Featured Publications
Integrative molecular and clinical profiling of acral melanoma links focal amplification of 22q11.21 to metastasis
Farshidfar F, Rhrissorrakrai K, Levovitz C, Peng C, Knight J, Bacchiocchi A, Su J, Yin M, Sznol M, Ariyan S, Clune J, Olino K, Parida L, Nikolaus J, Zhang M, Zhao S, Wang Y, Huang G, Wan M, Li X, Cao J, Yan Q, Chen X, Newman AM, Halaban R. Integrative molecular and clinical profiling of acral melanoma links focal amplification of 22q11.21 to metastasis. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 898. PMID: 35197475, PMCID: PMC8866401, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28566-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAcral melanomaMelanoma subtypesClinical profilingCommon melanoma subtypeImmune checkpoint blockadeCheckpoint blockadeInferior survivalMelanoma cell linesKey molecular driversPoor prognosisTherapeutic targetAnchorage-independent growthImmunomodulatory genesNon-white individualsHotspot mutationsMolecular driversCandidate oncogeneMelanomaApoptotic cell deathLZTR1Focal amplificationTumor promoterCell linesMetastasisTumor suppressorUnexplained Female Infertility Associated with Genetic Disease Variants
Dougherty M, Poch A, Chorich L, Hawkins Z, Xu H, Roman R, Liu H, Brakta S, Taylor H, Knight J, Kim H, Diamond M, Layman L. Unexplained Female Infertility Associated with Genetic Disease Variants. New England Journal Of Medicine 2023, 388: 1055-1056. PMID: 36920765, PMCID: PMC10134047, DOI: 10.1056/nejmc2211539.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Super-enhancer hijacking drives ectopic expression of hedgehog pathway ligands in meningiomas
Youngblood M, Erson-Omay Z, Li C, Najem H, Coșkun S, Tyrtova E, Montejo J, Miyagishima D, Barak T, Nishimura S, Harmancı A, Clark V, Duran D, Huttner A, Avşar T, Bayri Y, Schramm J, Boetto J, Peyre M, Riche M, Goldbrunner R, Amankulor N, Louvi A, Bilgüvar K, Pamir M, Özduman K, Kilic T, Knight J, Simon M, Horbinski C, Kalamarides M, Timmer M, Heimberger A, Mishra-Gorur K, Moliterno J, Yasuno K, Günel M. Super-enhancer hijacking drives ectopic expression of hedgehog pathway ligands in meningiomas. Nature Communications 2023, 14: 6279. PMID: 37805627, PMCID: PMC10560290, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41926-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIntegrated exome sequencing and microarray analyses detected genetic defects and underlying pathways of hepatocellular carcinoma
Chong M, Knight J, Peng G, Ji W, Chai H, Lu Y, Wu S, Li P, Hu Q. Integrated exome sequencing and microarray analyses detected genetic defects and underlying pathways of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Genetics 2023, 276: 30-35. PMID: 37418972, DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2023.06.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor mutation burdenWhole-exome sequencingGrade IIIHepatocellular carcinomaCNA burdenCase seriesBarcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stageExome sequencingBCLC stage CLiver Cancer stageEdmondson-Steiner gradingLarge case seriesGenetic defectsHigher CNA burdenAdjacent nontumor tissuesΒ-catenin pathwayBetter prognosisClinicopathologic findingsPoor prognosisClinicopathologic classificationCancer stageSurvival statusMutation burdenStage CPrognostic predictionTranscriptomic identification of genes expressed in invasive S. aureus diabetic foot ulcer infection
Agidigbi T, Kwon H, Knight J, Zhao D, Lee F, Oh I. Transcriptomic identification of genes expressed in invasive S. aureus diabetic foot ulcer infection. Frontiers In Cellular And Infection Microbiology 2023, 13: 1198115. PMID: 37434783, PMCID: PMC10332306, DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1198115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDiabetic foot ulcersPeripheral blood mononuclear cellsHost immune responseActive infectionImmune responseDiabetic foot ulcer infectionsInfected diabetic foot ulcersFoot ulcer infectionsPatients 8 weeksIntravenous antibiotic therapyBlood mononuclear cellsWound healing statusDFU infectionsPBMC expressionSalvage therapyUlcer infectionDifferent time pointsAntibiotic therapyMajor complicationsSurgical treatmentFoot ulcersMononuclear cellsPotential intervention optionsSpecies-specific infectionTreatment responseHERV1-env Induces Unfolded Protein Response Activation in Autoimmune Liver Disease: A Potential Mechanism for Regulatory T Cell Dysfunction.
Subramanian K, Paul S, Libby A, Patterson J, Arterbery A, Knight J, Castaldi C, Wang G, Avitzur Y, Martinez M, Lobritto S, Deng Y, Geliang G, Kroemer A, Fishbein T, Mason A, Dominguez-Villar M, Mariappan M, Ekong U. HERV1-env Induces Unfolded Protein Response Activation in Autoimmune Liver Disease: A Potential Mechanism for Regulatory T Cell Dysfunction. The Journal Of Immunology 2023, 210: 732-744. PMID: 36722941, PMCID: PMC10691554, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100186.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAutoimmune hepatitisDe novo autoimmune hepatitisRegulatory T cell dysfunctionUnfolded protein responseNovo autoimmune hepatitisTregs of patientsAutoimmune liver diseaseIL-17A productionRegulatory T cellsT cell dysfunctionTreg suppressive functionExpression of RORCER stressEndoplasmic reticulum stressTreg plasticityLiver diseaseCell dysfunctionProtein response activationT cellsUnfolded protein response activationSuppressive functionIncreased expressionEffector propertiesReticulum stressPotential mechanismsMultiomic analyses implicate a neurodevelopmental program in the pathogenesis of cerebral arachnoid cysts
Kundishora A, Allington G, McGee S, Mekbib K, Gainullin V, Timberlake A, Nelson-Williams C, Kiziltug E, Smith H, Ocken J, Shohfi J, Allocco A, Duy P, Elsamadicy A, Dong W, Zhao S, Wang Y, Qureshi H, DiLuna M, Mane S, Tikhonova I, Fu P, Castaldi C, López-Giráldez F, Knight J, Furey C, Carter B, Haider S, Moreno-De-Luca A, Alper S, Gunel M, Millan F, Lifton R, Torene R, Jin S, Kahle K. Multiomic analyses implicate a neurodevelopmental program in the pathogenesis of cerebral arachnoid cysts. Nature Medicine 2023, 29: 667-678. PMID: 36879130, DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02238-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsArachnoid cystCerebral arachnoid cystsDe novo variantsAC pathogenesisDevelopmental brain lesionsStructural brain diseaseAppropriate clinical contextPatients' medical recordsDamaging de novo variantsMedical recordsClinical severityBrain lesionsHealthy individualsAC subtypesBrain diseasesGenetic testingNeurodevelopmental pathologyClinical contextPathogenesisPatient phenotypesNeurodevelopmental programsNovo variantsRNA sequencing transcriptomeHuman brainCysts
2022
Application of multiplex amplicon deep-sequencing (MAD-seq) to screen for putative drug resistance markers in the Necator americanus isotype-1 β-tubulin gene
George S, Suwondo P, Akorli J, Otchere J, Harrison LM, Bilguvar K, Knight JR, Humphries D, Wilson MD, Caccone A, Cappello M. Application of multiplex amplicon deep-sequencing (MAD-seq) to screen for putative drug resistance markers in the Necator americanus isotype-1 β-tubulin gene. Scientific Reports 2022, 12: 11459. PMID: 35794459, PMCID: PMC9259660, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15718-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSingle nucleotide polymorphismsPeriodic mass drug administrationHigh-risk groupCross-sectional studyDrug resistance markersMass drug administrationResistance-associated mutationsHookworm Necator americanusPost-treatment samplesIsotype-1 β-tubulin geneHookworm infectionPersistent infectionResistance markersDrug AdministrationNecator americanusInfection statusVeterinary nematodesInfectionMarkersNucleotide polymorphismsSensitive toolBenzimidazole drugsNucleotide alleles
2021
DIAPH1 Variants in Non–East Asian Patients With Sporadic Moyamoya Disease
Kundishora AJ, Peters ST, Pinard A, Duran D, Panchagnula S, Barak T, Miyagishima DF, Dong W, Smith H, Ocken J, Dunbar A, Nelson-Williams C, Haider S, Walker RL, Li B, Zhao H, Thumkeo D, Marlier A, Duy PQ, Diab NS, Reeves BC, Robert SM, Sujijantarat N, Stratman AN, Chen YH, Zhao S, Roszko I, Lu Q, Zhang B, Mane S, Castaldi C, López-Giráldez F, Knight JR, Bamshad MJ, Nickerson DA, Geschwind DH, Chen SL, Storm PB, Diluna ML, Matouk CC, Orbach DB, Alper SL, Smith ER, Lifton RP, Gunel M, Milewicz DM, Jin SC, Kahle KT. DIAPH1 Variants in Non–East Asian Patients With Sporadic Moyamoya Disease. JAMA Neurology 2021, 78: 993-1003. PMID: 34125151, PMCID: PMC8204259, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.1681.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSporadic moyamoya diseaseMoyamoya diseaseValidation cohortDiscovery cohortIntracranial internal carotid arteryRisk genesBilateral moyamoya diseaseTransfusion-dependent thrombocytopeniaLarger validation cohortNon-East Asian patientsInternal carotid arteryAsian individualsCompound heterozygous variantsNon-East AsiansProgressive vasculopathyTransmitted variantsAsian patientsChildhood strokeMedical recordsCarotid arteryTherapeutic ramificationsMAIN OUTCOMEMouse brain tissuePatientsUS hospitalsGenetics of agenesis/hypoplasia of the uterus and vagina: narrowing down the number of candidate genes for Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser Syndrome
Mikhael S, Dugar S, Morton M, Chorich LP, Tam KB, Lossie AC, Kim HG, Knight J, Taylor HS, Mukherjee S, Capra JA, Phillips JA, Friez M, Layman LC. Genetics of agenesis/hypoplasia of the uterus and vagina: narrowing down the number of candidate genes for Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser Syndrome. Human Genetics 2021, 140: 667-680. PMID: 33469725, PMCID: PMC9211441, DOI: 10.1007/s00439-020-02239-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKüster-Hauser syndromeMouse modelHuman studiesCandidate variantsAgenesis/hypoplasiaMethodsWhole-exome sequencingMayer-RokitanskyCandidate genesCongenital absenceExome sequencingAuditory defectsSanger sequencingPatientsRare variantsSyndromeUterusMRKHVaginaFurther investigationDigenic combinationsPhysiological candidatesGenetic basisSame geneVariant analysisGenes
2020
Mutations disrupting neuritogenesis genes confer risk for cerebral palsy
Jin SC, Lewis SA, Bakhtiari S, Zeng X, Sierant MC, Shetty S, Nordlie SM, Elie A, Corbett MA, Norton BY, van Eyk CL, Haider S, Guida BS, Magee H, Liu J, Pastore S, Vincent JB, Brunstrom-Hernandez J, Papavasileiou A, Fahey MC, Berry JG, Harper K, Zhou C, Zhang J, Li B, Zhao H, Heim J, Webber DL, Frank MSB, Xia L, Xu Y, Zhu D, Zhang B, Sheth AH, Knight JR, Castaldi C, Tikhonova IR, López-Giráldez F, Keren B, Whalen S, Buratti J, Doummar D, Cho M, Retterer K, Millan F, Wang Y, Waugh JL, Rodan L, Cohen JS, Fatemi A, Lin AE, Phillips JP, Feyma T, MacLennan SC, Vaughan S, Crompton KE, Reid SM, Reddihough DS, Shang Q, Gao C, Novak I, Badawi N, Wilson YA, McIntyre SJ, Mane SM, Wang X, Amor DJ, Zarnescu DC, Lu Q, Xing Q, Zhu C, Bilguvar K, Padilla-Lopez S, Lifton RP, Gecz J, MacLennan AH, Kruer MC. Mutations disrupting neuritogenesis genes confer risk for cerebral palsy. Nature Genetics 2020, 52: 1046-1056. PMID: 32989326, PMCID: PMC9148538, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-020-0695-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBeta CateninCerebral PalsyCyclin DCytoskeletonDrosophilaExomeExome SequencingExtracellular MatrixF-Box ProteinsFemaleFocal AdhesionsGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome, HumanHumansMaleMutationNeuritesRhoB GTP-Binding ProteinRisk FactorsSequence Analysis, DNASignal TransductionTubulinTumor Suppressor ProteinsConceptsDamaging de novo mutationsCerebral palsyDe novo mutationsCerebral palsy casesRisk genesDamaging de novoNovo mutationsWhole-exome sequencingPalsy casesNeuromotor functionD levelsMonogenic etiologyCyclin D levelsNeuronal connectivityPalsyGene confer riskConfer riskRecessive variantsNeurodevelopmental disorder genesReverse genetic screenDisorder genesParent-offspring triosGenome-wide significanceGenomic factorsCytoskeleton pathwayThe omentum of obese girls harbors small adipocytes and browning transcripts
Tarabra E, Nouws J, Vash-Margita A, Nadzam GS, Goldberg-Gell R, Van Name M, Pierpont B, Knight J, Shulman GI, Caprio S. The omentum of obese girls harbors small adipocytes and browning transcripts. JCI Insight 2020, 5 PMID: 32125283, PMCID: PMC7213797, DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.135448.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubcutaneous adipose tissueSAT depotsSleeve gastrectomySevere obesityInsulin resistanceInsulin sensitivitySmall adipocytesAdipose tissueAbdominal subcutaneous adipose tissueWeight lossType 2 diabetesOmental adipose tissueSubgroup of subjectsTranscriptomic profilesSAT biopsiesAdipocyte sizeObese girlsCardiovascular disease
2019
Genomic sites hypersensitive to ultraviolet radiation
Premi S, Han L, Mehta S, Knight J, Zhao D, Palmatier MA, Kornacker K, Brash DE. Genomic sites hypersensitive to ultraviolet radiation. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2019, 116: 24196-24205. PMID: 31723047, PMCID: PMC6883822, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1907860116.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords5' Untranslated RegionsCells, CulturedDNA DamageFibroblastsGene Expression RegulationGenome, HumanHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingHumansMelanocytesMelanomaMutationPromoter Regions, GeneticProtein BiosynthesisPyrimidine DimersPyrimidine NucleotidesSkin NeoplasmsTOR Serine-Threonine KinasesUltraviolet RaysConceptsCyclobutane pyrimidine dimersETS family transcription factorsIndividual gene promotersFamily transcription factorsRNA-binding proteinPrimary human melanocytesSingle-base resolutionEpigenetic marksGenomic averageTranslation regulationGenomic sitesMotif locationsTranscription factorsCell physiologyGene promoterCancer driversGenomeHuman melanocytesCell typesTumor evolutionCell pathwaysRare mutationsUV targetPyrimidine dimersApurinic sites
2018
Mutations in Chromatin Modifier and Ephrin Signaling Genes in Vein of Galen Malformation
Duran D, Zeng X, Jin SC, Choi J, Nelson-Williams C, Yatsula B, Gaillard J, Furey CG, Lu Q, Timberlake AT, Dong W, Sorscher MA, Loring E, Klein J, Allocco A, Hunt A, Conine S, Karimy JK, Youngblood MW, Zhang J, DiLuna ML, Matouk CC, Mane S, Tikhonova IR, Castaldi C, López-Giráldez F, Knight J, Haider S, Soban M, Alper SL, Komiyama M, Ducruet AF, Zabramski JM, Dardik A, Walcott BP, Stapleton CJ, Aagaard-Kienitz B, Rodesch G, Jackson E, Smith ER, Orbach DB, Berenstein A, Bilguvar K, Vikkula M, Gunel M, Lifton RP, Kahle KT. Mutations in Chromatin Modifier and Ephrin Signaling Genes in Vein of Galen Malformation. Neuron 2018, 101: 429-443.e4. PMID: 30578106, PMCID: PMC10292091, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.11.041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChromatin modifiersVascular developmentSpecification of arteriesDeep venous systemNormal vascular developmentParent-offspring triosSignaling GenesGalen malformationDamaging mutationsGenesMutationsEssential roleArterio-venous malformationsCutaneous vascular abnormalitiesNovo mutationsExome sequencingDisease biologyIncomplete penetranceVariable expressivityVascular abnormalitiesVenous systemMutation carriersArterial bloodMutation burdenClinical implicationsInsights into the evolution and drug susceptibility of Babesia duncani from the sequence of its mitochondrial and apicoplast genomes
Virji AZ, Thekkiniath J, Ma W, Lawres L, Knight J, Swei A, Roch KL, Mamoun C. Insights into the evolution and drug susceptibility of Babesia duncani from the sequence of its mitochondrial and apicoplast genomes. International Journal For Parasitology 2018, 49: 105-113. PMID: 30176236, PMCID: PMC6395566, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.05.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMitochondrial genomeApicoplast genomeB. duncaniCytochrome c oxidaseB. microtiOrganelle proteinsCircular moleculeApicomplexan parasitesPhylogenetic analysisNew lineageGene transcriptionCytochrome bGenomeC oxidaseI proteinPlasmodium sppProteinTheileria sppBabesia bovisKbParasite factorsCausative agentParasitesAnnotationSppDe Novo Mutation in Genes Regulating Neural Stem Cell Fate in Human Congenital Hydrocephalus
Furey CG, Choi J, Jin SC, Zeng X, Timberlake AT, Nelson-Williams C, Mansuri MS, Lu Q, Duran D, Panchagnula S, Allocco A, Karimy JK, Khanna A, Gaillard JR, DeSpenza T, Antwi P, Loring E, Butler WE, Smith ER, Warf BC, Strahle JM, Limbrick DD, Storm PB, Heuer G, Jackson EM, Iskandar BJ, Johnston JM, Tikhonova I, Castaldi C, López-Giráldez F, Bjornson RD, Knight JR, Bilguvar K, Mane S, Alper SL, Haider S, Guclu B, Bayri Y, Sahin Y, Apuzzo MLJ, Duncan CC, DiLuna ML, Günel M, Lifton RP, Kahle KT. De Novo Mutation in Genes Regulating Neural Stem Cell Fate in Human Congenital Hydrocephalus. Neuron 2018, 99: 302-314.e4. PMID: 29983323, PMCID: PMC7839075, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.06.019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCongenital hydrocephalusNeural stem cell fateHuman congenital hydrocephalusDamaging de novoCerebrospinal fluid homeostasisSubstantial morbidityCH patientsTherapeutic ramificationsSignificant burdenBrain ventriclesCH pathogenesisNeural tube developmentFluid homeostasisDe novo mutationsExome sequencingAdditional probandsHydrocephalusPathogenesisNovo mutationsNovo duplicationProbandsDe novoCell fateMorbidityPatients
2017
Contribution of rare inherited and de novo variants in 2,871 congenital heart disease probands
Jin SC, Homsy J, Zaidi S, Lu Q, Morton S, DePalma SR, Zeng X, Qi H, Chang W, Sierant MC, Hung WC, Haider S, Zhang J, Knight J, Bjornson RD, Castaldi C, Tikhonoa IR, Bilguvar K, Mane SM, Sanders SJ, Mital S, Russell MW, Gaynor JW, Deanfield J, Giardini A, Porter GA, Srivastava D, Lo CW, Shen Y, Watkins WS, Yandell M, Yost HJ, Tristani-Firouzi M, Newburger JW, Roberts AE, Kim R, Zhao H, Kaltman JR, Goldmuntz E, Chung WK, Seidman JG, Gelb BD, Seidman CE, Lifton RP, Brueckner M. Contribution of rare inherited and de novo variants in 2,871 congenital heart disease probands. Nature Genetics 2017, 49: 1593-1601. PMID: 28991257, PMCID: PMC5675000, DOI: 10.1038/ng.3970.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAutistic DisorderCardiac MyosinsCase-Control StudiesChildExomeFemaleGene ExpressionGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyGrowth Differentiation Factor 1Heart Defects, CongenitalHeterozygoteHigh-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingHomozygoteHumansMaleMutationMyosin Heavy ChainsPedigreeRiskVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3
2015
Integrated genomic characterization of IDH1-mutant glioma malignant progression
Bai H, Harmancı AS, Erson-Omay EZ, Li J, Coşkun S, Simon M, Krischek B, Özduman K, Omay SB, Sorensen EA, Turcan Ş, Bakırcığlu M, Carrión-Grant G, Murray PB, Clark VE, Ercan-Sencicek AG, Knight J, Sencar L, Altınok S, Kaulen LD, Gülez B, Timmer M, Schramm J, Mishra-Gorur K, Henegariu O, Moliterno J, Louvi A, Chan TA, Tannheimer SL, Pamir MN, Vortmeyer AO, Bilguvar K, Yasuno K, Günel M. Integrated genomic characterization of IDH1-mutant glioma malignant progression. Nature Genetics 2015, 48: 59-66. PMID: 26618343, PMCID: PMC4829945, DOI: 10.1038/ng.3457.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDevelopmental transcription factorsActivation of MYCMalignant progressionGenomic approachesPI3K pathwayGlioma malignant progressionEpigenetic silencingIDH1 mutant gliomasTranscription factorsIntegrated genomic characterizationGenomic characterizationRTK-RASOncogenic pathwaysK pathwayClonal expansionPathwaySilencingMYCProgression