Genetic epidemiology in leprosy: association study of the candidate chromossome region 10p13.

• Grant number: 12/05762-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carla Pereira Latini
• Grantee: Priscila Medeiros
• Host Institution: Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is an endemic country for leprosy, which is a disease of skin and peripheral nerves caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Genome-wide scans have identified linkage peaks in the 10p13 chromosome region; however, this region was not systematically investigated in Brazilian population and the results were not replicated in association studies. This study purposes to conduct association analysis for SNPs located in the candidate region 10p13 in a population from Rondonópolis-MT, using high-throughput platform genotyping, and to test positive findings in case-control samples from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states. Thus, we intend to produce robust data regarding genetic markers to leprosy susceptibility in our population.