Featured Publications
Rethinking what constitutes a diagnosis in the genomics era: a critical illness perspective.
Lakhani SA, Pierce R. Rethinking what constitutes a diagnosis in the genomics era: a critical illness perspective. Current Opinion In Pediatrics 2019, 31: 317-321. PMID: 31090571, DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000000754.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPediatric intensivistsIll childrenCritical care pediatriciansFirst clinical diagnosisTypes of patientsWhole-exome sequencingSevere congenital diseaseUnderlying genetic causePatient's conditionIllness perspectiveUndiagnosed diseasePatientsDescriptive diagnosisClinical diagnosisCongenital diseaseGenetic testingGenetic abnormalitiesDiagnosisExome sequencingGenetic causeNext-generation sequencingClinical geneticistsIntensivistsGenetic diagnosisDiseaseDe novo pathogenic variants in neuronal differentiation factor 2 (NEUROD2) cause a form of early infantile epileptic encephalopathy
Sega AG, Mis EK, Lindstrom K, Mercimek-Andrews S, Ji W, Cho MT, Juusola J, Konstantino M, Jeffries L, Khokha MK, Lakhani SA. De novo pathogenic variants in neuronal differentiation factor 2 (NEUROD2) cause a form of early infantile epileptic encephalopathy. Journal Of Medical Genetics 2018, 56: 113. PMID: 30323019, DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2018-105322.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEarly infantile epileptic encephalopathyInfantile epileptic encephalopathyEpileptic encephalopathyPatient variantsDe novo pathogenic variantsNovel de novo variantNovo pathogenic variantsEarly-onset refractory seizuresDifferentiation factor 2Whole-exome sequencingNeuronal differentiation factorRefractory seizuresSignificant developmental delaySpontaneous seizuresUnderlying etiologyEctopic neuronsDe novo variantsPatient's conditionEncephalopathyPathogenic variantsSevere disordersDevelopmental delayUnrelated childrenExome sequencingGene mutations
2024
Case report: Novel variants cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathy in three unrelated families from Mali
Bamba S, Sidibé L, Diallo S, Cissé L, Dembélé K, Yalcouyé A, Ji W, Dembélé M, Diarra S, Maiga A, Traoré O, Diallo S, Mefoung S, Touré A, Koné A, Jeffries L, Guinto C, Mis E, Fischbeck K, Khokha M, Lakhani S, Landouré G. Case report: Novel variants cause developmental and epileptic encephalopathy in three unrelated families from Mali. Frontiers In Genetics 2024, 15: 1412442. DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1412442.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWhole-exome sequencingGenetic basisIdentified rare variantsIn silico prediction analysisCompound heterozygous variantsPutative variantsIn silico toolsACMG criteriaExome sequencingProtein structureNovel variantsEpileptic encephalopathyAssess pathogenicityHeterozygous variantsRare variantsHomozygous variantSub-Saharan AfricaDisease mechanismsAssociated with earlier onsetRefractory to antiepileptic medicationsResistant to treatmentGroup of neurological disordersMalian familyEarly-onset seizuresPotential clinical implicationsGenetic profile of progressive myoclonic epilepsy in Mali reveals novel findings
Cissé L, Bamba S, Diallo S, Ji W, Dembélé M, Yalcouyé A, Coulibaly T, Traoré I, Jeffries L, Diarra S, Maiga A, Diallo S, Nimaga K, Touré A, Traoré O, Kotioumbé M, Mis E, Cissé C, Guinto C, Fischbeck K, Khokha M, Lakhani S, Landouré G. Genetic profile of progressive myoclonic epilepsy in Mali reveals novel findings. Frontiers In Neurology 2024, 15: 1455467. PMID: 39385815, PMCID: PMC11461190, DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1455467.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchWhole-exome sequencingACMG criteriaProgressive myoclonic epilepsyProtein 3D structuresHomozygous missense variantRecessive inheritance patternCADD scoresAutosomal recessive inheritance patternSequence variantsMissense variantsGenomic researchExome sequencingGenetic analysisGenetic studiesPathogenic variantsPedigree analysisGenetic epidemiologyGenetic researchGenetic profileHeterogeneous neurological disordersInheritance patternSporadic formsACMGGroup of neurological disordersMyoclonic epilepsyExome sequencing reveals genetic heterogeneity in consanguineous Pakistani families with neurodevelopmental and neuromuscular disorders
Bibi A, Ji W, Jeffries L, Zerillo C, Konstantino M, Mis E, Khursheed F, Khokha M, Lakhani S, Malik S. Exome sequencing reveals genetic heterogeneity in consanguineous Pakistani families with neurodevelopmental and neuromuscular disorders. American Journal Of Medical Genetics Part C Seminars In Medical Genetics 2024, e32103. PMID: 39152716, DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.32103.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchExome sequencingConsanguineous Pakistani familyDisease-causing genesFamily segregation analysisAssociated with phenotypesAffected individualsAccurate molecular diagnosisACMG criteriaCandidate variantsGenomic studiesPakistani familyGenomic researchGenetic heterogeneityNovel variantsSegregation analysisConsanguineous familyGenetic variantsNeurodevelopmental disordersHomozygous variantNeuromuscular disordersMiddle-income countriesMolecular diagnosisExomeES dataClinical phenotypeUnraveling the genetic tapestry of pediatric sarcomeric cardiomyopathies and masquerading phenocopies in Jordan
Azab B, Aburizeg D, Shaaban S, Ji W, Mustafa L, Isbeih N, Al-Akily A, Mohammad H, Jeffries L, Khokha M, Lakhani S, Al-Ammouri I. Unraveling the genetic tapestry of pediatric sarcomeric cardiomyopathies and masquerading phenocopies in Jordan. Scientific Reports 2024, 14: 15141. PMID: 38956129, PMCID: PMC11219879, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64921-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsExome sequencingSarcomere-related genesMitochondrial-related diseasesAt-risk family membersGenetic architectureGenetic landscapePathogenic variantsGene panelPediatric cardiomyopathyMolecular underpinningsGenetic testingPhenocopiesSarcomeric cardiomyopathiesGenesSequenceStorage disorderFamily membersAt-riskVariantsEarly interventionExomeFamilyGlycogen storage disorderHypertrophic cardiomyopathyCardiomyopathyA Novel Variant in the Cyto-Tail of SMO Gene Underlying Isolated Postaxial Polydactyly
Khan M, Abdullah, Khan H, Zaman A, Ahmed S, Iqbal P, Bilal M, Ullah K, Hasni M, Ullah I, Mis E, Lakhani S, Ahmad W. A Novel Variant in the Cyto-Tail of SMO Gene Underlying Isolated Postaxial Polydactyly. Molecular Syndromology 2024, 1-7. DOI: 10.1159/000539279.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHomozygous missense variantWhole-exome sequencingHereditary limb malformationsSonic hedgehog pathwayAutosomal recessive mannerSequence variantsMissense variantsProtein foldingIsolated postaxial polydactylyExome sequencingSegregation analysisNovel variantsConsanguineous familySanger sequencingSMO genesExtra digitsHomology modelingCellular differentiationHedgehog pathwayRecessive mannerEmbryonic cellsPostaxial polydactylySequencePreaxial polydactylyVariantsClinical and genetic investigation of 14 families with various forms of short stature syndromes
Khan F, Khan H, Ullah K, Nawaz S, Abdullah, Khan M, Ahmed S, Ilyas M, Ali A, Ullah I, Sohail A, Hussain S, Ahmad F, Faisal, Sufyan R, Hayat A, Hanif T, Bibi F, Hayat M, Ullah R, Khan I, Ali R, Hasni M, Ali H, Bilal M, Peralta S, Buchert R, Zehri Z, Hassan G, Liaqat K, Zahid M, Shah K, Mikitie O, Haack T, Ji W, Lakhani S, Ansar M, Ahmad W. Clinical and genetic investigation of 14 families with various forms of short stature syndromes. Clinical Genetics 2024, 106: 347-353. PMID: 38774940, DOI: 10.1111/cge.14550.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSyndromic forms of short statureFamilies of Pakistani originDisease-causing gene variantsSyndromic formsWhole-exome sequencingSequence variantsHomozygosity mappingIdentified genesExome sequencingAutosomal dominant mannerSanger sequencingXRCC4 geneMutation spectrumGenetic etiologyGenetic investigationsLethal defectShort statureGene variantsGenesDominant mannerReduced growthShort stature syndromeHeterogeneous group of disordersSequenceGroup of disordersAP2A2 mutation and defective endocytosis in a Malian family with hereditary spastic paraplegia
Diarra S, Ghosh S, Cissé L, Coulibaly T, Yalcouyé A, Harmison G, Diallo S, Diallo S, Coulibaly O, Schindler A, Cissé C, Maiga A, Bamba S, Samassekou O, Khokha M, Mis E, Lakhani S, Donovan F, Jacobson S, Blackstone C, Guinto C, Landouré G, Bonifacino J, Fischbeck K, Grunseich C. AP2A2 mutation and defective endocytosis in a Malian family with hereditary spastic paraplegia. Neurobiology Of Disease 2024, 198: 106537. PMID: 38772452, PMCID: PMC11209852, DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106537.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHereditary spastic paraplegiaPatient-derived neuronsAdaptor proteinEndocytosis of transferrin receptorsSpastic paraplegiaXenopus tropicalis tadpolesNeuronal cellsHomozygous missense variantWhole-exome sequencingMalian familyComplicated hereditary spastic paraplegiaMissense variantsExome sequencingAccessory proteinsGroup of neurogenetic disordersDefective endocytosisWestern blot analysisProgressive lower extremity spasticityGenetic diagnosisGenetic testingBlot analysisAP2A2Neurological evaluationFrog modelEndocytosis
2023
Sequence variants in different genes underlying Bardet-Biedl syndrome in four consanguineous families
Ali A, Abdullah, Bilal M, Mis E, Lakhani S, Ahmad W, Ullah I. Sequence variants in different genes underlying Bardet-Biedl syndrome in four consanguineous families. Molecular Biology Reports 2023, 50: 9963-9970. PMID: 37897612, DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08816-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUnique inheritance patternConsanguineous familyPakistani consanguineous familyMKK genesDifferent genesBBS7 geneBardet-Biedl syndromeWhole-exome sequencingRod-cone dystrophyBBS genesGenesCompound heterozygous variantsNovel homozygous variantHeterogeneous congenital disorderInheritance patternRelated phenotypesExome sequencingClinical manifestationsMutational screeningRenal abnormalitiesMutation spectrumCognitive impairmentHeterozygous variantsPakistani populationHomozygous variant
2021
Functional testing for variant prioritization in a family with long QT syndrome
Najari Beidokhti M, Bertalovitz AC, Ji W, McCormack J, Jeffries L, Sempou E, Khokha MK, McDonald TV, Lakhani SA. Functional testing for variant prioritization in a family with long QT syndrome. Molecular Genetics And Genomics 2021, 296: 823-836. PMID: 33876311, DOI: 10.1007/s00438-021-01780-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAmino Acid SubstitutionAMP-Activated Protein KinasesDNA Mutational AnalysisElectrocardiographyERG1 Potassium ChannelExome SequencingFamilyFemaleGenetic TestingHeart Function TestsHEK293 CellsHumansKCNQ1 Potassium ChannelLong QT SyndromeMiddle AgedMutationPedigreePhenotypePolymerase Chain ReactionPolymorphism, Single NucleotideProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesConceptsWhole-exome sequencingFunctional characterizationSilico analysisPrecise genetic etiologyHeterologous expression systemNext-generation sequencing platformsNovel genetic variantsDeleterious phenotypesFunction phenotypesExpression systemSequencing platformsSecond individualHeritable diseaseVariant prioritizationGenetic variantsLong QT syndromeExome sequencingGenetic etiologyGenetic settingClinical genetics settingPhenotypeFamilyGene panelFamily membersVariants