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Alfano M, De Antoni L, Centofanti F, Visconti VV, Maestri S, Degli Esposti C, Massa R, D'Apice MR, Novelli G, Delledonne M, Botta A, Rossato M. Characterization of full-length CNBP expanded alleles in myotonic dystrophy type 2 patients by Cas9-mediated enrichment and nanopore sequencing. eLife 2022; 11:80229. [PMID: 36018009 PMCID: PMC9462847 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is caused by CCTG repeat expansions in the CNBP gene, comprising 75 to >11,000 units and featuring extensive mosaicism, making it challenging to sequence fully expanded alleles. To overcome these limitations, we used PCR-free Cas9-mediated nanopore sequencing to characterize CNBP repeat expansions at the single-nucleotide level in nine DM2 patients. The length of normal and expanded alleles can be assessed precisely using this strategy, agreeing with traditional methods, and revealing the degree of mosaicism. We also sequenced an entire ~50 kbp expansion, which has not been achieved previously for DM2 or any other repeat-expansion disorders. Our approach precisely counted the repeats and identified the repeat pattern for both short interrupted and uninterrupted alleles. Interestingly, in the expanded alleles, only two DM2 samples featured the expected pure CCTG repeat pattern, while the other seven presented also TCTG blocks at the 3′ end, which have not been reported before in DM2 patients, but confirmed hereby with orthogonal methods. The demonstrated approach simultaneously determines repeat length, structure/motif, and the extent of somatic mosaicism, promising to improve the molecular diagnosis of DM2 and achieve more accurate genotype–phenotype correlations for the better stratification of DM2 patients in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luca De Antoni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Federica Centofanti
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Simone Maestri
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Massa
- Department of Systems Medicine (Neurology), University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Novelli
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Annalisa Botta
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Rossato
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Schilthuizen M, Thompson CG, de Vries R, van Peursen ADP, Paterno M, Maestri S, Marcolongo L, Esposti CD, Delledonne M, Njunjić I. A new giant keelback slug of the genus Limax from the Balkans, described by citizen scientists. Biodivers Data J 2022; 10:e69685. [PMID: 36761626 PMCID: PMC9848616 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.10.e69685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite their large size, striking colouration and genital extravagance, the taxonomy of the European giant keelback slugs of the genus Limax is still poorly understood. Preliminary morphological and molecular data suggest that many unnamed or unrecognised species exist, especially in the Alps, the Mediterranean and the Balkans. New information We organised a citizen science expedition to Durmitor National Park in Montenegro and discovered a new species, genetically distinct, but morphologically similar to the sympatric L.cinereoniger Wolf 1803 and describe it as L.pseudocinereoniger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menno Schilthuizen
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, NetherlandsNaturalis Biodiversity CenterLeidenNetherlands
| | - Cameron Graham Thompson
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United KingdomDepartment of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes UniversityOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Rick de Vries
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam, NetherlandsAmsterdam University of Applied SciencesAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Anthonie D. P. van Peursen
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, NetherlandsNaturalis Biodiversity CenterLeidenNetherlands
| | - Marta Paterno
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,University of Verona, Verona, ItalyUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly,Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno, Baronissi, ItalyDepartment of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of SalernoBaronissiItaly
| | - Simone Maestri
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,University of Verona, Verona, ItalyUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Luca Marcolongo
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,University of Verona, Verona, ItalyUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Chiara Degli Esposti
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,University of Verona, Verona, ItalyUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Massimo Delledonne
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,University of Verona, Verona, ItalyUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Iva Njunjić
- Taxon Expeditions B.V., Leiden, NetherlandsTaxon Expeditions B.V.LeidenNetherlands,Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, NetherlandsNaturalis Biodiversity CenterLeidenNetherlands,MNHN, Paris, FranceMNHNParisFrance
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Marcolungo L, Beltrami C, Degli Esposti C, Lopatriello G, Piubelli C, Mori A, Pomari E, Deiana M, Scarso S, Bisoffi Z, Grosso V, Cosentino E, Maestri S, Lavezzari D, Iadarola B, Paterno M, Segala E, Giovannone B, Gallinaro M, Rossato M, Delledonne M. ACoRE: Accurate SARS-CoV-2 genome reconstruction for the characterization of intra-host and inter-host viral diversity in clinical samples and for the evaluation of re-infections. Genomics 2021; 113:1628-1638. [PMID: 33839270 PMCID: PMC8028595 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 genome from clinical samples can be challenging, especially in specimens with low viral titer. Here we report Accurate SARS-CoV-2 genome Reconstruction (ACoRE), an amplicon-based viral genome sequencing workflow for the complete and accurate reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 sequences from clinical samples, including suboptimal ones that would usually be excluded even if unique and irreplaceable. The protocol was optimized to improve flexibility and the combination of technical replicates was established as the central strategy to achieve accurate analysis of low-titer/suboptimal samples. We demonstrated the utility of the approach by achieving complete genome reconstruction and the identification of false-positive variants in >170 clinical samples, thus avoiding the generation of inaccurate and/or incomplete sequences. Most importantly, ACoRE was crucial to identify the correct viral strain responsible of a relapse case, that would be otherwise mis-classified as a re-infection due to missing or incorrect variant identification by a standard workflow.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Marcolungo
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Cristina Beltrami
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Degli Esposti
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Giulia Lopatriello
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Chiara Piubelli
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Mori
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
| | - Elena Pomari
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
| | - Michela Deiana
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
| | - Salvatore Scarso
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
| | - Zeno Bisoffi
- Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy,Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Valentina Grosso
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Emanuela Cosentino
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Simone Maestri
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Denise Lavezzari
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Barbara Iadarola
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Marta Paterno
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Elena Segala
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Barbara Giovannone
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Martina Gallinaro
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Marzia Rossato
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy,Genartis srl, via IV Novembre 24, 37126 Verona, Italy
| | - Massimo Delledonne
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy,Genartis srl, via IV Novembre 24, 37126 Verona, Italy,Corresponding author at: Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
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Degli Esposti C, Iadarola B, Maestri S, Beltrami C, Lavezzari D, Morini M, De Marco P, Erminio G, Garaventa A, Zara F, Delledonne M, Ognibene M, Pezzolo A. Exosomes from Plasma of Neuroblastoma Patients Contain Doublestranded DNA Reflecting the Mutational Status of Parental Tumor Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073667. [PMID: 33915956 PMCID: PMC8036333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is an aggressive infancy tumor, leading cause of death among preschool age diseases. Here we focused on characterization of exosomal DNA (exo-DNA) isolated from plasma cell-derived exosomes of neuroblastoma patients, and its potential use for detection of somatic mutations present in the parental tumor cells. Exosomes are small extracellular membrane vesicles secreted by most cells, playing an important role in intercellular communications. Using an enzymatic method, we provided evidence for the presence of double-stranded DNA in the NB exosomes. Moreover, by whole exome sequencing, we demonstrated that NB exo-DNA represents the entire exome and that it carries tumor-specific genetic mutations, including those occurring on known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in neuroblastoma (ALK, CHD5, SHANK2, PHOX2B, TERT, FGFR1, and BRAF). NB exo-DNA can be useful to identify variants responsible for acquired resistance, such as mutations of ALK, TP53, and RAS/MAPK genes that appear in relapsed patients. The possibility to isolate and to enrich NB derived exosomes from plasma using surface markers, and the quick and easy extraction of exo-DNA, gives this methodology a translational potential in the clinic. Exo-DNA can be an attractive non-invasive biomarker for NB molecular diagnostic, especially when tissue biopsy cannot be easily available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Degli Esposti
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.E.); (B.I.); (S.M.); (C.B.); (D.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Barbara Iadarola
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.E.); (B.I.); (S.M.); (C.B.); (D.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Simone Maestri
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.E.); (B.I.); (S.M.); (C.B.); (D.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Cristina Beltrami
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.E.); (B.I.); (S.M.); (C.B.); (D.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Denise Lavezzari
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.E.); (B.I.); (S.M.); (C.B.); (D.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Martina Morini
- Laboratorio di Biologia Molecolare, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy;
| | - Patrizia De Marco
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (P.D.M.); (F.Z.)
| | - Giovanni Erminio
- Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy;
| | - Alberto Garaventa
- Divisione di Oncologia, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy;
| | - Federico Zara
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (P.D.M.); (F.Z.)
| | - Massimo Delledonne
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (C.D.E.); (B.I.); (S.M.); (C.B.); (D.L.); (M.D.)
| | - Marzia Ognibene
- U.O.C. Genetica Medica, IRCCS Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genova, Italy; (P.D.M.); (F.Z.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-010-56362601
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Sacchi S, Sena P, Degli Esposti C, Lui J, La Marca A. Evidence for expression and functionality of FSH and LH/hCG receptors in human endometrium. J Assist Reprod Genet 2018; 35:1703-1712. [PMID: 29974367 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-018-1248-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) mediate intracellular functions by binding their specific protein G-coupled gonadotrophin receptor, respectively FSH receptor (FSHR) and LH/choriogonadotrophin receptor (LHCGR). Whereas the expression of FSHR and LHCGR in mammals was considered gonad-specific and cell-specific, studies identified gonadotrophin receptors in human female extragonadal reproductive tissues. This study aims to demonstrate that gonadotrophin receptors are expressed in endometrium and mediates intracellular functions. METHODS Collected endometria (n = 12) from healthy patients (mean age of 36 ± 6) were primary cultured for 24 h. The presence of gonadotrophin receptors was evaluated by RT-PCR followed by the sequencing of the resulted amplicons and by immunohistochemistry in original samples. Endometrial primary cultures were treated with increasing concentration (range 0-100 ng/ml) of either recombinant human LH (rhLH) or recombinant human FSH (rhFSH). Endometria controls had gonadotrophin replaced by the same volume of the culture medium. In gonadotrophin-treated samples, it was evaluated the intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content by enzymatic immunoassay and the expression of steroidogenic genes by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). RESULTS The sequencing of the RT-PCR amplicons confirmed the presence of both gonadotrophin receptors and immunohistochemistry localized them on the membrane of endometrial glands cells throughout the glandular epithelium. The gonadotrophin-receptor complex was able to increase the intracellular cAMP in a dose-response and time-course manner and to induce steroidogenic genes expression. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that both gonadotrophin receptors are expressed along the glandular epithelium of endometria and they mediate the effects of gonadotrophins on intracellular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Sacchi
- Mother-Infant Department, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Clinica Eugin Modena, 41123, Modena, Italy
| | - Paola Sena
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Human Morphology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Chiara Degli Esposti
- Mother-Infant Department, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Clinica Eugin Modena, 41123, Modena, Italy
| | - Jessica Lui
- Mother-Infant Department, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Clinica Eugin Modena, 41123, Modena, Italy
| | - Antonio La Marca
- Mother-Infant Department, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Clinica Eugin Modena, 41123, Modena, Italy.
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Esposti CD, Fuganti A, Kisiel Z, Tamassia F. The Coriolis Interaction between the v2 = 1 and v3 = 2 States of Nitrosyl Bromide: Anomalous Quadrupole Patterns and Interstate Transitions in the Millimeter-Wave Spectrum. J Mol Spectrosc 1998; 191:316-325. [PMID: 9753567 DOI: 10.1006/jmsp.1998.7643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The millimeter-wave rotational spectra of 79BrNO and 81BrNO in the v2 = 1 and v3 = 2 vibrational states have been reinvestigated. Measurements of the rotational spectrum in the region of maximum c-type Coriolis interaction between the two states allowed the previous analysis to be extended to account for some uncommon effects. For the most perturbed transitions the nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structure arises from coupling of not only the bromine nucleus, but also the nitrogen nucleus with the rotational angular momentum. These effects were satisfactorily fitted with a Hamiltonian describing Coriolis coupling in a molecule with two quadrupolar nuclei. The successful analysis of pure rotational transitions then allowed accurate prediction of rovibrational transitions, six of which were measured for 79BrNO and four for 81BrNO. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.
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Affiliation(s)
- CD Esposti
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician,&rdquo, Universitàdi Bologna, Via F. Selmi 2, Bologna, 40126, Italy
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Tamassia F, Esposti CD, Bizzocchi L, Zelinger Z, Guennec ML, Demaison J, Litz M, Bürger H. Diode Laser and FTIR Spectroscopy of BrCN Isotopomers in the Region of the nu3 Band. J Mol Spectrosc 1998; 189:264-269. [PMID: 9647722 DOI: 10.1006/jmsp.1998.7544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The nu3 fundamental band (C-N stretch) and four associated hot bands (01(1)1-01(1)0, 10(0)1-10(0)0, 02(0)1-02(0)0, and 02(2)1-02(2)0) of natural 79/81Br12C14N have been recorded and analyzed in the 4.8-µm region using an FTIR spectrometer. Analyses of the same hot bands, previously recorded using a diode laser spectrometer, are also presented for the 13C and 15N isotopically labeled species. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Tamassia
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician,", Università di Bologna, Via F. Selmi 2, Bologna, 40126, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- G Cazzoli
- Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Universita di Bologna, Via Selmi 2, Bologna, I-40126, Italy
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