Naris Pojskic

The peopling of modern Bosnia-Herzegovina: Y-chromosome haplogroups in the three main ethnic groups.

The variation at 28 Y‐chromosome biallelic markers was analysed in 256 males (90 Croats, 81 Serbs and 85 Bosniacs) from Bosnia‐Herzegovina. An important shared feature between the three ethnic groups is the high frequency of the “Palaeolithic” European‐specific haplogroup (Hg) I, a likely signature of a Balkan population re‐expansion after the Last Glacial Maximum. This haplogroup is almost completely represented by the sub‐haplogroup I‐P37 whose frequency is, however, higher in the Croats (∼71%) than in Bosniacs (∼44%) and Serbs (∼31%). Other rather frequent haplogroups are E (∼15%) and J (∼7%), which are considered to have arrived from the Middle East in Neolithic and post‐Neolithic times, and R‐M17 (∼14%), which probably marked several arrivals, at different times, from eastern Eurasia. Hg E, almost exclusively represented by its subclade E‐M78, is more common in the Serbs (∼20%) than in Bosniacs (∼13%) and Croats (∼9%), and Hg J, observed in only one Croat, encompasses ∼9% of the Serbs and ∼12% of the Bosniacs, where it shows its highest diversification. By contrast, Hg R‐M17 displays similar frequencies in all three groups. On the whole, the three main groups of Bosnia‐Herzegovina, in spite of some quantitative differences, share a large fraction of the same ancient gene pool distinctive for the Balkan area.

Screening for PTSD and depression in Bosnia and Herzegovina: validating the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist

This study aimed to test the validity of the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25) in screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), respectively, in primary healthcare centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Validating interviews were conducted with 180 randomly selected primary care patients in Middle Bosnia. Statistical analysis performed to assess diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic materials revealed an optimal cut-off points of 2.06 on the HTQ for the diagnosis of PTSD and 1.8 on the HSCL-25 for the diagnosis of MDD. The HTQ and HSCL-25 are accurate and useful for identifying PTSD and MDD in primary care centers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Resolving taxonomic uncertainties using molecular systematics: Salmo dentex and the Balkan trout community

The genetic structure of Salmo dentex and its phylogenetic relations to sympatric salmonids in the Neretva and Skadar River basins were evaluated using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region, eight microsatellites, and somatolactin (SL) gene. In the Neretva River basin of Bosnia–Herzegovina, the results based on mtDNA analysis showed extensive haplotype sharing between S. marmoratus, S. dentex, and S. trutta, and were therefore not conclusive; however, F-statistics and assignment testing based on nuclear DNA markers indicated that S. dentex of the Neretva basin were grouped in a genetically unified cluster with S. marmoratus in the Neretva basin. Using the same analytical approach, S. dentex from the Skadar basin in Montenegro appeared to be genetically distinct from S. marmoratus in the same basin and indistinct from local S. trutta. Molecular data also indicated that S. dentex of the Neretva basin in Bosnia–Herzegovina are not closely related to S. dentex of the Skadar basin in Montenegro. Based on these results, we hypothesize S. dentex to be a particular life history form of S. marmoratus in the Neretva basin and of S. trutta in the Skadar basin. These results clearly demonstrate that S. dentex does not represent a monophyletic lineage and should not be considered a distinct species.

Mitochondrial genome of Suberites domuncula: Palindromes and inverted repeats are abundant in non-coding regions☆

The 26,300-nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecule of the demosponge Suberites domuncula (Olivi, 1792), the largest in size yet found in Porifera, has been determined. We describe the second hadromerid sponge mitochondrial genome that contains the same set of 41 genes as the hadromerid sponge Tethya actinia, including trnMe(cau), trnI2(cau), trnR2(ucu), and atp9, all of which are transcribed in the same direction. Furthermore, rRNA genes for the small and large ribosomal subunit are very long, rns is indeed the longest among Metazoa (1833 bp). Intergenic regions (IGR) comprise about 25% of S. domuncula mtDNA and include numerous direct and inverted repeats, as well as palindromic sequences. No overlapping genes and introns were found. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated amino acid sequences from twelve mitochondrial protein genes strongly support the affiliation of S. domuncula to the order Hadromerida. Moreover, we have analyzed and compared two segments of mtDNA which include the three IGR from S. domuncula (12 and 16 specimens for segments I and II) and Suberites ficus (10 and 5 for segments I and II, respectively). S. ficus has frequently been reported as being both synonymous with, as well as a separate species from S. domuncula. We have found polymorphisms in IGR of both species and long deletions (43 and 167 bp in size) in two IGR of S. ficus.

Population Data for the Twelve Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat Loci from the Sample of Multinational Population in Bosnia and Herzegovina

POPULATION: We have analyzed the distribution of allele frequencies at 12 Y-chromosornal short tandem repeats loci (DYS 19, DYS385a, DYS385b. DYS389I. DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438 and DYS439) in the representative sample of Bosnian and Herzegovinians. A total of 100 unrelated male individuals (Caucasians) from different regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina have been sampled for the analysis. Samples were collected with a respect to the approximate proportional participation of three main ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina [Bosniacs-Muslim (35). Serbs (31), Croats (34)].

Population study of fourteen X chromosomal short tandem repeat loci in a population from Bosnia and Herzegovina

6 0.1532 0.0045 6 7 0.0090 0.0090 7 8 0.1667 0.0090 8 9 0.0541 0.0450 0.2973 0.0450 0.0045 0.3964 0.0270 0.2117 9 10 0.3288 0.3784 0.0090 0.3018 0.3288 0.0405 0.1712 0.0045 0.0405 10 10.1 0.0045 10.1 11 0.3333 0.3153 0.0495 0.3604 0.2207 0.0090 0.2523 0.3333 0.1396 0.1892 11 11.1 0.0405 11.1 11.3 0.0135 11.3 12 0.2568 0.2027 0.0090 0.0946 0.0405 0.0856 0.0811 0.2297 0.0586 0.2973 0.1667 12 12.1 0.0090 12.1 12.3 0.1441 12.3 13 0.0270 0.0045 0.0901 0.0270 0.3153 0.1486 0.0270 0.3514 0.2838 0.0856 13 13.3 0.0450 0.1441 13.3 14 0.2297 0.0270 0.4054 0.0090 0.1171 0.0991 0.3243 14 14.3 0.1757 0.0135 14.3 15 0.2568 0.0676 0.0450 0.1486 0.0405 0.0090 0.3964 15 15.3 0.3964 15.3 16 0.2703 0.0135 0.0180 0.0045 0.1802 16 16.3 0.1712 16.3 17 0.1171 0.0225 0.0135 17 17.3 0.0135 17.3 18 0.0135 0.0631 18 19 0.0045 0.0135 0.0450 19 20 0.4144 0.0135 20 21 0.2477 0.0270 21 22 0.2342 0.0045 22 23 0.0180 0.0631 23 24 0.0045 0.2568 24 25 0.1577 25 26 0.1216 26 27 0.0586 27 28 0.1126 28 29 0.0045 29 30 0.0090 30 31 0.0045 31 H(exp) 0.7112 0.7125 0.7860 0.7070 0.7676 0.6890 0.8650 0.7826 0.7067 0.8179 0.6982 0.7524 0.7995 0.6977 H(exp) H(obs) 0.7353 0.7647 0.8088 0.5882 0.7206 0.6765 0.8676 0.7794 0.7647 0.8088 0.7206 0.7794 0.8235 0.7059 H(obs) PIC 0.6562 0.6620 0.7530 0.6574 0.7402 0.6253 0.8522 0.7507 0.6580 0.7929 0.6450 0.7147 0.7700 0.6432 PIC PDf 0.8616 0.8668 0.9212 0.8646 0.9186 0.8395 0.9690 0.9209 0.8653 0.9418 0.8557 0.9010 0.9303 0.8541 PDf PDm 0.7112 0.7125 0.7860 0.7070 0.7676 0.6890 0.8650 0.7826 0.7067 0.8179 0.6982 0.7524 0.7995 0.6977 PDm MECI 0.6562 0.6620 0.7530 0.6574 0.7402 0.6253 0.8522 0.7507 0.6580 0.7929 0.6450 0.7147 0.7700 0.6432 MECI MECII 0.5121 0.5191 0.6232 0.5135 0.6091 0.4786 0.7551 0.6204 0.5151 0.6732 0.5010 0.5788 0.6438 0.4983 MECII p (HWE) 0.7793 0.7268 0.0291 0.0248 0.2664 0.6202 0.4761 0.4936 0.4618 0.3779 0.9174 0.2490 0.1055 0.9458 p (HWE) Supplementary Table 1. Allele frequencies and Summary Statistics for 14 X chromosomal markers in a population from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Comparative Study of Genetic Variation at 15 STR Loci in Three Isolated Populations of the Bosnian Mountain Area

Fifteen autosomal STR loci (D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, VWA, D8S1179, TPOX, and FGA) were studied in three geographically close but isolated populations from the Bosnian mountain area. The three villages are Bobovica, Dejcici, and Lukomir. DNA was obtained from 83 individuals, and the allele frequencies and genetic diversity among the three sample groups were compared. In addition, seven of the STR loci (CSF1PO, D13S317, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, FGA, TH01) were used in a comparative population analysis of the Bjelas;aknica-Treskavica region and the Adriatic islands of Brac, Hvar, and Korcula. Although the sample sizes are relatively small, the observed variation within any of the small isolated populations is high and comparable to less isolated groups. In addition, even though the populations are geographically isolated, the STR data are similar among the populations. The most significant frequency differences were observed at the TH01 locus. Although the specific allele distributions in any untyped population cannot be determined a priori, we find support for a high degree of diversity for the STR loci in most populations. In addition, the multiple locus profile is highly informative not only for various population studies but also for forensic studies, even when specific population data are not available.

Allele Frequencies for the 15 Short Tandem Repeat Loci in Slovenian Population

All 193 tested individuals have been involved in legal proceedings concerning various forensic testing. Buccal swabs have been taken as the DNA source and Chelex procedure was used for DNA extraction (1). The PowerPlex 16 kit (Promega Corp., Madison, WI) has been used to simultaneously amplify by PCR 15 STR loci. The STR loci are: D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX and FGA. Similar amounts of DNA have been used in all PCR reactions. Amplification was carried out as described previously (2).

Genetic variation of European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) populations in the Western Balkans

In order to elucidate genetic composition of European grayling (Thymallus thymallus) populations in the Western Balkans, the partial mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region was sequenced and 12 microsatellite loci genotyped in 14 populations originating from tributaries of the Adriatic and Danube drainages. Eleven mtDNA haplotypes were found, one confined to the Adriatic clade, one to the Alpine group and the rest to the ‘Balkan’ grayling phylogenetic clade. Haplotypes from the Balkan clade were confined to the Danube drainage and constituted two groups: northern group with haplotypes found in the Slovenian part of the Danube drainage, and southern group, consisting from Bosnia–Herzegovina and Montenegro. Substantial genetic distance between northern and southern groups of haplotypes (0.75–1.8%) and well supported divisions within the northern group indicate very structured grayling population within the studied Danube basin that most probably did not evolve due to vicariance but rather as a consequence of multiple colonization waves that might have occurred during the Pleistocene. Furthermore, genetic distance of ~4% between Adriatic and Danube populations’ haplotypes, suggest that their separation occurred in mid-Pliocene. These findings imply a complex colonization pattern of the Western Balkans drainages. Microsatellite data also confirm high genetic diversity in Western Balkans populations of grayling (on average 7.5 alleles per microsatellite locus and Hexp 0.58). Limited stocking activities were detected based on microsatellites and mtDNA data. Regarding current knowledge of grayling phylogeography appropriate management strategies were proposed to preserve unique, autochthonous grayling populations in Western Balkan.

Population Data at Two Short Tandem Repeat Loci D2S1338 and D19S433 in the Sample of Multinational Bosnia and Herzegovina Residents

POPULATION: We have analyzed the distribution of allele frequencies at two short tandem repeats loci (D2S1338 and D19S433) in a multinational sample of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) residents. A total of 110 unrelated male and female individuals (Caucasians) from different regions of B&H were sampled for the analysis. We ensured that the sample reflected approximate proportional participation of the three main ethnic groups in the population of B&H (Bosniacs‐Muslim [45%], Serbs [34%], Croats [21%]).