Recommendations of the 2006 Human Variome Project meeting.

Lists of variations in genomic DNA and their effects have been kept for some time and have been used in diagnostics and research. Although these lists have been carefully gathered and curated, there has been little standardization and coordination, complicating their use. Given the myriad possible variations in the estimated 24,000 genes in the human genome, it would be useful to have standard criteria for databases of variation. Incomplete collection and ascertainment of variants demonstrates a need for a universally accessible system. These and other problems led to the World Heath Organization-cosponsored meeting on June 20-23, 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, which launched the Human Variome Project. This meeting addressed all areas of human genetics relevant to collection of information on variation and its effects. Members of each of eight sessions (the clinic and phenotype, the diagnostic laboratory, the research laboratory, curation and collection, informatics, relevance to the emerging world, integration and federation and funding and sustainability) developed a number of recommendations that were then organized into a total of 96 recommendations to act as a foundation for future work worldwide. Here we summarize the background of the project, the meeting and its recommendations.

The human retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator gene variant database.

X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is a genetically heterogeneous retinal degeneration. The major subtype of XLRP is RP3, which accounts for 6 to 20% of all RP cases. Mutations in the RP3 gene, called RP GTPase regulator (RPGR), cause a number of different retinopathies. An RPGR database has been created using the Leiden Open Source Variation Database (LOVD) software system and has comprehensive search and analysis tools. This database is a central resource of RPGR sequence variant data for investigators and will facilitate the interpretation of new mutations, variants, and polymorphisms when these are identified in patients. The database is available on the Internet (http://rpgr.hgu.mrc.ac.uk).

PKDB: Polycystic Kidney Disease Mutation Database--a gene variant database for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) arises from mutations in the PKD1 and PKD2 genes. The Polycystic Kidney Disease Mutation Database (PKDB) is an internet-accessible relational database containing comprehensive information about germline and somatic disease-causing variants within these two genes, as well as polymorphisms and variants of indeterminate pathogenicity. The PKDB database structure incorporates an interface between these gene variant data and any associated patient clinical data. An initiative of the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, PKDB is a publicly accessible database that aims to streamline the evaluation of PKD1 and PKD2 gene variants detected in samples from those with ADPKD, as well as to assist ongoing clinical and molecular research in the field. As the accurate reporting of nucleotide variants is essential for ensuring the quality of data within PKDB, a mutation checker has been mounted on the PKDB server allowing contributors to assess the accuracy of their PKD1 and PKD2 variant reports. Researchers and clinicians may submit their PKD1/PKD2 gene variants and any associated deidentified clinical data via standardized downloadable data entry forms accessible through the PKDB site. PKDB has been launched with the full details of PKD1 and PKD2 gene variant reports published in 73 peer-reviewed articles. Through a series of user-friendly advanced search facilities, users are able to query the database as required. The PKDB server is accessible at http://pkdb.mayo.edu.