Several studies have reported that mutations in the GJB2 gene (coding for connexin26) are a common cause of recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment. A GJB2 mutant allele, 35delG, has been found to have a high prevalence in most ethnic groups. Though mutations in the GJB2 gene have been shown to cause autosomal recessive deafness in Indian families, the frequencies of the various mutations are still unknown. In the present study, we analyzed 45 Indian families belonging to three different states, namely, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi with non-syndromic hearing impairment and an apparently autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. All the families were initially screened for three mutations (W24X, W77X, and Q124X) by using allele-specific PCR primers; mutations were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Families that were heterozygous or negative for tested mutations of the GJB2 gene were sequenced directly to identify the complementary mutation and other mutations in GJB2. Four families were homozygous for W24X, constituting around 8.8%. In two families, the affected individuals were compound heterozygotes for W24X; one family (DKB16) carried 35delG with W24X while the other family (DKB7) carried R143W with W24X. We suggest that W24X is a common allele among the mutations screened, causing autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment (ARNSHI) in the Indian population.
Linkage analysis in families with hereditary hearing loss have revealed a plethora of chromosomal locations linked to deafness reflecting the extreme heterogeneity of the disorder. 40 of the genes contained within these loci have been mapped lending an insight into the diverse molecules operating in the inner ear and the remarkable complexity of the cellular and molecular processes involved in the transucdation of sound in the auditory system. Among this diversity, Connexin 26 has been found to be the most common cause of deafness the world around. The authors review here the prevalence of this gene in the Indian population as found in their study, together with other deafness genes segregating non-syndromic deafness, accounting for approximately 40% of all cases. This indicates there are several more to be identified yet. Knowledge of the genetic cause of deafness in our families is important for accurate genetic counseling and early diagnosis for timely intervention and treatment options.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that transmitted from animal to human became a life-threatening pandemic in 2020. Scientists are currently testing several drugs to eradicate the COVID-19 outbreak. However, there is no 100 % effective drug or vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 has been discovered so far. In this study, we explored the structure prediction and functional analysis of 75 Malaysia SARS-CoV-2 strain’s structural and accessory proteins without the presence of experimental models. Physiochemical analysis, secondary structure analysis, structure prediction, functional characterization, active site identification, and evolutionary analysis based on the amino acid sequences retrieved from National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Three-dimensional (3-D) protein structures were built using the Swiss model. The quality of protein models was verified by ERRAT, PROCHECK, and Verify 3D tools. Active prediction analysis revealed the high potential active sites of proteins where the anti-viral drug or vaccine may bind and inhibit the viral activities. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of ORF10, ORF8, and ORF6 proteins from five different species was analyzed. The results from this analysis proved that Homo sapiens SARS-CoV-2 had high genetic similarity with the bat coronavirus. These analyses may help in designing structure-based anti-viral drugs or to develop potential vaccines for SARS-CoV-2.
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