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The genetic make-up of an individual contributes to the susceptibility and response to viral infection. Although environmental, clinical and social factors have a role in the chance of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of COVID-191,2, host genetics may also be important. Identifying host-specific genetic factors may reveal biological mechanisms of therapeutic relevance and clarify causal relationships of modifiable environmental risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcomes. We formed a global network of researchers to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. Here we describe the results of three genome-wide association meta-analyses that consist of up to 49,562 patients with COVID-19 from 46 studies across 19 countries. We report 13 genome-wide significant loci that are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe manifestations of COVID-19. Several of these loci correspond to previously documented associations to lung or autoimmune and inflammatory diseases3,4,5,6,7. They also represent potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection. Mendelian randomization analyses support a causal role for smoking and body-mass index for severe COVID-19 although not for type II diabetes. The identification of novel host genetic factors associated with COVID-19 was made possible by the community of human genetics researchers coming together to prioritize the sharing of data, results, resources and analytical frameworks. This working model of international collaboration underscores what is possible for future genetic discoveries in emerging pandemics, or indeed for any complex human disease.
Background: Alzheimer's disease is a common debilitating dementia with known heritability, for which 20 late onset susceptibility loci have been identified, but more remain to be discovered. This study sought to identify new susceptibility genes, using an alternative gene-wide analytical approach which tests for patterns of association within genes, in the powerful genome-wide association dataset of the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project Consortium, comprising over 7 m genotypes from 25,580 Alzheimer's cases and 48,466 controls.
Principal findings: In addition to earlier reported genes, we detected genome-wide significant loci on chromosomes 8 (TP53INP1, p = 1.4×10−6) and 14 (IGHV1-67 p = 7.9×10−8) which indexed novel susceptibility loci.
Significance: The additional genes identified in this study, have an array of functions previously implicated in Alzheimer's disease, including aspects of energy metabolism, protein degradation and the immune system and add further weight to these pathways as potential therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's disease.
Unique features of a global human ectoparasite identified through sequencing of the bed bug genome
(2016)
The bed bug, Cimex lectularius, has re-established itself as a ubiquitous human ectoparasite throughout much of the world during the past two decades. This global resurgence is likely linked to increased international travel and commerce in addition to widespread insecticide resistance. Analyses of the C. lectularius sequenced genome (650 Mb) and 14,220 predicted protein-coding genes provide a comprehensive representation of genes that are linked to traumatic insemination, a reduced chemosensory repertoire of genes related to obligate hematophagy, host–symbiont interactions, and several mechanisms of insecticide resistance. In addition, we document the presence of multiple putative lateral gene transfer events. Genome sequencing and annotation establish a solid foundation for future research on mechanisms of insecticide resistance, human–bed bug and symbiont–bed bug associations, and unique features of bed bug biology that contribute to the unprecedented success of C. lectularius as a human ectoparasite.
We describe three new species of damselflies from streams draining into Lake Kutubu in Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. They are Drepanosticta johncanni sp. nov. (Platystictidae), Pseudagrion parafarinicolle sp. nov. (Coenagrionidae) and Wahnesia kutubuensis sp. nov. (Argiolestidae). Diagnostic characters of the males and, where available of the females, are illustrated and the probable affinities of the new species are discussed.
Palaeosynthemis opaca sp. nov., a new dragonfly from Papua New Guinea (Anisoptera: Synthemistidae)
(2016)
A new species of the synthemistid genus Palaeosynthemis is described from the northern slopes of Papua New Guinea’s central cordillera. It is distinguished from all congeners by having females with large, nearly black patches at the bases of both wings. The male is most similar to P. cervula and P. feronia, but it differs from those species in having superior anal appendages less than three times as long as S10, basally enlarged and otherwise unarmed vs basally not enlarged (feronia) and almost four times as long as S10 and armed (cervula). Characters of the adults (both sexes) are illustrated and the affinities of the species are discussed.
A new species of the genus Teinobasis Kirby is described from the Muller Range in Western Province, Papua New Guinea. Its male is distinguished from all other Teinobasis species by having a pale labrum, an extensively bright orange thorax, and ventrally bowed superior anal appendages that are markedly shorter than the plump, apically rounded inferiors. Characters of the male are illustrated, and the affinities of the new species are discussed.