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Investigation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator variants in South African patients with cystic fibrosis

Dissertation (MSc (Bioinformatics))--University of Pretoria, 2023.

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Other Authors: Pepper, Michael Sean
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2024
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Pepper, Michael Sean
author_browse Pepper, Michael Sean
author_facet Pepper, Michael Sean
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MSc (Bioinformatics))--University of Pretoria, 2023.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:09.154Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2024
publishDateRange 2024
publishDateSort 2024
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
record_format dspace
source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/94153 Investigation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator variants in South African patients with cystic fibrosis Pepper, Michael Sean u17081786@tuks.co.za Joubert, Fourie Le Grange, Odette UCTD Cystic Fibrosis Next Generation Sequencing Genetic diseases CFTR genes Sanger sequencing Variant analysis Gene panel screening Genetic diversity Genomics in Africa Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) SDG-03: Good health and well-being Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-03 Dissertation (MSc (Bioinformatics))--University of Pretoria, 2023. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease caused by variants in the CFTR gene. It is one of the most thoroughly studied genetic diseases, with remarkable advances being seen in the ability to diagnose and specifically treat CF patients based on the nature of their variants. Diagnostic protocols have gained in specificity and sensitivity, with high variant detection rates being achieved using new-born screening in populations with higher frequencies of known, common mutations. However, there are several obstacles impeding the improvement of care in LMICs with diverse populations carrying CFTR variants, including challenges in establishing accurate and reliable diagnostics and overcoming misdiagnosis. African populations are known to have high genomic diversity but remain largely understudied. In South Africa, greater knowledge of the CFTR variant spectrum and clinical presentation is needed to enable earlier diagnosis with more specific gene panels, since the variants common to European populations are less frequent in this population. To bridge this gap, next generation sequencing data from a cohort of 60 South African patients and 5 parents of CF patients was used for variant discovery across the exon regions of the CFTR gene. Thereafter, variant effect prediction was performed, and potentially pathogenic variants were identified. Lastly, these potential variants were validated experimentally using Sanger sequencing. Next-generation sequencing of this cohort enabled 27 individuals that were lacking a complete molecular diagnosis to be fully genotyped. 23 confirmed variants have been functionally studied and proven to cause CF; however, 11 variants are yet to have their functional significance characterised. This study demonstrates the extent of diversity that is likely present in the southern African CF population. As the emerging field of precision medicine and the development of specific CFTR therapies gains momentum with the help of high-throughput screening, individuals with CF in LMICs such as South Africa stand to benefit greatly through earlier molecular diagnosis as well as more specific treatment protocols. NRF SAMRC ICMM Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Unit MSc (Bioinformatics) Unrestricted Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences 2024-01-30T05:34:05Z 2024-01-30T05:34:05Z 2024-04 2023 Dissertation * A2024 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94153 10.25403/UPresearchdata.25053131 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Cystic Fibrosis
Next Generation Sequencing
Genetic diseases
CFTR genes
Sanger sequencing
Variant analysis
Gene panel screening
Genetic diversity
Genomics in Africa
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG-03: Good health and well-being
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-03
Investigation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator variants in South African patients with cystic fibrosis
title Investigation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator variants in South African patients with cystic fibrosis
title_full Investigation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator variants in South African patients with cystic fibrosis
title_fullStr Investigation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator variants in South African patients with cystic fibrosis
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator variants in South African patients with cystic fibrosis
title_short Investigation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator variants in South African patients with cystic fibrosis
title_sort investigation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator variants in south african patients with cystic fibrosis
topic UCTD
Cystic Fibrosis
Next Generation Sequencing
Genetic diseases
CFTR genes
Sanger sequencing
Variant analysis
Gene panel screening
Genetic diversity
Genomics in Africa
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG-03: Good health and well-being
Natural and agricultural sciences theses SDG-03
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/94153