Browsing by Author "Smolarek, Teresa A."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Copy number variation as a genetic basis for heterotaxy and heterotaxy-spectrum congenital heart defects
    (Royal Society, 2016-12-19) Cowan, Jason R.; Tariq, Muhammad; Shaw, Chad; Rao, Mitchell; Belmont, John W.; Lalani, Seema R.; Smolarek, Teresa A.; Ware, Stephanie M.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Genomic disorders and rare copy number abnormalities are identified in 15–25% of patients with syndromic conditions, but their prevalence in individuals with isolated birth defects is less clear. A spectrum of congenital heart defects (CHDs) is seen in heterotaxy, a highly heritable and genetically heterogeneous multiple congenital anomaly syndrome resulting from failure to properly establish left–right (L-R) organ asymmetry during early embryonic development. To identify novel genetic causes of heterotaxy, we analysed copy number variants (CNVs) in 225 patients with heterotaxy and heterotaxy-spectrum CHDs using array-based genotyping methods. Clinically relevant CNVs were identified in approximately 20% of patients and encompassed both known and putative heterotaxy genes. Patients were carefully phenotyped, revealing a significant association of abdominal situs inversus with pathogenic or likely pathogenic CNVs, while d-transposition of the great arteries was more frequently associated with common CNVs. Identified cytogenetic abnormalities ranged from large unbalanced translocations to smaller, kilobase-scale CNVs, including a rare, single exon deletion in ZIC3, a gene known to cause X-linked heterotaxy. Morpholino loss-of-function experiments in Xenopus support a role for one of these novel candidates, the platelet isoform of phosphofructokinase-1 (PFKP) in heterotaxy. Collectively, our results confirm a high CNV yield for array-based testing in patients with heterotaxy, and support use of CNV analysis for identification of novel biological processes relevant to human laterality., This article is part of the themed issue ‘Provocative questions in left–right asymmetry’.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Rationale for the Cytogenomics of Cardiovascular Malformations Consortium: A Phenotype Intensive Registry Based Approach
    (MDPI, 2015-04-29) Hinton, Robert B.; McBride, Kim L.; Bleyl, Steven B.; Bowles, Neil E.; Border, William L.; Garg, Vidu; Smolarek, Teresa A.; Lalani, Seema R.; Ware, Stephanie M.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Cardiovascular malformations (CVMs) are the most common birth defect, occurring in 1%-5% of all live births. Although the genetic contribution to CVMs is well recognized, the genetic causes of human CVMs are identified infrequently. In addition, a failure of systematic deep phenotyping of CVMs, resulting from the complexity and heterogeneity of malformations, has obscured genotype-phenotype correlations and contributed to a lack of understanding of disease mechanisms. To address these knowledge gaps, we have developed the Cytogenomics of Cardiovascular Malformations (CCVM) Consortium, a multi-site alliance of geneticists and cardiologists, contributing to a database registry of submicroscopic genetic copy number variants (CNVs) based on clinical chromosome microarray testing in individuals with CVMs using detailed classification schemes. Cardiac classification is performed using a modification to the National Birth Defects Prevention Study approach, and non-cardiac diagnoses are captured through ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. By combining a comprehensive approach to clinically relevant genetic analyses with precise phenotyping, the Consortium goal is to identify novel genomic regions that cause or increase susceptibility to CVMs and to correlate the findings with clinical phenotype. This registry will provide critical insights into genetic architecture, facilitate genotype-phenotype correlations, and provide a valuable resource for the medical community.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The challenges and opportunities of offering and integrating training in clinical molecular genetics and clinical cytogenetics: A survey of LGG Fellowship Program Directors
    (Elsevier, 2024) Deignan, Joshua L.; Aggarwal, Vimla; Bale, Allen E.; Bellissimo, Daniel B.; Booker, Jessica K.; Cao, Yang; Crooks, Kristy R.; Deak, Kristen L.; Del Gaudio, Daniela; Funke, Birgit; Hoppman, Nicole L.; Horner, Vanessa; Hufnagel, Robert B.; Jackson-Cook, Colleen; Koduru, Prasad; Leung, Marco L.; Li, Shibo; Liu, Pengfei; Mao, Minjie Luo Rong; Mason-Suares, Heather; Mikhail, Fady M.; Moore, Stephen R.; Naeem, Rizwan C.; Pollard, Laura M.; Repnikova, Elena A.; Shao, Lina; Shaw, Brandon M.; Shetty, Shashirekha; Smolarek, Teresa A.; Spiteri, Elizabeth; Van Ziffle, Jessica; Vance, Gail H.; Vnencak-Jones, Cindy L.; Williams, Eli S.; Medical and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine
    Purpose: The specialty of Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (LGG) was created in 2017 in an effort to reflect the increasing convergence in technologies and approaches between clinical molecular genetics and clinical cytogenetics. However, there has not yet been any formal evaluation of the merging of these disciplines and the challenges faced by Program Directors (PDs) tasked with ensuring the successful training of laboratory geneticists under the new model. Methods: An electronic multi-question Qualtrics survey was created and was sent to the PD for each of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited LGG fellowship programs at the time. The data were collected, and the responses were aggregated for each question. Results: All of the responding PDs had started training at least 1 LGG fellow. PDs noted challenges with funding, staff shortages, molecular/cytogenetics content integration, limited total training time, increased remote work, increased sendout testing, and a lack of prior cytogenetics knowledge among incoming fellows. Conclusion: This survey attempted to assess the challenges that LGG PDs have been facing in offering and integrating clinical molecular genetics and clinical cytogenetics fellowship training. Common challenges between programs were noted, and a set of 6 concluding comments are provided to facilitate future discussion.