Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41965849›Full record

ArticleHuman genomics2026

Clinical, genetic and bioinformatic analysis of Saudi families with Joubert syndrome and related disorders.

Riman Alafghani, Deema Aljeaid, Noor Ahmad Shaik, Babajan Banaganapalli, Ramu Elango, Ghayah Khard, Wisam Habhab, Ghada Jadkarim, Dalal Sameer Alshaer, Mahmoud Almutadares and 2 more

Erratum issuedAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Human genomics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Riman Alafghani *Department of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Deema Aljeaid *Department of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. dmaljeaid@kau.edu.sa.
Noor Ahmad ShaikDepartment of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. nshaik@kau.edu.sa.
Babajan BanaganapalliDepartment of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ramu ElangoDepartment of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ghayah KhardDr.Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Wisam HabhabDepartment of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Ghada JadkarimDepartment of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Dalal Sameer AlshaerDepartment of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Mahmoud AlmutadaresDepartment of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Nuha Mohammad AlrayesPrincess Al-Jawhara Center of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Noha M IssaDepartment of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Grant No. (IPP: 1382-140-2025).
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundJoubert syndrome and related disorders (JSRD) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous ciliopathies caused by pathogenic variants in over 40 genes, mainly encoding ciliary proteins. However, data on JSRD in the Saudi population remain limited. This study aimed to identify novel and reported JSRD-causing variants in Saudi families and analyze their potential functional impact on protein structure using advanced computational tools.

methodsPatients with genetically or clinically confirmed/suspected JSRD were recruited according to ethical protocols. Clinical data were collected, and exome sequencing was performed, followed by Sanger validation of identified variant. Pathogenicity was assessed using bioinformatics tools, while conservation, expression and RNA structure analyses were conducted to evaluate the potential functional consequences.

resultsHomozygous variants were identified in three consanguineous Saudi families, including a novel stop-gain variant in KIF7 (c.2992 C > T; p.(Gln998Ter)), and novel splice-site variant in CEP104 (c.489 + 1G > A) and a previously reported splice-site variant in TMEM237 (c.869 + 1G > A). All variants were predicted to be pathogenic as per ACMG criteria and located in highly conserved regions, suggesting potential functional impact. RNA analysis suggested possible alterations in folding.

conclusionThis study identified three pathogenic variants in JSRD-related genes in Saudi families, including two novel variants. These findings expand the variant spectrum for JSRD, particularly in the Saudi population. Establishing a comprehensive regional variant database is essential for improving molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling in population with high consanguinity. Finally, these results highlight the need for further functional studies to validate their pathogenicity and elucidate their role in JSRD pathogenesis.

Indexed as

Abnormalities, MultipleCerebellumEye AbnormalitiesKidney Diseases, CysticRetinaChildChild, PreschoolComputational BiologyConsanguinityExome SequencingFemaleHomozygoteHumansMaleMembrane ProteinsMutationMembrane ProteinsCEP104CiliopathyJoubert SyndromeJSRDKIF7Saudi ArabiaTMEM237

Identifiers

PMID41965849
PMCPMC13200349

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.