Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Materiales moleculares aporte mundial

LAS PROPIEDADES FUNCIONALES DE LOS MATERIALES MOLECULARES El material molecular es resultado del ensamblaje de moléculas o bloques moleculares, más que de átomos en sí mismos. Por consiguiente, sus propiedades están determinadas tanto por el modo en que dichos bloques moleculares son ensamblados como por las propiedades específicas de esas subunidades. Concebir el desarrollo de nuevos materiales y, en particular, de materiales moleculares tiene como ventaja integrar dos disciplinas aparentemente muy diferentes, la química supramolecular y la ciencia de los materiales. Entre las perspectivas de esa interacción de disciplinas se encuentran el poder desarrollar materiales “a demanda”, esto es, una vez concebida una propiedad funcional, desarrollar un material que la satisfaga. Quizás el mejor ejemplo de un desarrollo basado en materiales moleculares sean los sistemas vivos en los cuales encontramos una amplia diversidad de sistemas moleculares altamente especializados