L18 - GWAS and Bacterial Research Flashcards
What does GWAS stand for?
Genome-Wide Association Studies
What is the purpose of GWAS?
To analyze genetic variants across individuals to find correlations between genotype and phenotype.
What type of traits does GWAS identify?
Traits like disease susceptibility virulence
What are the key components of GWAS?
Genotype phenotype
How is GWAS data typically presented?
As a Manhattan plot.
What is shown on the x-axis of a Manhattan plot?
Genomic location.
What is shown on the y-axis of a Manhattan plot?
Significance (-log10 P-value) of genetic associations.
What human disease was linked to a mutation in complement factor H via GWAS?
Age-related macular degeneration.
What is required for an effective bacterial GWAS?
Large datasets of sequenced bacterial genomes and clear phenotypic data.
Why is phylogenetic analysis important in bacterial GWAS?
It assesses population structure and genetic variation.
What challenge does bacterial asexual reproduction pose for GWAS?
It leads to linkage disequilibrium making causal mutations harder to identify.
What is homoplasy in bacterial GWAS?
When mutations arise independently in different lineages.
How do mixed models help in bacterial GWAS?
They control for population structure improving accuracy in genetic associations.
What gene mutation in Staphylococcus aureus was linked to vancomycin resistance?
The orpB gene mutation.
How was the role of orpB in resistance validated?
Using transposon mutant libraries.
What pathogen was studied using GWAS to track antibiotic resistance mutations?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
What phenotypes were examined in Staphylococcus aureus GWAS?
Virulence determinants and infection severity.
How can bacterial GWAS predict patient outcomes?
By correlating genetic factors with clinical parameters.
Why is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) a major focus of bacterial GWAS?
It helps identify genetic markers linked to antibiotic resistance.
What major limitation affects bacterial GWAS?
High linkage disequilibrium in bacterial populations.
How does whole genome sequencing contribute to GWAS?
It provides comprehensive genetic data for analysis.
What statistical model is often used to account for population structure in GWAS?
Linear mixed models.
What is the role of SNPs in GWAS?
They are single nucleotide polymorphisms linked to phenotypic traits.
What are insertions and deletions in the context of GWAS?
Genetic variations that may affect bacterial traits.