Variations of Rare Genetic Diseases

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Genomics and Genetic Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2024 | Viewed by 781

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Unit of Human Biology and Genetics, Triangle Regional Research and Development Center, Kfar Qari’ 3007500, Israel
2. Beit-Berl Academic College, Beit-Berl 4490500, Israel
Interests: genetic disorders; community genetics; consanguinity; public health; health education

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Co-Guest Editor
Unit of Human Biology and Genetics, Triangle Regional Research and Development Center, Kfar Qari’ 3007500, Israel
Interests: genetic disorders; community genetics; consanguinity; public health; health education

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Co-Guest Editor
1. Pediatrics Neurology and Child Development Institute, Hillel-Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera 38100, Israel
2. Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
Interests: pediatric neurogenetic disorders; neurodevelopmental disorders; pediatric neurology; public health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Genetic diseases, especially autosomal recessive diseases, are rare in the general population. However, they become unusually frequent in certain communities worldwide as a result of genetic isolation due to social, geographic, or religious factors. When a new mutation is inserted in such a population it spreads rapidly, leading to an increased prevalence of carriers and many homozygous individuals being affected. There are high frequencies of genetic diseases and congenital disorders among many communities worldwide, especially wherever high rates of consanguineous marriages exist. It is estimated that around 80% of rare diseases are genetic, and most of them clinically present during childhood. Therefore, an investigation of hereditary disorders is vital for improving health care. This can be achieved by identifying and diagnosing their molecular genetic basis to develop preventive intervention measures aimed at reducing the occurrence of these inherited genetic disorders.

This Special Issue aims to focus on rare genetic diseases that include genotype–phenotype correlations, disease gene discovery, pathogenetic mechanisms, novel gene variants, and phenotypic expansion. We welcome various original articles and reviews that address these topics.

Dr. Rajech Sharkia
Dr. Abdelnaser Zalan
Dr. Muhammad Mahajnah
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • rare genetic diseases
  • genotype–phenotype correlations
  • gene variants
  • whole-exome sequencing
  • genes
  • neurogenetic diseases
  • neurodegenerative diseases

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 1867 KiB  
Article
Recessive GNE Mutations in Korean Nonaka Distal Myopathy Patients with or without Peripheral Neuropathy
by Nasrin Tamanna, Byung Kwon Pi, Ah Jin Lee, Sumaira Kanwal, Byung-Ok Choi and Ki Wha Chung
Genes 2024, 15(4), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15040485 - 11 Apr 2024
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Abstract
Autosomal recessive Nonaka distal myopathy is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease characterized by progressive degeneration of the distal muscles, causing muscle weakness and decreased grip strength. It is primarily associated with mutations in the GNE gene, which encodes a key enzyme of [...] Read more.
Autosomal recessive Nonaka distal myopathy is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease characterized by progressive degeneration of the distal muscles, causing muscle weakness and decreased grip strength. It is primarily associated with mutations in the GNE gene, which encodes a key enzyme of sialic acid biosynthesis (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase). This study was performed to find GNE mutations in six independent distal myopathy patients with or without peripheral neuropathy using whole-exome sequencing (WES). In silico pathogenic prediction and simulation of 3D structural changes were performed for the mutant GNE proteins. As a result, we identified five pathogenic or likely pathogenic missense variants: c.86T>C (p.Met29Thr), c.527A>T (p.Asp176Val), c.782T>C (p.Met261Thr), c.1714G>C (p.Val572Leu), and c.1771G>A (p.Ala591Thr). Five affected individuals showed compound heterozygous mutations, while only one patient revealed a homozygous mutation. Two patients revealed unreported combinations of combined heterozygous mutations. We observed some specific clinical features, such as complex phenotypes of distal myopathy with distal hereditary peripheral neuropathy, an earlier onset of weakness in legs than that of hands, and clinical heterogeneity between two patients with the same set of compound heterozygous mutations. Our findings on these genetic causes expand the clinical spectrum associated with the GNE mutations and can help prepare therapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Variations of Rare Genetic Diseases)
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