Polyomavirus BK and prostate cancer: a complex interaction of potential clinical relevance

Several studies combining together with BK polyomavirus and prostate cancer suggested that this virus may utilize its oncogenic activity at the early stages of cancer development. The BK polyomavirus oncogene, the large T antigen, has periodically been observed in areas of proliferative inflammatory atrophy, which is considered a precursor lesion leading to prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and overt prostate cancer. In a recently updated systematic review, the presence of BK polyomavirus was symbolically higher in prostate cancer tissues than in healthy control tissues, providing an indication for a link between BK polyomavirus infection and cancer risk. In addition to this, the recent original investigations highlighted an association between expression of the virus and the clinical course of prostate cancer. Although a complete picture of the mechanisms potentially responsible for the involvement of BK polyomavirus in prostate cancer is not yet available.

Click here to view the journal: Clinical and ExperimentalGenetics

Microgeographic population genetic structure of Baylisascaris procyonis - The Grand River is a barrier to gene flow

Baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm, is being progressively recognized for its zoonotic and public health importance. Fine-scale genetics analyses of this species have been delayed due to a lack of appropriate genetic marker. Finally eight novel polymorphic microsatellites for B. procyonis have been developed, and used these markers to exemplify microgeographic structuring of this parasite in western Michigan. Results have revealed significant levels of genetic differentiation amongst the 74 worms collected from 10 different raccoons. Grand River can be a major dispersal barrier for B. procyonis because raccoons are most likely to disperse across the river when it is frozen, and worm burden in raccoons approaches zero during the winter.

Click here to view the journal: Clinical and Experimental Genetics

Bioinformatic Challenges in Clinical Diagnostic Application of Targeted Next Generation Sequencing: Experience from Pheochromocytoma.

DNA from 21 patients with genetic variants in SDHB, VHL, EPAS1, RET, (n=17) or clinical criteria of NF1 syndrome (n=4) were included. Results were analysed in parallel using three different bioinformatics pipelines; (1) Commercially available MiSEQ Reporter, fully automatized and integrated software, (2) CLC Genomics Workbench, graphical interface based software, also commercially available, and ICP (3) an in-house scripted custom bioinformatic tool. A tenfold read coverage was achieved in between 95-98% of targeted bases. All workflows had alignment of reads to SDHA and NF1 pseudogenes.

Click here to view the journal: Clinical and Experimental Genetics