We investigated hearing impairment (HI) in 51 families from Ghana with at least two affected members that were negative for GJB2 pathogenic variants. DNA samples from 184 family members underwent whol Show more
We investigated hearing impairment (HI) in 51 families from Ghana with at least two affected members that were negative for GJB2 pathogenic variants. DNA samples from 184 family members underwent whole-exome sequencing (WES). Variants were found in 14 known non-syndromic HI (NSHI) genes [26/51 (51.0%) families], five genes that can underlie either syndromic HI or NSHI [13/51 (25.5%)], and one syndromic HI gene [1/51 (2.0%)]. Variants in CDH23 and MYO15A contributed the most to HI [31.4% (16/51 families)]. For DSPP, an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance was detected. Post-lingual expression was observed for a family segregating a MARVELD2 variant. To our knowledge, seven novel candidate HI genes were identified (13.7%), with six associated with NSHI (INPP4B, CCDC141, MYO19, DNAH11, POTEI, and SOX9); and one (PAX8) with Waardenburg syndrome. MYO19 and DNAH11 were replicated in unrelated Ghanaian probands. Six of the novel genes were expressed in mouse inner ear. It is known that Pax8 Show less