SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Effects of Organic and Chemical N-fertilization on Yield and Morpho-biological Features in Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.).

Although MAPs are subjected to a growing interest (from growers, transformation industries, public and private institutions), a full introduction of such species into the Mediterranean cropping systems still needs the pointing out of many aspects. An important task concerns some aspects of cropping technique, whose definition could allow these crops to optimize the yields (both from the qualitative and the quantitative point of view), also allowing the best exploitation of land resources. One of the most crucial aspects is linked to plant fertilization, above all with Nitrogen. The trial that we report the results of has been performed in 2003- 04 and 2004-05 with the aim to study the effect on the major vegetative and productive parameters of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) of various types and rates of N-fertilizer, both organic and chemical. Plant performance and productivity was deeply affected by the seasonal variability, whereas no significant effect was shown to be due to the different N rates. In terms of seeds yield, the results have shown the higher productivity of the plants fertilized with chemical, and in the first trial year the organic treatments had a yield even lower than the untreated Coriander

Coltivazione di officinali con tecniche ecocompatibili

Per valutare l'effetto di alcune pratiche agronomiche adoperate in biologico, su tre piante officinali mediterranee sono stati sperimentati fertilizzanti organici e pratiche di gestione non chimica della flora infestant

PROVE DI COLTIVAZIONE DI COMPOSITE DI INTERESSE OFFICINALE IN AMBIENTE SEMI-ARIDO.

All’interno della flora officinale mediterranea, le Composite assumono un ruolo di primaria importanza. Nella sola Sicilia, esse rappresentano circa il 19 % del totale delle specie spontanee considerate di maggior interesse erboristico, costituendo la famiglia a diffusione più ampia. Alcune delle essenze più significative sono senza dubbio la Calendula (Calendula officinalis L.), il Partenio (Tanacetum parthenium L.) e il Cardo mariano (Silybum marianum Gaertn.). Prospettive estremamente interessanti appaiono inoltre collegate all’introduzione di Composite alloctone dotate di forti potenzialità agroindustriali, tra le quali ad esempio il Piretro (Chrisanthemum cinerariaefolium (Trev) Bocc.). Il tentativo di valorizzare produttivamente queste specie passa anzitutto attraverso la piena ricognizione delle loro potenzialità produttive quando sottoposte alle condizioni di coltivazione in pieno campo. Con l’obiettivo di valutare la risposta bio-agronomica e produttiva di alcune composite di interesse officinale alle condizioni di coltivazione, presso l’azienda sperimentale “Sparacia” (Cammarata – AG; 37° 38' N - 13° 46' E) è stata avviata l’attività di ricerca di cui vengono di seguito riportati i primi risultati. La prova ha confermato la buona reattività delle specie in esame alla coltivazione, e i risultati ottenuti sembrano particolarmente promettenti in considerazione del livello estremamente ridotto di input colturali applicati. La Calendula e il Cardo mariano, in particolare, si sono rivelati in possesso di un’ottima attitudine all’autorisemina, esprimendo un buon livello produttivo anche per più anni consecutivi. Il Partenio e il Piretro, pur non manifestando tale attitudine, hanno dato luogo ad ottime produzioni di droga

Non-chemical Weeds Management in Two Mediterranean Culinary Herbs

Weeds management is one of the most relevant constraints to the cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, especially when they’re cultivated with “organic” methods, that, according to EU regulations, do not allow the use of chemicals. A strong interest is therefore devoted to pointing out “alternative” (agronomical and physical) methods for weeds control. This work reports the results of a trial performed in 2003-04 and 2004-05 in order to evaluate the effects on Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) of four non-chemical methods for weeds control: FS (False seeding), PD (Flaming), MZ (Mechanical weeding), SM (Hand weeding) compared with two untreated controls. Regarding weeds control, weeding by hand gave the best results, allowing a more thoughtful and precise treatment. Flaming proved to be a promising method, but a more detailed demonstration of the execution of treatment will probably allow for obtaining a better performance