Original Article

Published: Apr 30, 2025 | DOI: 10.24911/JBCGenetics.183-1736258856

A novel biallelic frameshift variant in MYO15A causing nonsyndromic hearing loss in Saudi family


Authors: Faisal Almalki orcid logo , Hamzah Wali orcid logo , Reham M. Balahmar orcid logo , Abdularaheem Alshareef orcid logo , Mansour Rabeh Alshamani orcid logo , Roa Talal Halawani orcid logo


Article Info

Authors

Faisal Almalki

Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Applied Medical Science, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia.

orcid logo ORCID

Hamzah Wali

Ohud General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Medina, Saudi Arabia

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Reham M. Balahmar

Center for Genetics and Inherited Diseases, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia

orcid logo ORCID

Abdularaheem Alshareef

Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Applied Medical Science, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia

orcid logo ORCID

Mansour Rabeh Alshamani

Ohud General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Medina, Saudi Arabia

orcid logo ORCID

Roa Talal Halawani

Ohud General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Medina, Saudi Arabia

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Publication History

Received: January 07, 2025

Accepted: March 09, 2025

Published: April 30, 2025


Abstract


Background: Sensorineural hearing loss is among the most common sensory defects worldwide. Nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL) accounts for 70% of inherited hearing loss. The genetic causes of NSHL are considered heterogeneous. The high rate of consanguineous marriages in Saudi Arabia increases the population's prevalence of autosomal recessive inheritance patterns.

Objective: To discover a novel variant for NSHL patients.

Methods: A family with two hearing-impaired children was recruited. Targeted exome sequencing, the Twist Exome 2.0 kit (Twist Bioscience) using the Novaseq X plus platform, was used to identify the variant. Sanger sequencing was carried out to confirm the finding and perform segregation analysis. MutationTaster tool was used to determine the pathogenicity effect on the protein structure.

Results: A homozygous two-bp duplication variant on the (c.8813_8814dup) MYO15A gene was identified in a Saudi family of two hearing-impaired children. Sanger sequencing confirmed the variant in the affected children and their parents. The prediction tool indicated the frameshift effect on the protein level, which leads to protein function disruption. Based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines, it is classified as a pathogenic variant.

Conclusion: A novel biallelic frameshift variant in MYO15A causes NSHL in a Saudi family. This variant is considered rare and isolated to the Saudi population. Expanded genotype-phenotype correlations for hearing loss patients are likely to confirm the findings and reveal novel variants.


Keywords: Nonsyndromic hearing loss, MYO15A, novel, frameshift, Saudi.