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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.
Elliptic flow from nuclear collisions is a hadronic observable sensitive to the early stages of system evolution. We report first results on elliptic flow of charged particles at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[sNN] = 130 GeV using the STAR Time Projection Chamber at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The elliptic flow signal, v2, averaged over transverse momentum, reaches values of about 6% for relatively peripheral collisions and decreases for the more central collisions. This can be interpreted as the observation of a higher degree of thermalization than at lower collision energies. Pseudorapidity and transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow are also presented.
Elliptic flow from nuclear collisions is a hadronic observable sensitive to the early stages of system evolution. We report first results on elliptic flow of charged particles at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=130 GeV using the STAR TPC at RHIC. The elliptic flow signal, v_2, averaged over transverse momentum, reaches values of about 6% for relatively peripheral collisions and decreases for the more central collisions. This can be interpreted as the observation of a higher degree of thermalization than at lower collision energies. Pseudorapidity and transverse momentum dependence of elliptic flow are also presented.
Men and women differ substantially regarding height, weight, and body fat. Interestingly, previous work detecting genetic effects for waist-to-hip ratio, to assess body fat distribution, has found that many of these showed sex-differences. However, systematic searches for sex-differences in genetic effects have not yet been conducted. Therefore, we undertook a genome-wide search for sexually dimorphic genetic effects for anthropometric traits including 133,723 individuals in a large meta-analysis and followed promising variants in further 137,052 individuals, including a total of 94 studies. We identified seven loci with significant sex-difference including four previously established (near GRB14/COBLL1, LYPLAL1/SLC30A10, VEGFA, ADAMTS9) and three novel anthropometric trait loci (near MAP3K1, HSD17B4, PPARG), all of which were significant in women, but not in men. Of interest is that sex-difference was only observed for waist phenotypes, but not for height or body-mass-index. We found no evidence for sex-differences with opposite effect direction for men and women. The PPARG locus is of specific interest due to its link to diabetes genetics and therapy. Our findings demonstrate the importance of investigating sex differences, which may lead to a better understanding of disease mechanisms with a potential relevance to treatment options.
Twenty nine species of Delphacidae are recorded from the Yukon Territory, Canada, two additional ones from an adjacent region of Northwest Territories, and one species from coastal Alaska. Two new genera are described: Aschedelphax Wilson and Yukonodelphax Wilson. Six new species are described: Aschedelphax hochae Wilson, Delphacodes anufrievi Wilson, D. emeljanovi Wilson, Javesella lla Wilson, Nothodelphax glacia Wilson, and Yukonodelphax kendallae Wilson. Aschedelphax coloradensis (Beamer), Javesella kilmani (Van Duzee), Yukonodelphax pediforma (Beamer) and Y. stramineosa (Beamer) are new combinations. Kusnezoviella matisi Anufriev and Emeljanov is a junior synonym of K. macleani Wilson and Delphacodes hyalina Beamer is a junior synonym of Nothodelphax albocarinata (Stil). Of the 32 species included in the study, 18 have a Holarctic distribution - 10 of these are amphi-Beringian. The remaining 14 species are restricted to the Nearctic, 5 of these are recorded only from the Yukon and Northwest Territories.
The issid planthopper genus Acanalonia is reviewed and a key to the 18 species provided. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the complete external morphology of A. conica (Say), and descriptions and illustrations of the male and female external genitalia of the species of united States Acanalonia are given. The principal genitalic features used to separate species included: male-shape and length of the aedeagal caudal and lateral processes, and presence of caudal extensions; female -shape of the 8th abdominal segment and the number of teeth on the gonapophysis of the 8th segment.
The dictyopharid planthopper genus Phylloscelis is reviewed and a key to the four species provided. The morphology ofadult male and female P. pallescens Germar, P. atra Germar, P. rubra Ball, and P. pennata Ball is described and illustrated in detail. The species are separated principally by color patterns, wing venation, and features of the male and female external genitalia.