2 antibodies were found in his serum after platelet transfusion (A*02∶01, A*02∶06, and A*02∶07). Sequence alignment showed that the patient′s A*02∶03 has a difference in position 149, which resulted in a different eplet between A*02∶03 and A*02∶01, A*02∶06, A*02∶07 and then induced the production of antibodies. 【Conclusion】 HLA antibodies are specific for HLA epitopes that have structural differences due to amino acid differences between HLA alleles, suggesting that high-resolution typing of HLA-A, -B need to be conducted in patients and donors, and the acceptable mismatch of HLA should be determined based on epitopes rather than antigens, so as to reduce alloimmune response and improve platelet count after transfusion.

Prognostic Predictive Value of ITPKB Mutation's Variant Allele Frequency in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma / 肿瘤防治研究

Objective To investigate the correlation between ITPKB mutation's variant allele frequency (VAF) and prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods This study included 155 patients with DLBCL initially diagnosed in the People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from June 2014 to December 2020. Paraffin-embedded tumor tissue specimens were obtained, and tumor tissue DNA was extracted. A total of 475 hotspot genes including ITPKB were detected by the next generation sequencing to analyze the relationship of the VAF of high-frequency mutant gene with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results The mutation frequency of ITPKB was 18.71%. The PFS was significantly shorter in the patients with ITPKB mutations than in those without mutations (37 months vs. 108 months; HR=1.643, 95%CI: 0.920-2.934, P=0.093). The R-language based web tool was used to find the best VAF cutoff to differentiate prognosis. The patients were divided into two groups (VAF High vs. VAF Low+Wt) according to their VAF values. The optimal VAF threshold for ITPKB was 27.48% (HR=3.480, 95%CI: 1.70-7.13, P=0.00027). Multivariate Cox analysis was conducted using clinical indicators such as age, gender, COO classification, IPI, and LDH, and the results showed that PFS was associated with high ITPKB VAF (≥28%) (HR=3.592, 95%CI: 1.738-7.425, P < 0.001) which was an independent adverse predictor of PFS. Conclusion The high load of ITPKB mutation is an independent risk factor for the PFS of patients with DLBCL, and the VAF of ITPKB mutation has a prognostic predictive value for patients with DLBCL.

Matrix metalloproteinases and their gene polymorphism in young ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Genetic polymorphism in MMPs are associated with multiple adverse CV events. There is little evidence regarding role of MMPs and their genetic polymorphisms in young (<50 years) STsegment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Methods: This study included 100 young (18e50 years) STEMI patients and 100 healthy controls. Serum levels of MMP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP were estimated for both patients as well as controls. Additionally, genetic polymorphisms in the MMP-9 gene (_x0001_1562 C/T and R279Q) & MMP-3 gene (5A/6A-1612) was evaluated. All these patients were followed up for one year and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were determined. Results: Serum levels of MMP-3 (128.16 ± 115.81 vs 102.3 ± 57.28 ng/mL; P ¼ 0.04), MMP-9 (469.63 ± 238.4 vs 188.88 ± 94.08 pg/mL; P < 0.0001) and TIMP (5.84 ± 1.93 vs 2.28 ± 1.42 ng/mL; P < 0.0001) were significantly higher in patients as compared to controls. Additionally, patients with genetic polymorphisms in the MMP genes (5A/5A, 6A/6A and the AG genotypes) had an increased risk of STEMI. Patients with MACE had significantly higher levels of MMP-9 (581.73 ± 260.93 vs 438.01 ± 223.38 pg/mL; P ¼ 0.012). A cutoff value of 375.5 pg/mL of MMP-9 was best able to discriminate patients with STEMI and MACE with sensitivity of 77.3% and specificity of 57%. Conclusion: Novel biomarkers such as MMP-3, MMP-9 and TIMP and their genetic polymorphism are associated with the susceptibility for STEMI in young individuals. Higher MMP-9 levels in STEMI patients with MACE suggests its potential role in predicting cardiac remodeling and left ventricular dysfunction

Frequency of Rh and K antigens in blood donors in Riyadh

ABSTRACT Objectives: Investigate the prevalence of Rh and the K antigens and their phenotypes in the red blood cells of blood donors in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This is a retrospective study. The five principal Rh antigens (D, C, c, E, e) and the Kell antigen from the Kell blood group were tested in 4,675 random samples collected from four blood bank centers in Riyadh. Data were collected for seven weeks (from January 4, 2019 to February 28, 2019). Antigens were tested using the TANGO Optimo system. Results: We found that approximately 86% of the donors had the D antigen, 66% had C, 78% had c, 26% had E, 97% had e and 14% had K. The most common Rh phenotypes were R1r (31%) and R1R1 (22%). Conclusion: The differences in the results between the study population and other populations, such as Caucasian, Indian and African populations indicate the importance of establishing a population-specific database.

Interpretation of results obtained using real-time fluorescence PCR based on multiplex PCR fragment analysis for ABCB1 tri-allele / 四川精神卫生

ObjectiveTo resolve the problems related to the abnormal interpretations of real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction （PCR） results for tri-allele， to formulate the interpretation methods of real-time fluorescence PCR by referring to multiplex PCR fragment analysis， so as to obtain an accurate， simple and cheap detection method for ABCB1 tri-allele. MethodsA total of 2 794 DNA samples were collected from Xi'an Mental Health Center from March 2020 to March 2021， and 5% of which were selected as experiments. Real-time fluorescence PCR method and multiplex PCR fragment analysis method were performed respectively. According to the comparison of Ct values of PCR curves and the comparison of base peak intensity in multiplex PCR fragment analysis， comparison and analysis were conducted on the interpretation results of the two methods， and samples with different interpretation results were verified， thereafter， PCR interpretation method was formulated. ResultsA total of 139 samples were collected， of which 120 alleles and 19 tri-allele were detected. The results of allele detection by two methods were absolutely consistent. In combination with the results of multiplex PCR fragment analysis， a method for the interpretation of real-time fluorescence PCR for 19 cases of tri-allele was developed as follows： when ∣∣Ct.G－Ct.T∣－∣Ct.G－Ct.A∣∣ in amplification curve was less than 3， the interpretation results were the combination of the base pairs with small Ct values； when ∣∣Ct.G－Ct.T∣－∣Ct.G－Ct.A∣∣ was greater than or equal to 3， the interpretation results were homozygotes from the base pairs with minimum Ct values. According to the interpretation method， the results of real-time fluorescence PCR were revised， and it showed 1 case of G/G， 1 case of A/A， 4 cases of T/G， 5 cases of T/A and 8 cases of T/T， which were consistent with the results of multiplex PCR fragment analysis. ConclusionReferring to the multiplex PCR fragment analysis method， the interpretation of ABCB1 tri-allele by real-time fluorescence PCR is developed， and the two interpretation methods are in good agreement.

Specific PCR Identification of Hibisci Cortex and Its Adulterants Based on DNA Signature Sequence Tags / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveUncommon medicinal herbs are valuable medicinal resources， but their identification is a difficult problem in Chinese medicine due to their particularity and complexity. It is， therefore， urgent to establish a method for the identification of uncommon medicinal herbs. In this study， DNA signature sequence （DSS） tags were used to establish a specific polymerase chain reaction （PCR） identification method for Hibisci Cortex， the origin plant of Hibisci Cortex， and its adulterants. MethodThe candidate DSS tags were obtained from the chloroplast genome sequence analysis， and the DSS tags were verified by DNA sequencing. The specific identification primers for H. syriacus were designed based on the obtained reliable DSS tags. The PCR reaction conditions were optimized， and the tolerance and feasibility were investigated. ResultA DSS tag for identification of H. syriacus was obtained from the comparison of sequencing results of the amplified products with DSS， which revealed the distinguishing characteristics of Hibisci Cortex and its adulterants. A pair of specific primers for H. syriacus was designed according to the DSS tag. After PCR amplification and gel electrophoresis with the primers， a single bright band of about 270 bp was observed from H. syriacus， which did not appear in the four adulterants. ConclusionA DSS tag obtained in this study can be used to identify H. syriacus. The specific primers designed based on this DSS tag can accurately and simply identify the original plant of Hibisci Cortex and its adulterants， which provides a new method and idea for the molecular identification of genuine and counterfeit products of Hibisci Cortex.

Identification of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen by Multiplex Allele-Specific PCR / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo establish a polymerase chain reaction（PCR） method to accurately discriminate the crude materials of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen， Murraya exotica and M. paniculata. MethodBased on the difference in chloroplast genome sequences of M. exotica and M. paniculata， species-specific identification primers P03 and P04 of M. exotica and M. paniculata were designed according to single nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） on the chloroplast genome. A multiplex allele-specific PCR identification method was established for the identification of M. exotica and M. paniculata following the optimization of annealing temperature， number of cycles， and primer concentration ratio. The established PCR method for identification was explored and verified in terms of tolerance and feasibility by investigating the type of Taq polymerases and PCR system model. ResultIn this multiplex allele-specific PCR identification method， about 330 and 230 bp of specific fragments were amplified from DNA templates of M. exotica and M. paniculata， respectively， under the following conditions：cycle number of 31， annealing temperature of 60 ℃， and primer concentration ratio of P03 and P04 of 1∶2. Consistent results were obtained for samples from different sources. ConclusionThe multiplex allele-specific PCR identification method established in this study can accurately identify the origin of Murrayae Folium et Cacumen， which can be used for the simultaneous identification of M. exotica and M. paniculata by the length of fragments in a single identification assay.

Identification of pregnant women with DFR genotype and discussion of prenatal examination strategy / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To identify three cases of pregnant women with the D variant phenotype using serological and molecular tests, and discuss the strategy of prenatal examination. 【Methods】 The peripheral blood samples from three pregnant women with the D variant phenotype were collected. RhD variant phenotype was determined using routine serological methods with two different kinds of monoclonal anti-D. The serological characteristic for the epitope of D antigen was further analyzed using the commercial panel anti-D reagents (D-Screen, Diagast). The hybrid RHD-CE-D allele was analyzed by the Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) assay and polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) method. Further Sanger sequencing of RHD gene exons was also performed. 【Results】 DFR phenotype was primarily determined by serological characteristic for the epitope of D antigen. RHD*DFR2/01N.01(n=2) and RHD*DFR1/1227A(n=1) genotypes were identified by the MLPA assay, PCR-SSP and Sanger sequencing. 【Conclusion】 Two pregnant women with RHD*DFR2/01N.01 genotype should be treated as D negative patients clinically, while the pregnant woman with RHD*DFR1/1227A genotype can be treated as Asia type DEL to avoid unnecessary antibody screening and anti-D prophylaxis.

The establishment of a high-resolution melting curve genotyping method for ABCG2*376T allele of Jr(a-) and its distribution frequency study / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To establish a high-throughput detection method for ABCG2*376T allele of Jr(a-), and apply it to the study of the frequency of this allele in the Chinese population. 【Methods】 The specific primers were designed and synthesized, the sample carrying homozygous ABCG2*376T alleles, obtained in the previous study, was used as the homozygous positive control, and the sample carrying heterozygous allele as the heterozygous positive control. The wild-type sample was used as a negative control, and a high-resolution melting curve(HRM) method for detecting this allele was established. The established method was used to screen DNA samples from blood donors in Guangzhou, and the samples carrying ABCG2*376T alleles were sequenced to confirm the accuracy of the HRM method. 【Results】 A HRM method, which can detect ABCG2*376T allele and accurately type homozygotes and heterozygotes at the same time, had been established successfully. Fifteen individuals with heterozygous alleles were screened out of 1 560 blood donors in Guangzhou, while none homozygous allele was detected. 【Conclusion】 The HRM method can be used to accurately screen and type ABCG2*376T allele. The frequency of this allele in Chinese population is about 0.48%(15/3120).

Distribution and molecular basis of A2 subtype in Guangzhou blood donors / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the distribution and molecular basis of A2 subtype among blood donors in Guangzhou. 【Methods】 Whole blood samples of 793 group A blood donors in Guangzhou Blood Center were randomly collected. A2 subtype was screened by anti-A1 lectin in 96-well plate, and ABO typing was confirmed by the tube test. Then, the genomic DNA of A2 subtype blood donors was extracted, and the exons 6-7 of ABO gene were sequenced to determine the genotype of A2 subtype. 【Results】 Among 793 group A blood donors, there were 13 cases of A2 subtype, and the frequency in group A was 1.64%(13/793). The sequencing results of exons 6-7 of ABO gene showed that 10 of the 13 A2 subtypes carried A2 alleles, which were ABO*A2.05/ ABO*O.01.01 (n=5), ABO*A2.05/ ABO*O.01.02(n=2), ABO*A2.01/ABO*O.01.01(n=1) and ABO*A2.01/ ABO*O.01.02(n=2), respectively. The other 3 cases only carried ABO*A1.02 alleles. 【Conclusion】 The main genotype of A2 subtype in Guangzhou is ABO*A2.05, followed by ABO*A2.01.

Polymorphism study of HLA-A, B, DRB1 alleles in patients with chronic renal failure, in Shandong Peninsula / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the association between HLA-A, B, DRB1 alleles and chronic renal failure (CRF) in Han population of Shandong Peninsula. 【Methods】 Sequence specific oligonucleotide probe-polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSO) was used to genotype 880 patients with CRF in the Han population of Shandong Peninsula. The allele frequencies of HLA-A, B and DRB1 were compared with 865 hematopoietic stem cell voluntary donors, and the association between HLA gene polymorphism and CRF was analyzed. 【Results】 A total of 33 HLA-A alleles, 76 HLA-B alleles and 39 HLA-DRB1 alleles were detected in the study group. DRB1*11∶01 (6.70% vs 4.45%) and DRB1*12∶02 (8.69% vs 5.90%) in CRF group were significantly higher than those in the control(Pc<0.05), and B*15∶11 (1.82% vs 3.64%) among CRF group was significantly lower compared with the control(Pc<0.05). The frequency of three loci haplotypes A*30∶01 -B*13∶02 -DRB1*07∶01 (16.61% vs 7.61%), A*33∶03 -B*58∶01 -DRB1*03∶01 (4.57% vs 1.62%) and A*02∶07 -B*46∶01 -DRB1*09∶01 (4.06% vs 1.09%) in CRF patients were significantly higher than that of the control(Pc<0.05), which were strongly correlated with CRF. 【Conclusion】 The data on the association of HLA-A, B, DRB1 alleles and haplotype polymorphisms with CRF in Shandong Peninsula has been obtained in this study. DRB1*11∶01 and DRB1*12∶02 may be the susceptibility risk factors for development of CRF, and B*15∶11 may be protective genes against development of CRF, and A*30∶01 -B*13∶02 -DRB1*07∶01, A*33∶03 -B*58∶01 -DRB1*03∶01 and A*02∶07 -B*46∶01 -DRB1*09∶01 may be the susceptible haplotypes in Han population of Shandong Peninsula.

Analysis of HLA allele-specific antibodies and Eplets in patients with platelet transfusion refractoriness / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To analyze the specificity and Eplets of HLA allele-specific antibody in patients with platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR). 【Methods】 HLA-A and B genotypes were detected by PCR-SBT, and HLA-Ⅰ antibodies in patients′ serum were detected by Luminex single antigen beads coating method. IPD-IMGT/HLA Database was used to find the differential amino acids of allele-specific antibodies, and HLA Eplet database was used to analyze the registry Eplets. 【Results】 HLA allele-specific antibodies were found in 12 out of 82 patients with PTR.After sequence alignment, a total of 18 differential amino acids were found, such as 19E>19K, 166D>116E, 167G>167W and so on. Among these differential amino acids, 16 registry Eplets were retrieved such as 19E>19K, 95I>95L, 113YD>113HD and so on.The amino acid substitution of 166DG>166EW, 70Q>70H, 67S>67Y, 94I>94T, 82LR>82RG, and 211G>211A may form new Eplets that have not been registered.The antigens of A11, A24, B15, B27 and B38 can be further subdivided into HLA narrow specific antigens. 【Conclusion】 It was found that there were HLA allele-specific antibodies in patients with PTR, suggesting that high-resolution typing of HLA-A, B should be carried out for these patients and platelet donors in HLA compatible transfusion of PTR.

Analysis and prospect of platelet compatible transfusion / 中国输血杂志

Platelet compatible transfusion can effectively solve the immune mediated platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR), save platelet resources and improve blood safety. This paper comments and prospects the compatibility modes of HLA, HPA and CD36, HLA antibody titer, antigen immunogenicity and the development of platelet compatible transfusion. The pattern of HLA compatible platelets involves the matching in the alleles, antigens and epitopes levels, respectively, as well as avoidance donor specificity antibody (DSA) method. While setting the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) threshold of avoidance DSA needs to be explored when using the DSA prediction method. Allele specific HLA antibodies can be found in the patients with PTR. Therefore, the patients and donors should be genotyped for HLA-A, -B loci at high-resolution level in order to avoid allele specific HLA antibodies. The immunogenicity of various antigens or epitopes at HLA-A and -B loci are different. Selecting donor platelets with low antigen expression or low immunogenicity may be a way of HLA compatible platelets. As the probability and type of HPA antibody production are different in the various populations, the approaching of compatibility HPA involves allele matching and avoidance DSA. As to CD36, the compatibility mode mainly refers to avoidance DSA, which means blood donors with CD36 antigen type Ⅰdeficiency are preferentially selected, and then those with CD36 antigen type Ⅱ deficiency. In the future, more attention should be paid to the scale up of database capacity and update of the information construction. The time waiting for compatible platelets transfusion in clinical could be significantly shortened if the requiring and matching are only conducted within the inventory and candidate platelets.

Serological and molecular study of 20 ABO subgroup samples in Shenyang, including identification of 2 ABO new alleles / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To study the serological characteristics and genetic background of 20 samples with ABO blood group discrepancies in Shenyang. 【Methods】 Serological test, polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) and sequencing of the full coding of ABO gene and the Intron 1 were conducted in 20 samples with ABO blood group discrepancies. 【Results】 Ten subtypes (Am, Bw, Bx, B3,, A2B, AxB, A2Bw, A2Bx, AwB and ABw) were detected in 20 samples, with AB subtype as the dominant. Sixteen ABO alleles were found, including 5 common alleles (A1.01, A1.02, B. 01, O. 01.01 and O. 01.02), nine rare alleles (AW.37, BW.03, BW.08, B3.07, cisAB.02, cisAB.03, cisAB.06, BA.04 and O. 01.04) and two novel alleles (AM.03 and cisAB.07). The AM.03 allele had a nucleotide change at position 912 (C to A) compared with A1.02 allele, which resulted in an amino acid substitution (S304R). The cisAB.07 allele was observed a missense mutation at position 797 (T to C) which resulted in an amino acid substitution (M266R) compared with B. 01 allele. The serologic had been changed, and both A antigen and B antigen were expressed. 【Conclusion】 The study revealed the genetic background of 20 samples with ABO blood group discrepancies, and two new alleles as ABO*AM.03 (912 C to A) and ABO*cisAB.07 (797 T to C) were first reported.

Polymorphism of KIR2DL4 gene among northern Chinese Han population / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the polymorphism of KIR2DL4 gene in northern Chinese Han population. 【Methods】 A total of 327 DNA samples were isolated by magnetic beads from unrelated individuals of northern Chinese Han population. The coding sequence (CDS) of KIR2DL4 were amplified using four pairs of KIR2DL4-specific PCR primers developed by our own KIR sequencing-based typing patent, and each exon of KIR2DL4 carried by the four PCR amplicons was then subjected to DNA Sanger sequencing in both directions. The genotype of each sample was assigned using the Assign 4.7 software. 【Results】 Among 327 individuals, 8 different kinds of KIR2DL4 alleles were detected, with observed frequencies ranked as KIR2DL4*00102 [77.1%(252/327)], *00501 [35.8%(117/327)], *011 [20.2%(66/327)], *00602 [12.5%(41/327)], *00801 [8.6%(28/327)], *00103 [4.9%(16/327)], *00503 [1.5%(5/327)] and *00504 [0.9%(3/327)]. In this study, the 10A type alleles which can encode a full membrane-bound receptor include 2DL4*00102, *00103, *00501, *00503, *00504 and *00602, whereas the 9A type alleles which produce truncated forms of receptor include 2DL4*00801 and *011. The observed frequencies for 10A and 9A type KIR2DL4 alleles were 97.6% (319/327) and 27.8% (91/327), respectively. The ratio of 10A to 9A type was 3.5: 1. The observed frequencies of KIR2DL4 alleles in northern Chinese Han population showed no significant difference compared with southern Chinese Han population (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 The allelic diversity of KIR2DL4 elucidated in the present study can provide valuable data for KIR-associated disease studies and human evolution.

Association between Apoε4 allele and cardiometabolic and social risk factors with cognitive impairment in elderly population from Bogota / Associação entre o alelo Apoε4 fatores de risco cardiometabólicos e sociais com prejuízo cognitivo em idosos de Bogotá

ABSTRACT Being an ϵ4 carrier in the Apoϵ gene has been suggested as a modifying factor for the interaction between cardio-metabolic, social risk factors, and the development of cognitive impairment. Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess the existence of such interaction in a sample of Bogota's elderly population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,263 subjects older than 50 years. Each participant was diagnosed by consensus, after neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric evaluations, under a diagnosis of normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) according to Petersen's criteria, or dementia according to DSM-IV criteria. Apoϵ was typified and an analysis of MoCA test was performed in each group carrying or not ϵ4 allele. Results: Our study showed that 75% were women with a median age of 68 years (interquartile range 62-74 years) and a median schooling for 6 years (interquartile range 4-12 years). Dementia was related to low education level of ≤5 years OR=11.20 (95%CI 4.99-25.12), high blood pressure (HBP) OR=1.45 (95%CI 1.03-2.05), and age over 70 years OR=7.68 (95%CI 3.49-16.90), independently of being or not an ϵ4 allele carrier. Diabetic subjects with dementia carrying ϵ4 allele showed a tendency to exhibit lower scores on the MoCA test, when compared with noncarriers' diabetic subjects with dementia. Conclusions: The presence of ϵ4 allele does not modify the relationship between cognitive impairment and the different cardio-metabolic and social risk factors, except in diabetic subjects ϵ4 carriers with dementia who showed a tendency to exhibit lower scores of the MoCA test, when compared with noncarriers' diabetic subjects with dementia.

RESUMO Ser um portador ϵ4 no gene Apoϵ tem sido sugerido como um fator modificador da interação entre fatores cardiometabólicos, de risco social e o desenvolvimento de comprometimento cognitivo. Objetivo: O objetivo principal deste trabalho é avaliar a existência de tal interação em uma amostra da população idosa de Bogotá. Métodos: Um estudo transversal foi realizado com 1.263 indivíduos com mais de 50 anos. Cada participante foi diagnosticado por consenso após avaliações neuropsicológicas e neuropsiquiátricas, sob um diagnóstico de cognição normal, comprometimento cognitivo leve de acordo com os critérios de Petersen ou demência de acordo com os critérios do Manual Diagnóstico e Estatístico de Trastornos Mentais (DSM-IV). Apoϵ4 foi tipificada e uma análise do Montréal Cognitive Assessment Test (teste de MoCA) foi realizada em cada grupo portador ou não do alelo ϵ4. Resultados: Nosso estudo mostrou que 75% eram mulheres com idade mediana de 68 anos (intervalo interquartil 62 a 74 anos) e escolaridade mediana de seis anos (intervalo interquartil 4 a 12 anos). A demência estava relacionada ao baixo nível de escolaridade ≤5 anos Odds Ratio (OR)=11,20 (intervalo de confiança — IC95% 4,99-25,12), pressão alta OR=1,45 (IC95% 1,03-2,05) e idade acima de 70 anos OR=7,68 (IC95% 3,49-16,90), independentemente de ser ou não portador do alelo ϵ4. Indivíduos diabéticos com demência portadores do alelo ϵ4 mostraram tendência de exibir pontuações mais baixas no teste MoCA quando comparados com indivíduos diabéticos com demência não portadores do alelo ϵ4. Conclusões: A presença do alelo ϵ4 não modifica a relação entre o comprometimento cognitivo e os diferentes fatores de risco cardiometabólico e social, exceto em diabéticos portadores de ϵ4 com demência, que exibiram tendência a apresentar menores escores no teste MoCA quando comparados com indivíduos diabéticos com demência não portadores do alelo ϵ4.

Development of Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR markers for identification of persimmon varieties using genotyping-by-sequencing

BACKGROUND: Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Diospyros. In this study, genetic diversity and variations in persimmon genotypes were investigated using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers identified by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-five persimmon accessions grown in the Pear Research Institute, National Institute Horticultural and Herbal Science, were sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq2500 platform and polymorphic SNPs were detected to develop molecular markers. These reliable SNPs were analyzed using the Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) assay to discriminate among persimmon genotypes. GBS generated a total of 447,495,724 trimmed reads, of which 89.7% were raw reads. After demultiplexing and sequence quality trimming, 108,876,644 clean reads were mapped to the reference transcriptome. An average of 1,146,070 genotype reads were mapped. Filtering of raw SNPs in each sample led to selection of a total of 1,725,401 high-quality SNPs. The number of homozygous and heterozygous SNPs ranged from 1,933 to 6,834 and from 846 to 5,927, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Of the 49 SNPs selected for development of an identification system for persimmons, 15 SNPs were used in the KASP assay to analyze 32 persimmon accessions. These KASP markers discriminated among all accessions.