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73 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 73
Selection of Potential Therapeutic Bacteriophages that Lyse a CTX-M-15 Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Strain from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract (Expand)

Recently, a Salmonella Typhi isolate producing CTX-M-15 extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and with decreased ciprofloxacin susceptibility was isolated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We … have selected bacteriophages that show strong lytic activity against this isolate and have potential for phage-based treatment of S. Typhi, and Salmonella in general.

Authors: Elene Kakabadze, Khatuna Makalatia, Nino Grdzelishvili, Nata Bakuradze, Marina Goderdzishvili, Ia Kusradze, Marie-France Phoba, Octavie Lunguya, Cédric Lood, Rob Lavigne, Jan Jacobs, Stijn Deborggraeve, Tessa De Block, Sandra Van Puyvelde, David Lee, Aidan Coffey, Anahit Sedrakyan, Patrick Soentjens, Daniel De Vos, Jean-Paul Pirnay, Nina Chanishvili

Date Published: 3rd Apr 2018

Publication Type: Journal

Involvement of polymorphisms of the nerve growth factor and its receptor encoding genes in the etiopathogenesis of ischemic stroke

Abstract (Expand)

Background: Despite the important role of the nerve growth factor in the survival and maintenance of neurons in ischemic stroke, data regarding the relationships between variations in the encoding gene … and stroke are lacking. In the present study, we evaluated the association of the functional polymorphisms in NGF (rs6330) and NGFR (rs2072446 and rs734194) genes with ischemic stroke in an Armenian population. Methods: In total, 370 unrelated individuals of Armenian nationality were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA samples of patients and healthy controls were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers. Results: The results obtained indicate that the minor allele of rs6330 (Pcorr = 2.4E-10) and rs2072446 (Pcorr = 0.02) are significantly overrepresented in stroke group, while the minor allele of rs734194 (Pcorr = 8.5E-10) was underrepresented in diseased subjects. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in NGF gene (rs6330) and NGFR gene (rs2072446 and rs734194) are associated with the disease. Furthermore, it was shown that the carriage of the NGF rs6330*T minor allele is associated with increased infarct volume and higher risk of recurrent stroke. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest that the NGF rs6330*T and NGFR rs2072446*T minor alleles might be nominated as a risk factor for developing ischemic stroke and NGFR rs734194*G minor allele as a protective against this disease at least in Armenian population. Keywords: Ischemic stroke, Nerve growth factor, Nerve growth factor receptor, NGF, NGFR, Single nucleotide polymorphism

Authors: Ani Stepanyan, Roksana Zakharyan, Arsen Simonyan, Gohar Tsakanova, Arsen Arakelyan

Date Published: 2nd Mar 2018

Publication Type: Journal

Association of Bax and Bcl-2 Functional Polymorphisms and Protein Levels with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract (Expand)

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disease influenced by both environmental and genetic factors, which affects a patient’s quality of life and social stability. Recent studies … have shown that the pathogenesis of PTSD is associated with apoptosis; however, the molecular mechanisms that cause such damage are not well-understood. Also it is unclear whether these pathologic alterations are genetically determined or caused by other factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic association of functional polymorphisms in genes coding for apoptosis-related Bcl-2 and Bax proteins with PTSD as well as proteins levels in the blood of affected subjects. Methods: The study groups consisted of 200 combat veterans with PTSD and an equal number of healthy subjects with no family- or past-history of any psychiatric disorders. Bax and Bcl-2 proteins levels in blood were measured by ELISA. DNA samples were genotyped for SNPs using PCR-SSP. Results: According to our results, PTSD patients are characterized by increased levels of apoptotic proteins and the imbalance in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio compared to healthy subjects. Our results also demonstrate that rs956572*A minor allele of the BCL2 gene was overrepresented in patients with PTSD compared to healthy subjects. Conclusions: The results implicate Bcl-2 and Bax in pathogenesis of PTSD on genetic and protein levels, though further studies on enlarged cohort and in different populations are required.

Authors: Diana Avetyan, Arsen Arakelyan, Gohar Mkrtchyan

Date Published: 26th Feb 2018

Publication Type: Journal

Genetic Polymorphisms of Nervous System Development and the Risk of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract (Expand)

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex severe polygenic psychiatric disease, influenced by environmental and genetic factors. PTSD development and progression is characterized … by cognitive impairment, which may result in altered processes of nervous system development and synaptic plasticity, where a number of growth factors and their receptors were shown to play important role. Since neurotrophins play an essential role in the development of central nervous system, it is widely implicated in psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential association functional polymorphisms of genes encoding netrin G1 (NTNG1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptor (NGFR) with PTSD. Methods: Study groups consisted of 200 combat veterans with PTSD and an equal number of controls with no family or past history of any psychiatric disorders. The DNA samples were genotyped for NTNG1 rs62811; BDNF rs6265; NGF rs6330, rs4839435; NGFR rs11466155, rs734194 SNPs using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers. Results: According to the results, NGF rs6330 was overrepresented in patients with PTSD compared to controls. Furthermore, negative association for BDNF rs6265, NGF rs4839435 and NGFR rs734194 was observed in PTSD patients. Conclusions: In summary, BDNF rs6265, NGF rs6330, rs4839435 and NGFR rs734194 are implicated in PTSD in Armenian population. However, further research is required to provide the definitive evidence of selected polymorphism association with gene expression.

Authors: Diana Avetyan, Arsen Arakelyan, Gohar Mkrtchyan

Date Published: 11th Jan 2018

Publication Type: Journal

Genetic variability of interleukin-1 beta as prospective factor from developing post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract (Expand)

Individual susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is conditioned by genetic factors, and association between this disorder and polymorphisms of several genes have been shown. The aim … of this study was to explore a potential association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the IL-1β gene (IL1B) and PTSD. In genomic DNA samples of PTSD-affected and healthy subjects, the rs16944, rs1143634, rs2853550, rs1143643, and rs1143633 SNPs of IL1B gene have been genotyped. The results obtained demonstrated that IL1B rs1143633*C and rs16944*A minor allele frequency were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Our results confirm that IL1B rs1143633 and rs16944 SNPs are negatively associated with PTSD which allows us to consider them as protective variants for PTSD. IL1B rs1143633*C and rs16944*A minor allele frequencies and carriage rates are significantly lower in the PTSD patients as compared to the controls. These results may provide a base to conclude that above-mentioned alleles can be protective against PTSD, and IL1B gene can be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Authors: Lilit Hovhannisyan, Ani Stepanyan, Arsen Arakelyan

Date Published: 5th Jul 2017

Publication Type: Journal

Characterization of BRCA1/2 mutations in patients with family history of breast cancer in Armenia.

Abstract (Expand)

Background. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide. The germline mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most significant and well characterized genetic risk factors … for hereditary breast cancer. Intensive research in the last decades has demonstrated that the incidence of mutations varies widely among different populations. In this study we attempted to perform a pilot study for identification and characterization of mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes among Armenian patients with family history of breast cancer and their healthy relatives. Methods. We performed targeted exome sequencing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes in 6 patients and their healthy relatives. After alignment of short reads to the reference genome, germline single nucleotide variation and indel discovery was performed using GATK software. Functional implications of identified variants were assessed using ENSEMBL Variant Effect Predictor tool. Results. In total, 39 single nucleotide variations and 4 indels were identified, from which 15 SNPs and 3 indels were novel. No known pathogenic mutations were identified, but 2 SNPs causing missense amino acid mutations had significantly increased frequencies in the study group compared to the 1000 Genome populations. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate the importance of screening of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene variants in the Armenian population in order to identity specifics of mutation spectrum and frequencies and enable accurate risk assessment of hereditary breast cancers. Keywords: BRCA1; BRCA2; breast cancer; mutation screening; targeted exome sequencing.

Authors: Sofi Atshemyan, Andranik Chavushyan, Nerses Berberian, Arthur Sahakyan, Roksana Zakharyan, Arsen Arakelyan

Date Published: 10th Jan 2017

Publication Type: Journal

Transcription Factors in Schizophrenia: A Current View of Genetic Aspects

Abstract (Expand)

Background: Schizophrenia is a polygenic mental disorder with about 80% heritability. Growing evidence indicated that synaptic dysfunctions contribute to SCZ etiopathogenesis. The context and purpose …e of the study: Transcription factors play an important role in the regulation of gene expression. Whereas expression analysis of transcription factor has been performed, studies of their genetic variants are limited. The current review article summarizes data on transcription factors early growth response 3 (EGR3), c-fos transcription (FOS), immune early response 5 (IER5), c-jun (JUN), Nk2 Homeobox 1 (NKX2-1), and transcription factor 4 (TCF4) encoding genes in schizophrenia. Results and main findings: An important role of the mentioned genes in this pathology has been identified. Conclusions: We concluded that the genetic variants of the transcription factor encodng genes might contribute to the assessment of disease susceptibility and can find potential use for the development of genetically-driven diagnostic approaches in the future.

Author: Zakharyan Roksana

Date Published: 30th Dec 2016

Publication Type: Journal

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