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James K, Oluwole OG. Leveraging human-mouse studies to advance the genetics of hearing impairment in Africa. J Gene Med 2024; 26:e3714. [PMID: 38949079 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Mouse models are used extensively to understand human pathobiology and mechanistic functions of disease-associated loci. However, in this review, we investigate the potential of using genetic mouse models to identify genetic markers that can disrupt hearing thresholds in mice and then target the hearing-enriched orthologues and loci in humans. Currently, little is known about the real prevalence of genes that cause hearing impairment (HI) in Africa. Pre-screening mouse cell lines to identify orthologues of interest has the potential to improve the genetic diagnosis for HI in Africa to a significant percentage, for example, 10-20%. Furthermore, the functionality of a candidate gene derived from mouse screening with heterogeneous genetic backgrounds and multi-omic approaches can shed light on the molecular, genetic heterogeneity and plausible mode of inheritance of a gene in hearing-impaired individuals especially in the absence of large families to investigate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kili James
- Department of Pathology, Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Oluwafemi G Oluwole
- Department of Pathology, Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Biomedical Research Centre, Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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2
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Oluwole OG. The analyses of human MCPH1 DNA repair machinery and genetic variations. Open Med (Wars) 2024; 19:20240917. [PMID: 38463519 PMCID: PMC10921449 DOI: 10.1515/med-2024-0917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Causal mutations in the MCPH1 gene have been associated with disorders like microcephaly, and recently congenital hearing impairment. This study examined the MCPH1 DNA repair machinery and identified genetic variations of interest in gnomAD database to discuss the biological roles and effects of rare variants in MCPH1-related diseases. Notably, MCPH1 coordinates two of the seven known mechanisms of DNA repair which confirmed its roles in neurogenesis and chromatin condensation. A pathogenic missense variant in MCPH1 p.Gly753Arg, and two pathogenic frameshifts MCPH1 p.Asn189LysfsTer15 and p.Cys624Ter identified in this study, already had entries in ClinVar and were associated with microcephaly. A pathogenic frameshift in MCPH1 p.Val10SerfsTer5 with a loss-of-function flag and a pathogenic stop gained p.Ser571Ter variants with ultra-rare allele frequency (MAF ≤ 0.001) were identified but have not been linked to any phenotype. The predicted pathogenic ultra-rare variants identified in this study, warranty phenotypic discovery, and also positioned these variants or nearby deleterious variants candidate for screening in MCPH1-associated rare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwafemi G Oluwole
- Biomedical Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
- Division of Human Genetics, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Non-communicable Diseases Department, Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya
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3
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Saunders JE, Bessen S, Magro I, Cowan D, Gonzalez Quiroz M, Mojica-Alvarez K, Penalba D, Reike C, Neimczak C, Fellows A, Buckey J. School Hearing Screening With a Portable, Tablet-Based, Noise-Attenuating Audiometric Headset in Rural Nicaragua. Otol Neurotol 2022; 43:1196-1204. [PMID: 36351228 DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000003692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the utility and effectiveness of a noise-attenuating, tablet-based mobile health system combined with asynchronous telehealth evaluations for screening rural Nicaraguan schoolchildren for hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN Prospective population-based survey. SETTING Rural Nicaraguan communities. PATIENTS There were 3,398 school children 7 to 9 years of age. INTERVENTIONS Diagnostic automated and manual audiometry, detailed asynchronous telehealth evaluations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Referral rates, ambient noise levels, and audiometric results as well as hearing loss prevalence, types, and risk factors. RESULTS Despite high ambient noise levels during screening (46.7 dBA), no effect of noise on referral rates on automated audiometry or confirmatory manual audiometry in those who failed automated testing was seen. The overall audiometric referral rate was 2.6%. Idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and cerumen impaction were the most common types of hearing loss in this population with an estimated prevalence of hearing loss (all types) of 18.3 per 1,000 children. SNHL was associated with both drug exposure during pregnancy (p = 0.04) and pesticide exposure in the home (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION Hearing screening using a tablet-based, noise-attenuating wireless headset audiometer is feasible and effective in rural low-resource environments with moderately elevated ambient noise levels. The referral rate with noise-attenuating headsets was much lower than that previous reports on this population. In addition, manual audiometry resulted in much lower referral rates than automated audiometry. The confirmed hearing loss rate in this study is comparable to reports from other low-income countries that use some form of noise attenuation during screening. Pesticide exposure and drug exposure during pregnancy are potential causes of SNHL in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Saunders
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
| | - Sarah Bessen
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Isabelle Magro
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Devin Cowan
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | | | | | - Donoso Penalba
- Research Centre on Health, Work and Environment (CISTA) at National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, Leon (UNAN-Leon), Leon, Nicaragua
| | - Catherine Reike
- Space Medicine Innovations Laboratory, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
| | - Chris Neimczak
- Department of Medicine Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Space Medicine Innovations Laboratory, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Abigail Fellows
- Space Medicine Innovations Laboratory, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
| | - Jay Buckey
- Department of Medicine Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Space Medicine Innovations Laboratory, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
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The Implementation of Laboratory Information Management System in Multi-Site Genetics Study in Africa: The Challenges and Up-Scaling Opportunities. JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmp3040022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
This study describes the roles of laboratory information management systems (LIMS) in multi-site genetics studies in Africa. We used the HiGeneS Africa project as a case study. The study participants were recruited in six African countries between 2019 to 2021. The Baobab LIMS, a server–client-based system (an African-led innovation) was used for the coordination of the biospecimen. The development phase of the LIMS showcased the team formation, data collection, biospecimen collection, and shipment strategies. The implementation phase showcased the biospecimen registration, processing, and quality control (QC) analytics. The sample QC was done using Nanodrop, Qubit, and PicoGreen/gDNATapestation assays. The results showed that a total of 3144 study participants were recruited from Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal, and South Africa. The biospecimen registration provided a comprehensive registry that included patient demographics, genetic information, and clinical and blood/saliva samples from the proband and family relatives. The QC analyzes identified 30 samples that failed QC, linked to overdue storage in the freezer before DNA extraction. The LIMS components implemented in this project formed a structure that can be upscaled to artificial intelligence-based LIMS. In conclusion, this study represents the largest and the most diverse collection of biospecimens for the genetic study of hearing impairment in Africa to date. A well-characterized LIMS should be recommended for multi-site molecular studies, particularly in Africa, to enhance African participation in global genomic medicine.
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Manyisa N, Adadey SM, Wonkam-Tingang E, Yalcouye A, Wonkam A. Hearing Impairment in South Africa and the Lessons Learned for Planetary Health Genomics: A Systematic Review. OMICS : A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2022; 26:2-18. [PMID: 35041532 PMCID: PMC8792495 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2021.0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hearing impairment (HI) is a silent planetary health crisis that requires attention worldwide. The prevalence of HI in South Africa is estimated as 5.5 in 100 live births, which is about 5 times higher than the prevalence in high-income countries. This also offers opportunity to drive progressive science, technology and innovation policy, and health systems. We present here a systematic analysis and review on the prevalence, etiologies, clinical patterns, and genetics/genomics of HI in South Africa. We searched PubMed, Scopus, African Journals Online, AFROLIB, and African Index Medicus to identify the pertinent studies on HI in South Africa, published from inception to April 30, 2021, and the data were summarized narratively. We screened 944 records, of which 27 studies were included in the review. The age at diagnosis is ∼3 years of age and the most common factor associated with acquired HI was middle ear infections. There were numerous reports on medication toxicity, with kanamycin-induced ototoxicity requiring specific attention when considering the high burden of tuberculosis in South Africa. The Waardenburg Syndrome is the most common reported syndromic HI. The Usher Syndrome is the only syndrome with genetic investigations, whereby a founder mutation was identified among black South Africans (MYO7A-c.6377delC). GJB2 and GJB6 genes are not major contributors to nonsyndromic HI among Black South Africans. Furthermore, emerging data using targeted panel sequencing have shown a low resolution rate in Black South Africans in known HI genes. Importantly, mutations in known nonsyndromic HI genes are infrequent in South Africa. Therefore, whole-exome sequencing appears as the most effective way forward to identify variants associated with HI in South Africa. Taken together, this article contributes to the emerging field of planetary health genomics with a focus on HI and offers new insights and lessons learned for future roadmaps on genomics/multiomics and clinical studies of HI around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noluthando Manyisa
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Samuel Mawuli Adadey
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Edmond Wonkam-Tingang
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Abdoulaye Yalcouye
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Neurology, Point G Teaching Hospital, University of Sciences, Techniques and Technology, Bamako, Mali
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Wonkam-Tingang E, Kengne Kamga K, Adadey SM, Nguefack S, De Kock C, Munung NS, Wonkam A. Knowledge and Challenges Associated With Hearing Impairment in Affected Individuals From Cameroon (Sub-Saharan Africa). FRONTIERS IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES 2021; 2:726761. [PMID: 36188771 PMCID: PMC9397862 DOI: 10.3389/fresc.2021.726761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to gain an understanding of the challenges faced by people with hearing impairment (HI) in Cameroon, their understanding of the causes of HI, and how challenges could be remedied to improve the quality of life of persons with HI. Methods: Semi-structured one-on-one in-depth interviews and observation of participant behaviour when answering questions were used to collect data from 10 HI professionals (healthcare workers and educationists), and 10 persons affected by HI (including caregivers). Results: The results show that the different groups associate the causes of HI to genetics, environmental factors, and a spiritual curse. There were reported cases of stigma and discrimination of persons with HI, with people sometimes referring to HI as an “intellectual disorder.” Interviewees also highlighted the difficulty persons with HI have in accessing education and healthcare services and suggested the need for the government and health researchers to develop strategies for the prevention and early diagnosis of HI. These strategies include (1) the awareness of the general population regarding HI, (2) the development of facilities for the proper management and new-born screening of HI, and (3) the implementation of a premarital screening to reduce the burden of HI of genetic origin. Conclusions: This study confirms the difficult social interaction and access to proper management faced by persons with HI in Cameroon and further highlights the need to educate populations on the causes of HI for a better acceptance of individuals with HI in the Cameroonian society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmond Wonkam-Tingang
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Karen Kengne Kamga
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Samuel Mawuli Adadey
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Seraphin Nguefack
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Carmen De Kock
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nchangwi Syntia Munung
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- *Correspondence: Ambroise Wonkam
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Adadey SM, Wonkam-Tingang E, Aboagye ET, Quaye O, Awandare GA, Wonkam A. Hearing loss in Africa: current genetic profile. Hum Genet 2021; 141:505-517. [PMID: 34609590 PMCID: PMC9034983 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02376-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Hearing impairment (HI) is highly heterogeneous with over 123 associated genes reported to date, mostly from studies among Europeans and Asians. Here, we performed a systematic review of literature on the genetic profile of HI in Africa. The study protocol was registered on PROSPERO, International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews with the registration number “CRD42021240852”. Literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Africa-Wide Information, and Web of Science databases. A total of 89 full-text records was selected and retrieved for data extraction and analyses. We found reports from only 17/54 (31.5%) African countries. The majority (61/89; 68.5%) of articles were from North Africa, with few reports found from sub-Saharan Africa. The most common method used in these publications was targeted gene sequencing (n = 66/111; 59.5%), and only 13.5% (n = 15/111) used whole-exome sequencing. More than half of the studies were performed in families segregating HI (n = 51/89). GJB2 was the most investigated gene, with GJB2: p.(R143W) founder variant only reported in Ghana, while GJB2: c.35delG was common in North African countries. Variants in MYO15A were the second frequently reported in both North and Central Africa, followed by ATP6V1B1 only reported from North Africa. Usher syndrome was the main syndromic HI molecularly investigated, with variants in five genes reported: USH2A, USH1G, USH1C, MYO7A, and PCDH15. MYO7A: p.(P1780S) founder variant was reported as the common Usher syndrome variant among Black South Africans. This review provides the most comprehensive data on HI gene variants in the largely under-investigated African populations. Future exomes studies particularly in multiplex families will likely provide opportunities for the discovery of the next sets of novel HI genes, and well as unreported variants in known genes to further our understanding of HI pathobiology, globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Mawuli Adadey
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 54, Legon, Accra, Ghana.,Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Edmond Wonkam-Tingang
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Elvis Twumasi Aboagye
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 54, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Osbourne Quaye
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 54, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Gordon A Awandare
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 54, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
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Wonkam-Tingang E, Schrauwen I, Esoh KK, Bharadwaj T, Nouel-Saied LM, Acharya A, Nasir A, Leal SM, Wonkam A. A novel variant in DMXL2 gene is associated with autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing impairment (DFNA71) in a Cameroonian family. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:1524-1532. [PMID: 33715530 DOI: 10.1177/1535370221999746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately half of congenital hearing impairment cases are inherited, with non-syndromic hearing impairment (NSHI) being the most frequent clinical entity of genetic hearing impairment cases. A family from Cameroon with NSHI was investigated by performing exome sequencing using DNA samples obtained from three family members, followed by direct Sanger sequencing in additional family members and controls participants. We identified an autosomal dominantly inherited novel missense variant [NM_001174116.2:c.918G>T; p.(Q306H)] in DMXL2 gene (MIM:612186) that co-segregates with mild to profound non-syndromic sensorineural hearing impairment . The p.(Q306H) variant which substitutes a highly conserved glutamine residue is predicted deleterious by various bioinformatics tools and is absent from several genome databases. This variant was also neither found in 121 apparently healthy controls without a family history of hearing impairment , nor 112 sporadic NSHI cases from Cameroon. There is one previous report of a large Han Chinese NSHI family that segregates a missense variant in DMXL2. The present study provides additional evidence that DMXL2 is involved in hearing impairment etiology, and we suggest DMXL2 should be considered in diagnostic hearing impairment panels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmond Wonkam-Tingang
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Isabelle Schrauwen
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Kevin K Esoh
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Thashi Bharadwaj
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Liz M Nouel-Saied
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Anushree Acharya
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Abdul Nasir
- Synthetic Protein Engineering Lab (SPEL), Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 443-749, Korea
| | - Suzanne M Leal
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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Yalcouyé A, Traoré O, Taméga A, Maïga AB, Kané F, Oluwole OG, Guinto CO, Kéita M, Timbo SK, DeKock C, Landouré G, Wonkam A. Etiologies of Childhood Hearing Impairment in Schools for the Deaf in Mali. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:726776. [PMID: 34912757 PMCID: PMC8667071 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.726776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: To identify the etiologies of hearing impairment (HI) in schools for students who are deaf and to use a systematic review to summarize reports on the etiologies and clinical and genetic features of HI in Mali. Methods: We included individuals with HI that started before the age of 15 years old. Patients were carefully evaluated under standard practices, and pure-tone audiometry was performed where possible. We then searched for articles published on HI in the Malian population from the databases' inception to March 30, 2020. Results: A total of 117 individuals from two schools for the deaf were included, and a male predominance (sex ratio 1.3; 65/52) was noted. HI was pre-lingual in 82.2% (n = 117), and the median age at diagnosis was 12 years old. The etiologies were environmental in 59.4% (70/117), with meningitis being the leading cause (40%, 20/70), followed by cases with genetic suspicion (29.3%, 21/117). In 11.3% (8/117) of patients, no etiology was identified. Among cases with genetic suspicion, three were syndromic, including two cases of Waardenburg syndrome, while 15 individuals had non-syndromic HI. An autosomal recessive inheritance pattern was observed in 83.3% of families (15/18), and consanguinity was reported in 55.5% (10/18) of putative genetic cases. Conclusion: This study concludes that environmental factors are the leading causes of HI in Mali. However, genetic causes should be investigated, particularly in the context of a population with a high consanguinity rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdoulaye Yalcouyé
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odondostomatologie, Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.,Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Oumou Traoré
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odondostomatologie, Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Abdoulaye Taméga
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odondostomatologie, Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Alassane B Maïga
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odondostomatologie, Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Fousseyni Kané
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odondostomatologie, Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali
| | - Oluwafemi G Oluwole
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Cheick Oumar Guinto
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odondostomatologie, Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.,Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire du Point "G", Bamako, Mali
| | - Mohamed Kéita
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odondostomatologie, Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.,Service d'ORL, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Gabriel Touré, Bamako, Mali
| | - Samba Karim Timbo
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odondostomatologie, Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.,Service d'ORL, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Gabriel Touré, Bamako, Mali
| | - Carmen DeKock
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Guida Landouré
- Faculté de Médecine et d'Odondostomatologie, Université des Sciences, Techniques et Technologies de Bamako (USTTB), Bamako, Mali.,Service de Neurologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire du Point "G", Bamako, Mali
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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10
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Birhanu B, Shimeles A, Gebremeskel F, Cager G, Redleaf M. Prevalence of Hearing Loss, and Middle Ear Disease in 1351 School Age Children in Mekelle, Ethiopia. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2020; 130:712-717. [PMID: 33124441 DOI: 10.1177/0003489420967708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to begin to measure the prevalence of elevated hearing thresholds in Ethiopia, with audiometric equipment, including bone oscillators and tympanometers. To that end Ethiopian nationals were trained in audiometric techniques to obtain sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and conductive hearing loss (CHL) rates in school age children. METHODS Five mainstreamed public grade schools in northern Ethiopia were the sites for audiometry campaigns examining 1351 children and testing them with behavioral audiometry. RESULTS Seven percent of students had SNHL > 20 dB in at least 1 frequency in at least 1 ear, and 0.6% of ears had SNHL > 50 dB. Eighteen percent8% of students had CHL > 20 dB in 1 or both ears. The frequency with the highest incidence of elevated pure tone thresholds was at 8000 Hz. Seven percent of students had an air bone gap at 2000 and/or 4000 Hz of at least 15 dB. Air bone gap is not obtained at 8000 Hz. There were 22 perforated tympanic membranes in 17 children (0.8% of tympanic membranes, 1% of students). CONCLUSION This study gives a baseline for the prevalence of hearing loss in school age children in mainstreamed northern Ethiopian schools. It is the first of its kind and perhaps can help in estimated hearing health needs there. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betelhem Birhanu
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Abel Shimeles
- Nordic Medical Center, Director of Audiology Education, Ethio-American Hearing Project NFP, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Filmawit Gebremeskel
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Gabrielle Cager
- Audiology and Hearing Sciences, University of Illinois Health, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Miriam Redleaf
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of Illinois Health, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Wonkam-Tingang E, Schrauwen I, Esoh KK, Bharadwaj T, Nouel-Saied LM, Acharya A, Nasir A, Adadey SM, Mowla S, Leal SM, Wonkam A. Bi-Allelic Novel Variants in CLIC5 Identified in a Cameroonian Multiplex Family with Non-Syndromic Hearing Impairment. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11111249. [PMID: 33114113 PMCID: PMC7690789 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA samples from five members of a multiplex non-consanguineous Cameroonian family, segregating prelingual and progressive autosomal recessive non-syndromic sensorineural hearing impairment, underwent whole exome sequencing. We identified novel bi-allelic compound heterozygous pathogenic variants in CLIC5. The variants identified, i.e., the missense [NM_016929.5:c.224T>C; p.(L75P)] and the splicing (NM_016929.5:c.63+1G>A), were validated using Sanger sequencing in all seven available family members and co-segregated with hearing impairment (HI) in the three hearing impaired family members. The three affected individuals were compound heterozygous for both variants, and all unaffected individuals were heterozygous for one of the two variants. Both variants were absent from the genome aggregation database (gnomAD), the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Database (dbSNP), and the UK10K and Greater Middle East (GME) databases, as well as from 122 apparently healthy controls from Cameroon. We also did not identify these pathogenic variants in 118 unrelated sporadic cases of non-syndromic hearing impairment (NSHI) from Cameroon. In silico analysis showed that the missense variant CLIC5-p.(L75P) substitutes a highly conserved amino acid residue (leucine), and is expected to alter the stability, the structure, and the function of the CLIC5 protein, while the splicing variant CLIC5-(c.63+1G>A) is predicted to disrupt a consensus donor splice site and alter the splicing of the pre-mRNA. This study is the second report, worldwide, to describe CLIC5 involvement in human hearing impairment, and thus confirms CLIC5 as a novel non-syndromic hearing impairment gene that should be included in targeted diagnostic gene panels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmond Wonkam-Tingang
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (E.W.-T.); (K.K.E.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Isabelle Schrauwen
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA; (I.S.); (T.B.); (L.M.N.-S.); (A.A.); (S.M.L.)
| | - Kevin K. Esoh
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (E.W.-T.); (K.K.E.); (S.M.A.)
| | - Thashi Bharadwaj
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA; (I.S.); (T.B.); (L.M.N.-S.); (A.A.); (S.M.L.)
| | - Liz M. Nouel-Saied
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA; (I.S.); (T.B.); (L.M.N.-S.); (A.A.); (S.M.L.)
| | - Anushree Acharya
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA; (I.S.); (T.B.); (L.M.N.-S.); (A.A.); (S.M.L.)
| | - Abdul Nasir
- Synthetic Protein Engineering Lab (SPEL), Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 443-749, Korea;
| | - Samuel M. Adadey
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (E.W.-T.); (K.K.E.); (S.M.A.)
- West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), University of Ghana, Accra LG 54, Ghana
| | - Shaheen Mowla
- Division of Haematology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa;
| | - Suzanne M. Leal
- Center for Statistical Genetics, Sergievsky Center, Taub Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, and the Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, New York, NY 10032, USA; (I.S.); (T.B.); (L.M.N.-S.); (A.A.); (S.M.L.)
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (E.W.-T.); (K.K.E.); (S.M.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +27-21-4066-307
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Wonkam A, Manyisa N, Bope CD, Dandara C, Chimusa ER. Whole exome sequencing reveals pathogenic variants in MYO3A, MYO15A and COL9A3 and differential frequencies in ancestral alleles in hearing impairment genes among individuals from Cameroon. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:3729-3743. [PMID: 33078831 PMCID: PMC7861016 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There is scarcity of known gene variants of hearing impairment (HI) in African populations. This knowledge deficit is ultimately affecting the development of genetic diagnoses. We used whole exome sequencing to investigate gene variants, pathways of interactive genes and the fractions of ancestral overderived alleles for 159 HI genes among 18 Cameroonian patients with non-syndromic HI (NSHI) and 129 ethnically matched controls. Pathogenic and likely pathogenic (PLP) variants were found in MYO3A, MYO15A and COL9A3, with a resolution rate of 50% (9/18 patients). The study identified significant genetic differentiation in novel population-specific gene variants at FOXD4L2, DHRS2L6, RPL3L and VTN between HI patients and controls. These gene variants are found in functional/co-expressed interactive networks with other known HI-associated genes and in the same pathways with VTN being a hub protein, that is, focal adhesion pathway and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton (P-values <0.05). The results suggest that these novel population-specific gene variants are possible modifiers of the HI phenotypes. We found a high proportion of ancestral allele versus derived at low HI patients-specific minor allele frequency in the range of 0.0–0.1. The results showed a relatively low pickup rate of PLP variants in known genes in this group of Cameroonian patients with NSHI. In addition, findings may signal an evolutionary enrichment of some variants of HI genes in patients, as the result of polygenic adaptation, and suggest the possibility of multigenic influence on the phenotype of congenital HI, which deserves further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Noluthando Manyisa
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Christian D Bope
- Department of Mathematics and Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Collet Dandara
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Emile R Chimusa
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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Nunes ADDS, Pereira RN, Pereira Junior A, Barbosa IR, Balen SA. Sensitivity and specificity of three hearing screening protocols in the school setting. REVISTA CEFAC 2020. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0216/20202266519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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