Autism-Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2165-7890
ISSN: 2165-7890
Milen Zamfirov 2 Lyudmila Belenska-Todorova
1Department of Special Education, Faculty of Educational Studies and Arts Sofia University ??St. Kliment Ohridski, Bulgaria 2 Department of ??Biology, Medical Genetics and Microbiology?, Faculty of Medicine, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Autism Open Access
Autism is a genetic neurobehavioral disorder with onset in infancy associated with developmental impairments in social communication skills and stereotypic repetitive deportments. Its etiology is multigenic and highly heterogeneous, with very few of the same pathogenic variants present in a significant percentage of affected individuals. The average case of autism is a product of many susceptibility increasing variations. Тhe purpose of the study is to obtain genetic data on the presence of polymorphisms to be used in the analysis of the specific characteristics of different autism subtypes. A cohort of 14 Bulgarian patients with clinical diagnosis of autism (8 male and 6 female) from 14 unrelated families were analyzed. А whole exome and chromosome sequencing was performed. We identify variants in known genes or regions, such as microduplication (in one patient), single nucleotide substitutions (in nine individuals), and large deletions (in four patients). Moreover, homozygous variants were found in 2 individuals, and de novo variants – in 4. The obtained results provide an important step forward in the characterization of the subtypes of autism and in defining the morbidity risk in the families. Sequencing technology is a candidate to be applied in the appropriate and timely diagnosis, which is essential for selecting adequate therapeutic approaches. Combining knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of mutagenesis and proper molecular-genetic testing approaches is a promising source of knowledge to be used in the management of autistic patients.
Prof. Milen Zamfirov, PhD, DSc is a distinguished Bulgarian academic and expert in special education, currently serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Educational Studies and the Arts at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” . He also chairs the university’s Council of Deans, reflecting his leadership within the institution