Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) represents the most severe form of male infertility, and the pathogenesis in partial patients can be attributed to endocrine dysfunction or heritable genetic variants. Although the application of whole-exome sequencing (WES) has facilitated the identification of numerous pathogenic genes associated with NOA, the genetic etiology of a significant proportion of cases remains elusive. In this study, we identified an NOA patient carrying a novel variant in DMRTB1 (c.792-797del, p.265-266del). The variant was rare in public databases and predicted to be likely pathogenic according to the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines. Structural modeling performed by SWISS-MODEL revealed the localized structural perturbations within residues 254-266, which may induce functional alterations. Histological analysis (H&E staining) of the testicular tissue revealed a complete absence of mature sperm within the seminiferous tubules, which is consistent with the essential role of this gene demonstrated in Dmrt6 knockout mice. Our findings demonstrate that the identified DMRTB1 variant is closely associated with the pathogenesis of NOA, thereby providing valuable genetic evidence for the diagnosis of NOA.
Yu-Hang Li, Shuai Lu, Xun Wang et al.· Clinical Genetics· 0 citations
The escalating crisis of multidrug-resistant bacteria necessitates innovative antibiotic discovery platforms. Conventional antimicrobial peptide (AMP) mining often relies on complete biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), leaving fragmented genomic resources underexplored. Here, we present an evolution-inspired approach to reconstruct and predict AMPs from partial BGCs. Applying this strategy to 954 Paenibacillus genomes identifies five polymyxin-like peptides, NP001-NP005, with broad in vitro activity. Crucially, in murine models of polymyxin-resistant infection, NP001 reduced bacterial burdens by up to 1,000-fold in a thigh infection model and improved survival (50% vs. 0%) in a lethal peritonitis model. Structural simulations and biophysical assays revealed that NP001 maintains high affinity for bacterial membranes and effectively binds to MCR-1-modified lipid A, a key colistin-resistance mechanism. Moreover, Leu at position 10 of NP001 plays a key role in antibacterial activity against MCR-1-resistant bacteria. Our work establishes a generalizable framework for AMP discovery and introduces a promising therapeutic candidate, NP001, which effectively counteracts polymyxin-resistant pathogens.
