Acute liver failure with hemolytic anemia in children with Wilson’s disease:Genotype-phenotype correlations?

BACKGROUND Wilson’s disease(WD)is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder of copper metabolism.Acute liver failure(ALF)and hemolytic anemia represent the most severe presentation of WD in children.No clear genotype-phenotype correlations exist in WD.Protein-truncating nonsense,frame-shift,or splice-site variants may be associated with more severe disease.In contrast,missense variants may be associated with late-onset,less severe disease,and more neurological manifestations.Recently,a gene variant(HSD17B13:TA,rs72613567)with a possible hepatic protective role against toxins was associated with a less severe hepatic phenotype in WD.AIM To analyze the possible genotype-phenotype correlations in children with WD presented with ALF and non-immune hemolytic anemia.METHODS The medical records of children with WD diagnosed and treated in our hospital from January 2006 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical manifestations(ALF with non-immune hemolytic anemia or other less severe forms),laboratory parameters,copper metabolism,ATP7B variants,and the HSD17B13:TA(rs72613567)variant were reviewed to analyze the possible genotype-phenotype correlations.RESULTS We analyzed the data of 51 patients with WD,26 females(50.98%),with the mean age at the diagnosis of 12.36±3.74 years.ALF and Coombs-negative hemolytic anemia was present in 8 children(15.67%),all adolescent girls.The Kayser-Fleisher ring was present in 9 children(17.65%).The most frequent variants of the ATP7B gene were p.His1069Gln(c.3207A>G)in 38.24% of all alleles,p.Gly1341Asp(c.4021G>A)in 26.47%,p.Trp939Cys(c.2817G>T)in 9.80%,and p.Lys844Ter(c.2530A>T)in 4.90%.In ALF with hemolytic anemia,p.Trp939Cys(c.2817G>T)and p.Lys844Ter(c.2530A>T)variants were more frequent than in other less severe forms,in which p.His1069Gln(c.3207A>G)was more frequent.p.Gly1341Asp(c.4021G>A)has a similar frequency in all hepatic forms.For 33 of the patients,the HSD17B13 genotype was evaluated.The overall HSD17B13:TA allele frequency was 24.24%.Its frequency was higher in patients with less severe liver disease(26.92%)than those with ALF and hemolytic anemia(14.28%).CONCLUSION It remains challenging to prove a genotype-phenotype correlation in WD patients.In children with ALF and hemolytic anemia,the missense variants other than p.His1069Gln(c.3207A>G)and frame-shift variants were the most frequently present in homozygous status or compound heterozygous status with site splice variants.As genetic analysis is usually time-consuming and the results are late,the importance at the onset of the ALF is questionable.If variants proved to be associated with severe forms are found in the pre-symptomatic phase of the disease,this could be essential to predict a possible severe evolution.

Clinical features and genotype-phenotype correlation analysis in patients with ATL1 mutations:A literature reanalysis

Background:The hereditary spastic paraplegias(HSPs)are a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders.Approximately 10% of the autosomal dominant(AD)HSPs(ADHSPs)have the spastic paraplegia 3A(SPG3A)genotype which is caused by ATL1 gene mutations.Currently there are more than 60 reported ATL1 gene mutations and the genotype-phenotype correlation remains unclear.The study aims to investigate the genotypephenotype correlation in SPG3A patients.Methods:We performed a reanalysis of the clinical features and genotype-phenotype correlations in 51 reported studies exhibiting an ATL1 gene mutation.Results:Most HSPs-SPG3A patients exhibited an early age at onset(AAO)of<10 years old,and showed an autosomal dominant pure spastic paraplegia.We found that 14% of the HSPs-SPG3A patients presented complicated phenotypes,with distal atrophy being the most common complicated symptom.The AAO of each mutation group was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The mutational spectrum associated with ATL1 gene mutation is wide,and most mutations are missense mutations,but do not involve the functional motif of ATL1 gene encoded atlastin-1 protein.Conclusions:Our findings indicate that there is no clear genotype-phenotype correlation in HSPs-SPG3A patients.We also find that exons 4,7,8 and 12 are mutation hotspots in ATL1 gene.

Multifaceted superoxide dismutase 1 expression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients:a rare occurrence?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a neuromuscular condition resulting from the progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the cortex,brainstem,and spinal cord.While the typical clinical phenotype of ALS involves both upper and lower motor neurons,human and animal studies over the years have highlighted the potential spread to other motor and non-motor regions,expanding the phenotype of ALS.Although superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1)mutations represent a minority of ALS cases,the SOD1 gene remains a milestone in ALS research as it represents the first genetic target for personalized therapies.Despite numerous single case reports or case series exhibiting extramotor symptoms in patients with ALS mutations in SOD1(SOD1-ALS),no studies have comprehensively explored the full spectrum of extramotor neurological manifestations in this subpopulation.In this narrative review,we analyze and discuss the available literature on extrapyramidal and non-motor features during SOD1-ALS.The multifaceted expression of SOD1 could deepen our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms,pointing towards a multidisciplinary approach for affected patients in light of new therapeutic strategies for SOD1-ALS.

The landscape of cognitive impairment in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Although mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 gene account for only a minority of total amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases,the discovery of this gene has been crucial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research.Since the identification of superoxide dismutase 1 in 1993,the field of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genetics has considerably widened,improving our understanding of the diverse pathogenic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.In this review,we focus on cognitive impairment in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.Literature has mostly reported that cognition remains intact in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients,but recent reports highlight frontal lobe function frailty in patients carrying different superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutations.We thoroughly reviewed all the various mutations reported in the literature to contribute to a comprehensive database of superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genotype-phenotype correlation.Such a resource could ultimately improve our mechanistic understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,enabling a more robust assessment of how the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotype responds to different variants across genes,which is important for the therapeutic strategy targeting genetic mutations.Cognition in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis deserves further longitudinal research since this peculiar frailty in patients with similar mutations can be conditioned by external factors,including environment and other unidentified agents including modifier genes.

Is new American Thyroid Association risk classification for hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma applicable to Chinese patients? A single-center study

Objective: The American Thyroid Association (ATA) proposed a new risk classification for hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in 2015. This study aimed to assess whether the new guidelines are suitable for the Chinese population, and reported our experience on prophylactic thyroidectomy. Methods: A total of 73 patients from 22 families were screened as rearranged during transfection (RET) mutation carriers from 2010 to 2016 in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science; the medical history for each patient was collected. Based on the initial treatment, we identified the risk factors for poor prognosis by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Then, 4 RET mutation carriers were enrolled for prophylactic thyroidectomy, and their pathological data and follow-up outcomes were recorded. Results: In univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, age at initial surgery and risk classification were significant risk factors for stage III/IV hereditary MTC at initial diagnosis. The likelihood was increased by 11.6% per year of age at initial surgery [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.040-1.198; P=0.002). It was 7.888 times more likely to have III/IV stage disease for ATA highest risk patients, compared to ATA moderate risk individuals (95% CI, 1.607-38.717; P=0.003). Postoperative pathological results showed all 4 multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN2A) patients had C-cell hyperplasia (CCH); multifocal malignancies were detected in 3 of them. All 4 patients were cured biochemically, and none developed permanent hypoparathyroidism. Conclusions: In Chinese individuals, hereditary MTC aggressiveness is in line with the new ATA risk classification. Germline RET gene mutation carriers should undergo prophylactic thyroidectomy according to basal serum calcitonin levels.

New genes emerging for colorectal cancer predisposition

Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most frequent neoplasms and an important cause of mortality in the developed world.This cancer is caused by both genetic and environmental factors although 35%of the variation in CRC susceptibility involves inherited genetic differences.Mendelian syndromes account for about5%of the total burden of CRC,with Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis the most common forms.Excluding hereditary forms,there is an important fraction of CRC cases that present familial aggregation for the disease with an unknown germline genetic cause.CRC can be also considered as a complex disease taking into account the common diseasecommom variant hypothesis with a polygenic model of inheritance where the genetic components of common complex diseases correspond mostly to variants of low/moderate effect.So far,30 common,low-penetrance susceptibility variants have been identified for CRC.Recently,new sequencing technologies including exomeand whole-genome sequencing have permitted to add a new approach to facilitate the identification of new genes responsible for human disease predisposition.By using whole-genome sequencing,germline mutations in the POLE and POLD1 genes have been found to be responsible for a new form of CRC genetic predisposition called polymerase proofreading-associated polyposis.

Genetic analyses in a cohort of 191 Chinese pulmonarv arterial hypertension patients

Objective Pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH)is mainly characterized by pulmonary artery obstruction,which is diagnosed by a mean pulmonary artery pressure≥25 mm Hg at rest,and excluding other known causes of pulmonary hypertension.To identify genetic mutations and help make a precise diagnosis,we performed genetic testing in 191 probands with invasively confirmed PAH and tried to analyze the genotype-phenotype correlation.

SLC26A4 mutation testing for hearing loss associated with enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct

nPendred syndrome （PS） is characterized by autosomal recessive inheritance of goiter associated with a defect of iodide organification, hearing loss, enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct （EVA）, and mutations of the SLC26A4 gene. However, not all EVA patients have PS or SLC26A4 mutations. Two mutant alleles of SLC26A4 are detected in 1/4 of North American or European EVA populations, one mutant allele is detected in another 1/4 of patient populations, and no mutations are de-tected in the other 1/2. The presence of two mutant al-leles of SLC26A4 is associated with abnormal iodide or-ganification, increased thyroid gland volume, increased severity of hearing loss, and bilateral EVA. The pres-ence of a single mutant allele of SLC26A4 is associated with normal iodide organification, normal thyroid gland volume, less severe hearing loss and either bilateral or unilateral EVA. When other underlying correlations are accounted for, the presence of a cochlear malformation or the size of EVA does not have an effect on hearing thresholds. This is consistent with observations of an Slc26a4 mutant mouse model of EVA in which hearing loss is independent of endolymphatic hydrops or in-ner ear malformations. Segregation analyses of EVA in families suggest that the patients carrying one mutant allele of SLC26A4 have a second, undetected mutant allele of SLC26A4, and the probability of a sibling hav-ing EVA is consistent with its segregation as an autoso-mal recessive trait. Patients without any mutations are an etiologically heterogeneous group in which siblings have a lower probability of having EVA. SLC26A4 muta-tion testing can provide prognostic information to guide clinical surveillance and management, as well as the probability of EVA affecting a sibling.

Plaque Psoriasis: Understanding Risk Factors of This Inflammatory Skin Pathology

Covering the entire human body, the skin is considered to be one of the most important organs, since it is the first line of protection against chemical and biological external agents. Although the skin protects tissues and organs against external aggression, it can still be unbalanced by various skin diseases, such as psoriasis. This non-contagious inflammatory dermatosis is characterized by the occurrence of erythematous lesions of various sizes covered with whitish scales. This scaling of the skin is the result of a rapid renewal of the epidermis, occurring over five to seven days instead of 28 days. Psoriasis vulgaris, or plaque psoriasis, is the most common form of this disease and is therefore commonly referred to by the term “psoriasis”. This work is a review of the literature on plaque psoriasis, aiming at a better comprehension of the pathology at the histological level, but also to understand the genetic and environmental factors associated with this inflammatory dermatosis.

Double heterozygosity in sarcomere genes in a Chinese family with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Objective Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM)is a common autosome dominant cardiovascular disease,mainly caused by mutations in sarcomeric protein genes.Only about 5%of the patients carried double or compound heterozygosity,which might be related to earlier disease onset and more severe outcome.We aimed to identify the disease-causing mutation in a Chinese family with HCM and analyze the genotype-phenotype correlation.

Neurofibromatosis type Ⅰ caused by a splicing mutation in NF1 using targeted next generation sequencing

Objective Neurofibromatosis typeⅠ(NF1)is an autosomal dominant disorder which is caused by loss-of-function mutations in neurofibromin 1 gene(NF1).Clinically,NF1 mainly manifests several typical features,such as multiple neurofibromas and café-au-lait spots,as well as axillary freckling and Lisch nodules in iris.The aim of the current study is to identification a splicing mutation and genotype-phenotype correlation.

New era of cystic fibrosis:Full mutational analysis and personalized therapy

Despite its apparently simple genetics,cystic fibrosis(CF) is a rather complex genetic disease.A lot of variability in the steps of the path from the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR) gene to the clinical manifestations originates an uncertain genotype- phenotype relationship.A major determinant of this uncertainty is the incomplete knowledge of the CFTR mutated genotypes,due to the high number of CFTR mutations and to the higher number of their combinations in trans and in cis.Also the very limited knowledge of functional effects of CFTR mutated alleles severely impairs our diagnostic and prognostic ability.The final phenotypic modulation exerted by CFTR modifier genes and interactome further complicates the framework.The next generation sequencing approach is a rapid,lowcost and high-throughput tool that allows a near complete structural characterization of CFTR mutated genotypes,as well as of genotypes of several other genes cooperating to the final CF clinical manifestations.This powerful method perfectly complements the new personalized therapeutic approach for CF.Drugs active on specific CFTR mutational classes are already available for CF patients or are in phase 3 trials.A complete genetic characterization has been becoming crucial for a correct personalized therapy.However,the need of a functional classification of each CFTR mutation potently arises.Future big efforts towards an ever more detailed knowledge of both structural and functional CFTR defects,coupled to parallel personalized therapeutic interventions decisive for CF cure can be foreseen.

Genome-scale CRISPRi screening:A powerful tool in engineering microbiology

Deciphering gene function is fundamental to engineering of microbiology.The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)system has been adapted for gene repression across a range of hosts,creating a versatile tool called CRISPR interference(CRISPRi)that enables genome-scale analysis of gene function.This approach has yielded significant advances in the design of genome-scale CRISPRi libraries,as well as in applica-tions of CRISPRi screening in medical and industrial microbiology.This review provides an overview of the recent progress made in pooled and arrayed CRISPRi screening in microorganisms and highlights representative studies that have employed this method.Additionally,the challenges associated with CRISPRi screening are discussed,and potential solutions for optimizing this strategy are proposed.

Application of next-generation sequencing to screen for pathogenic mutations in 123 unrelated Chinese patients with Marfan syndrome or a related disease

Marfan syndrome(MFS) is a systemic connective tissue disease principally affecting the ocular, skeletal and cardiovascular systems. This autosomal dominant disorder carries a prevalence of 1:3,000 to 1:5,000. This study aims to define the mutational spectrum of MFS related genes in Chinese patients and to establish genotype-phenotype correlations in MFS. Panel-based targeted next-generation sequencing was used to analyze the FBN1, TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 genes in 123 unrelated Chinese individuals with MFS or a related disease. Genotype-phenotype correlation analyses were performed in mutation-positive patients. The results showed that 97 cases/families(78.9%;97/123) harbor at least one(likely) pathogenic mutation, most of which were in FBN1;four patients had TGFBR1/2 mutations;and one patient harbored a SMAD3 mutation. Three patients had two FBN1 mutations, and all patients showed classical MFS phenotypes. Patients with a dominant negative-FBN1 mutation had a higher prevalence of ectopia lentis(EL). Patients carrying a haploinsufficiency-FBN1 mutation tended to have aortic dissection without EL. This study extends the spectrum of genetic backgrounds of MFS and enriches our knowledge of genotype-phenotype correlations.

Clinical and genetic characterization of a large cohort of patients with Wilson’s disease in China

Background: Wilson’s disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism caused by ATP7B (encoding a copper-transporting P-type ATPase) variants that shows various characteristics according to race and geographical region. This study was aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of ATP7B variants in China and to investigate a plausible role of common variants in WD manifestations. Methods: A total of 1366 patients (1302 index patients and 64 siblings) clinically diagnosed with WD (Leipzig score ≥ 4) were recruited. They underwent ATP7B gene sequencing and information of age and symptoms at onset was collected. The genotype-phenotype correlation was assessed in the index patients who were examined with two pathogenic variants and onset with hepatic (n = 276) or neurologic (n = 665) symptoms. Results: We identified 294 potentially pathogenic ATP7B variants (112 truncating, 174 missense, 8 in-frame) in the 1302 index patients, including 116 novel variants. The most frequent variant was c.2333G>T (R778L, allele fre-quency: 28.96%), followed by c.2975C>T (P992L, 13.82%), c.2621C>T (A874V, 5.99%), c.2755C>G (R919G, 2.46%), and c.3646G>A (V1216M, 1.92%). In 1167 patients, both pathogentic variants were identified, of which 532 differ-ent variant combinations were found. By binary logistic regression analysis, the factor associated with neurological presentation was high age-at-onset, but not sex, protein-truncating variant (PTV), or the common missense variants (R778L, P992L, and A874V). In the neurological group, low age-at-onset was a factor associated with dystonia, gait abnormality, and salivation;high age-at-onset was a factor associated with tremor;and the sex, low age-at-onset and A874V were independent factors associated with dysarthria. In addition, PTV, R778L, and P992L were predominant in early-onset patients, whereas A874V was predominant in late-onset patients, and patients with R778L/A874V geno-type displayed a higher age-at-onset than patients with R778L/R778L or R778L/P992L genotype. Conclusions: Our work expanded the ATP7B variant spectrum and highlighted the differences among patients with WD in age-at-onset and ATP7B variants, which may provide some valuable insights into the diagnosis, counseling, and treatment of patients with WD.

Detecting polygenic selection in marine populations by combining population genomics and quantitative genetics approaches

Highly fecund marine species with dispersive life-history stages often display large population sizes and wide geographic distribution ranges. Consequently, they are expected to experience reduced genetic drift, efficient selection fueled by frequent adaptive mutations, and high migration loads. This has important consequences for understanding how local adaptation proceeds in the sea. A key issue in this regard, relates to the genetic architecture underlying fitness traits. Theory predicts that adaptation may involve many genes but with a high variance in effect size. Therefore, the effect of selection on allele frequencies may be substantial for the largest effect size loci, but insignificant for small effect genes. In such a context, the performance of population genomic methods to unravel the genetic basis of adaptation depends on the fraction of adaptive genetic variance explained by the cumulative effect of outlier loci. Here, we address some methodological challenges associated with the detection of local adaptation using molecular approaches. We provide an overview of genome scan methods to detect selection, including those assuming complex demographic models that better describe spatial population structure. We then focus on quantitative genetics approaches that search for genotype-phenotype associations at different genomic scales, including genome-wide methods evaluating the cumulative effect of variants. We argue that the limited power of single locus tests can be alleviated by the use of polygenic scores to estimate the joint contribution of candidate variants to phenotypic variation.

Identification of a novel lethal fibrillin-1 gene mutation in a Chinese Marfan family and correlation of 3＇ fibrillin-1 gene mutations with phenotype

Background Mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene have been identified in patients with Marfan syndrome （MFS）. This study aimed to identify the molecular defects in the fibrillin-1 gene in a Chinese family with Marfan syndrome, accompanied by aortic aneu rysms/dissection. Methods Two patients and one non-carrier in the family underwent complete physical, ophthalmic, and cardiovascular examinations. Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes of venous blood of these individuals in the family as well as 50 healthy normal controls. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing of all 65 coding exons of fibrillin-1 gene were analyzed. Results We found a novel mutation （c.8547T〉G, p.Tyr2849X） in exon 65 of fibrillin-1 gene in a Chinese proband with Marfan syndrome, accompanied by aortic aneurysms/dissection. Sudden death at a young age of affected members was seen due to aortic aneurysms/dissection. By evaluating genotype-phenotype correlations of patients with mutations in the 3＇ end of fibrillin-1 gene （exons 64 and 65）, we also found that the presence of nonsense mutations occurring in exons 64 and 65 appeared to be an indicator of early-onset aortic risk and sudden death. Conclusions These results expand the mutation spectrum of fibrillin-1 gene and help in the study of the molecular pathogenesis of Marfan syndrome, indicating that mutations occurring in the 3＇ end of fibrillin-1 gene may play an independent functional role in the pathogenesis of Marfan syndrome.

AR mutations in 28 patients with androgen insensitivity syndrome(Prader grade 0–3)

We investigated the androgen receptor(AR) gene mutation profiles of Chinese patients exhibiting severe androgen insensitivity syndrome(AIS) phenotypes. The present study enrolled 28 patients with genetically diagnosed AIS, who presented with severe phenotypes(Prader grade 0–3). Patients and some family members were screened via amplification and sequencing of their AR exons 1–8, including the corresponding intronic flanking regions. Luteinizing(LH), follicle-stimulating(FSH), and testosterone(T) hormone levels were found to be slightly, but not significantly, higher in patients with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome(CAIS) than in patients with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome(PAIS)(P>0.05). We identified 24 different AR mutations, including 12 that were novel. Ten patients(cases 2, 3, 10, 28, 11, 12, 19, 20, 24, and 25) were found to carry five recurrent mutations(p.Y572 S, p.P914 S, p.S176 R, p.Y782 N, and p.R841H); of these, p.Y572 S, p.S176 R, and p.Y782 N were novel. Among the mutations identified in patients with CAIS, six(66.7%) were characterized as single-nucleotide missense mutations, and six(66.7%) were found to be located in the AR ligand-binding domain(LBD). Among the mutations identified in patients with PAIS, 15(93.8%) were found to be missense, and 11(68.8%) were found to be located in the LBD. Patients 10 and 28 were determined to harbor the same missense mutation(p.P914S), but were diagnosed with CAIS and PAIS, respectively.Sex hormone levels were slightly, but not significantly, elevated in patients with CAIS compared to those with PAIS. Missense mutations spanning AR exons 1–8 were the predominant form of identified mutations, and these were mostly located in the AR LBD. Approximately 50% of the identified mutations were novel, and have enriched the AR gene-mutation database. Patients harboring identical mutations were in some instances found to exhibit divergent phenotypes.

Filaggrin Gene Mutation c.3321delA is Associated with Dry Phenotypes of Atopic Dermatitis in the Chinese Han Population

INTRODUCTION Atopic dermatitis （AD） is a common chronic inflammatory skin disorder that is characterized by dry skin and disturbed skin barrier functions. Mutations in the filaggrin （FLG） gene, the gene coding profilaggrin/filaggrin, have a great impact on the epidermal barrier function and are an important predisposing factor for AD. However, in both Europeans and Asians,

Clinical exome sequencing facilitates the understanding of genetic heterogeneity in Leber congenital amaurosis patients with variable phenotype in southern India

Background:Leber congenital amaurosis(LCA),primarily characterized by retinal degeneration is the most severe form of inherited retinal dystrophy(IRD)responsible for congenital blindness.The presence of phenotypic heterogeneity makes the diagnosis of LCA challenging,especially in the absence of pronounced disease pathognomonic,yet it can be well comprehended by employing molecular diagnosis.Therefore,the present study aimed to reveal the causative mutations in ten LCA patients with variable phenotypes using clinical exome sequencing(CES).Methods:CES was performed in ten unrelated LCA patients.Ophthalmic information and family history of all patients were obtained to make a meaningful interpretation.The clinical exome data was analyzed and prioritized using a bioinformatics pipeline to identify mutations,which was further validated by Sanger sequencing.Segregation analysis was also performed on available family members.Results:CES led to the identification of causative mutations in nine LCA patients.Seven patients harbored a mutation in six LCA candidate genes,including RPE65,LCA5(n=2),CRX,PRPH2,CEP290,and ALMS1,while two patients possess a mutation in IFT80 and RP1,known to cause other diseases.Three novel mutations in LCA5(c.1823del),CRX(c.848del)and CEP290(c.2483G>T)were identified.The current study reports for the first time,a mutation in PRPH2,CEP290,and ALMS1 from the Indian population.Additionally,we observed a novel association of LCA phenotype with IFT80 known to cause Jeune syndrome.Based on the genetic finding,the patient AS09,who harbored a mutation in the RP1 gene,was re-diagnosed with early-onset retinitis pigmentosa.Conclusion:In conclusion,the results underline the importance of CES in clinically diagnosed LCA patients with variable phenotypes.The correlation between mutations in candidate genes and clinical phenotypes,helps to refine the clinical diagnosis.However,molecular evaluation with a larger cohort of LCA patients is needed for better understanding of the mutational spectrum in southern India.