Transferability of the PRS estimates for height and BMI obtained from the European ethnic groups to the Western Russian populations

Genetic data plays an increasingly important role in modern medicine. Decrease in the cost of sequencing with subsequent increase in imputation accuracy, and the accumulation of large amounts of high-quality genetic data enable the creation of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) to perform genotype–phenotype associations. The accuracy of phenotype prediction primarily depends on the overall trait heritability, Genome-wide association studies cohort size, and the similarity of genetic background between the base and the target cohort. Here we utilized 8,664 high coverage genomic samples collected across Russia by “Evogen”, a Russian biomedical company, to evaluate the predictive power of PRSs based on summary statistics established on cohorts of European ancestry for basic phenotypic traits, namely height and BMI. We have demonstrated that the PRSs calculated for selected traits in three distinct Russian populations, recapitulate the predictive power from the original studies. This is evidence that GWAS summary statistics calculated on cohorts of European ancestry are transferable onto at least some ethnic groups in Russia

Five problems in legal maintenance of IT projects

Objective: to assess the compliance of traditional approaches to IT projects legal maintenance with the modern methods of organizing the process of digital products development, to identify the existing problems in this area and suggest possible ways to resolve them. Methods: the research used the logical method and the method of analyzing judicial practice, the inductive method, the method of comparison, and the method of scientific abstraction. Results: digitalization facilitated the development of the services market for IT projects and their maintenance. Legal maintenance of such projects often faces a significant discrepancy between the positions of the customer and the contractor, especially when part of the project is accomplished. Based on the analysis of judicial practice of IT projects using the Agile methodology, the most significant and problematic legal aspects of implementation were identified, and conflict situations between customers and performers of IT projects were analyzed.Scientific novelty: five key problems of IT projects legal maintenance that use flexible management methods are identified. A universal model for implementing legal functions in Agile projects is proposed.Practical significance: the proposed scheme of legal maintenance of IT projects can be used to regulate the legal relationships of their participants and may help to reduce the conflict level and speed up the process of digital products development using the Agile methodology

Effects of constant magnetic field to the proliferation rate of human fibroblasts grown onto different substrates: Tissue culture polystyrene, polyacrylamide hydrogel and ferrogels γ-fe2o3 magnetic nanoparticles

The static magnetic field was shown to affect the proliferation, adhesion and differentiation of various types of cells, making it a helpful tool for regenerative medicine, though the mechanism of its impact on cells is not completely understood. In this work, we have designed and tested a magnetic system consisting of an equidistant set of the similar commercial permanent magnets (6 × 4 assay) in order to get insight on the potential of its experimental usage in the biological studies with cells culturing in a magnetic field. Human dermal fibroblasts, which are widely applied in regenerative medicine, were used for the comparative study of their proliferation rate on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) and on the polyacrylamide ferrogels with 0.00, 0.63 and 1.19 wt % concentrations of γ-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles obtained by the well-established technique of laser target evaporation. We used either the same batch as in previously performed but different biological experiments or the same fabrication conditions for fabrication of the nanoparticles. This adds special value to the understanding of the mechanisms of nanoparticles contributions to the processes occurring in the living systems in their presence. The magnetic field increased human dermal fibroblast cell proliferation rate on TCPS, but, at the same time, it suppressed the growth of fibroblasts on blank gel and on polyacrylamide ferrogels. However, the proliferation rate of cells on ferrogels positively correlated with the concentration of nanoparticles. Such a dependence was observed both for cell proliferation without the application of the magnetic field and under the exposure to the constant magnetic field. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The Russian Scientific Foundation (grant 18-19-00090) supported the experimental parts of this study, including the design, performance and analysis of experiments

Elucidation of the ebola virus VP24 cellular interactome and disruption of virus biology through targeted inhibition of host-cell protein function

Viral pathogenesis in the infected cell is a balance between antiviral responses and subversion of host-cell processes. Many viral proteins specifically interact with host-cell proteins to promote virus biology. Understanding these interactions can lead to knowledge gains about infection and provide potential targets for antiviral therapy. One such virus is Ebola, which has profound consequences for human health and causes viral hemorrhagic fever where case fatality rates can approach 90%. The Ebola virus VP24 protein plays a critical role in the evasion of the host immune response and is likely to interact with multiple cellular proteins. To map these interactions and better understand the potential functions of VP24, label-free quantitative proteomics was used to identify cellular proteins that had a high probability of forming the VP24 cellular interactome. Several known interactions were confirmed, thus placing confidence in the technique, but new interactions were also discovered including one with ATP1A1, which is involved in osmoregulation and cell signaling. Disrupting the activity of ATP1A1 in Ebola-virus-infected cells with a small molecule inhibitor resulted in a decrease in progeny virus, thus illustrating how quantitative proteomics can be used to identify potential therapeutic targets

Роль эндотелиальной дисфункции в развитии нарушений микроциркуляции и легочно-сердечной гемодинамики у больных хронической обструктивной болезнью легких с различными фенотипами α1-антитрипсина

The aim of this study was to investigate structural and functional changes of pulmonary vessels and cardiopulmonary blood flow in COPD patients with different alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) phenotypes and endothelial dysfunction. Methods. Patients with COPD stage 2 to 3 (n = 113) with different A1AT phenotypes underwent clinical and radiological examination; endothelial dysfunction markers were measured. Results. More severe COPD was associated with more severe pulmonary microcirculation disorders and more significant perfusion defects. Patients with ZZ phenotype had worse pulmonary blood flow abnormalities compared to patients with MM phenotype. Pulmonary blood flow abnormalities were closely related to endothelial dysfunction (r = 0.75) and were more significant than structural abnormalities diagnosed on multi spiral computed tomography. Severe disorders of pulmonary blood flow were not accompanied by severe pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions: Blood levels of main endothelial dysfunction markers were directly related to COPD severity. Angiotensin-converting enzyme concentration was significantly below the normal level and was related to pulmonary artery pressure. The pulmonary blood flow differed in patients with different A1AT phenotypes and COPD stage 3 or higher. Perfusion defects were more severe in patients with ZZ phenotype.Нарушению эндотелиальной функции сосудов малого круга кровообращения в развитии и прогрессировании хронической обструктивной болезни легких (ХОБЛ) в настоящее время уделяется особое внимание. Эндотелиоциты участвуют также в трансцитозе α1-антитрипсина (α1-АТ) из легочной микроциркуляции в эпителиальные клетки легких и альвеолы. Снижение концентрации α1-АТ в крови приводит к деструкции эластических волокон легких и развитию эмфиземы, т. к. α1-АТ является основным ингибитором эластаз, выделяемых альвеолярными макрофагами и полиморфноядерными лейкоцитами, обеспечивая 90 % антиэластазной активности. Однако данные о взаимосвязи эндотелиальной дисфункции (ЭД) с дисциркуляторными изменениями в легочном микрососудистом русле и состоянием легочно-сердечной гемодинамики у больных ХОБЛ с разными фенотипами α1-АТ практически отсутствуют. Цель. Оценка структурно-функциональных, сосудистых изменений в легких и состояния легочно-сердечной гемодинамики в зависимости от степени выраженности ЭД у больных ХОБЛ с разными фенотипами α1-АТ. Материалы и методы. Проанализированы результаты комплексного клинико-рентгенорадиологического исследования и показателей маркеров ЭД у пациентов (n = 113) с ХОБЛ II–III стадии с разными фенотипами α1-АТ. Результаты. По мере нарастания степени тяжести ХОБЛ увеличиваются нарушения микроциркуляции в легких, нарастает дефицит перфузии, причем у больных с патологическим ZZ-фенотипом изменения легочного кровотока были более значимыми, чем у пациентов c нормальным (ММ) фенотипом. Изменения кровообращения в легких коррелировали в высокой степени (r = 0,75) с ЭД. Нарушения легочной микроциркуляции всегда были более выраженными по сравнению со структурными изменениями, полученными при выполнении мультиспиральной компьютерной томографии. Значительное нарушение кровообращения в легких не сопровождалось столь же выраженным повышением давления в системе малого круга кровообращения. Заключение. По мере нарастания степени тяжести ХОБЛ уровень основных белков-маркеров ЭД увеличивается. Продемонстрировано достоверное снижение нормальных показателей ангиотензинпревращающего фермента в обеих группах и их зависимость от повышения давления в легочной артерии. Установлено, что изменения в легочном микрососудистом русле у больных ХОБЛ с разными фенотипами α1-АТ различаются, начиная с III стадии заболевания, а дефицит перфузии более выражен у больных с ZZ-фенотипом α1-АТ

Enhanced Protection against Ebola Virus Mediated by an Improved Adenovirus-Based Vaccine

Jason S. Richardson is with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Michel K. Yao is with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Kaylie N. Tran is with the Public Health Agency of Canada and University of Manitoba, Maria A. Croyle is with UT Austin, James E. Strong is with the Public Health Agency of Canada and University of Manitoba, Heinz Feldmann is with the Public Health Agency of Canada and University of Manitoba, Gary P. Kobinger is with the Public Health Agency of Canada and University of Manitoba.Background -- The Ebola virus is transmitted by direct contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals, eliciting death rates as high as 90% among infected humans. Currently, replication defective adenovirus-based Ebola vaccine is being studied in a phase I clinical trial. Another Ebola vaccine, based on an attenuated vesicular stomatitis virus has shown efficacy in post-exposure treatment of nonhuman primates to Ebola infection. In this report, we modified the common recombinant adenovirus serotype 5-based Ebola vaccine expressing the wild-type ZEBOV glycoprotein sequence from a CMV promoter (Ad-CMVZGP). The immune response elicited by this improved expression cassette vector (Ad-CAGoptZGP) and its ability to afford protection against lethal ZEBOV challenge in mice was compared to the standard Ad-CMVZGP vector. Methodology/Principal Findings -- Ad-CMVZGP was previously shown to protect mice, guinea pigs and nonhuman primates from an otherwise lethal challenge of Zaire ebolavirus. The antigenic expression cassette of this vector was improved through codon optimization, inclusion of a consensus Kozak sequence and reconfiguration of a CAG promoter (Ad-CAGoptZGP). Expression of GP from Ad-CAGoptZGP was substantially higher than from Ad-CMVZGP. Ad-CAGoptZGP significantly improved T and B cell responses at doses 10 to 100-fold lower than that needed with Ad-CMVZGP. Additionally, Ad-CAGoptZGP afforded full protections in mice against lethal challenge at a dose 100 times lower than the dose required for Ad-CMVZGP. Finally, Ad-CAGoptZGP induced full protection to mice when given 30 minutes post-challenge. Conclusions/Significance -- We describe an improved adenovirus-based Ebola vaccine capable of affording post-exposure protection against lethal challenge in mice. The molecular modifications of the new improved vaccine also translated in the induction of significantly enhanced immune responses and complete protection at a dose 100 times lower than with the previous generation adenovirus-based Ebola vaccine. Understanding and improving the molecular components of adenovirus-based vaccines can produce potent, optimized product, useful for vaccination and post-exposure therapy.Financial support was received from the following sources: The Public Health Agency of Canada and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological or Nuclear Research and Technology Initiative (grant #CRTI-06-0218RD awarded to GPK). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Pharmac

Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase-Akt Pathway Controls Cellular Entry of Ebola Virus

The phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) pathway regulates diverse cellular activities related to cell growth, migration, survival, and vesicular trafficking. It is known that Ebola virus requires endocytosis to establish an infection. However, the cellular signals that mediate this uptake were unknown for Ebola virus as well as many other viruses. Here, the involvement of PI3K in Ebola virus entry was studied. A novel and critical role of the PI3K signaling pathway was demonstrated in cell entry of Zaire Ebola virus (ZEBOV). Inhibitors of PI3K and Akt significantly reduced infection by ZEBOV at an early step during the replication cycle. Furthermore, phosphorylation of Akt-1 was induced shortly after exposure of cells to radiation-inactivated ZEBOV, indicating that the virus actively induces the PI3K pathway and that replication was not required for this induction. Subsequent use of pseudotyped Ebola virus and/or Ebola virus-like particles, in a novel virus entry assay, provided evidence that activity of PI3K/Akt is required at the virus entry step. Class 1A PI3Ks appear to play a predominant role in regulating ZEBOV entry, and Rac1 is a key downstream effector in this regulatory cascade. Confocal imaging of fluorescently labeled ZEBOV indicated that inhibition of PI3K, Akt, or Rac1 disrupted normal uptake of virus particles into cells and resulted in aberrant accumulation of virus into a cytosolic compartment that was non-permissive for membrane fusion. We conclude that PI3K-mediated signaling plays an important role in regulating vesicular trafficking of ZEBOV necessary for cell entry. Disruption of this signaling leads to inappropriate trafficking within the cell and a block in steps leading to membrane fusion. These findings extend our current understanding of Ebola virus entry mechanism and may help in devising useful new strategies for treatment of Ebola virus infection

Cytomegalovirus-based vaccine expressing Ebola virus glycoprotein protects nonhuman primates from Ebola virus infection.

Ebolaviruses pose significant public health problems due to their high lethality, unpredictable emergence, and localization to the poorest areas of the world. In addition to implementation of standard public health control procedures, a number of experimental human vaccines are being explored as a further means for outbreak control. Recombinant cytomegalovirus (CMV)-based vectors are a novel vaccine platform that have been shown to induce substantial levels of durable, but primarily T-cell-biased responses against the encoded heterologous target antigen. Herein, we demonstrate the ability of rhesus CMV (RhCMV) expressing Ebola virus (EBOV) glycoprotein (GP) to provide protective immunity to rhesus macaques against lethal EBOV challenge. Surprisingly, vaccination was associated with high levels of GP-specific antibodies, but with no detectable GP-directed cellular immunity

Taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales: update 2016

In 2016, the order Mononegavirales was emended through the addition of two new families (Mymonaviridae and Sunviridae), the elevation of the paramyxoviral subfamily Pneumovirinae to family status (Pneumoviridae), the addition of five free-floating genera (Anphevirus, Arlivirus, Chengtivirus, Crustavirus, and Wastrivirus), and several other changes at the genus and species levels. This article presents the updated taxonomy of the order Mononegavirales as now accepted by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV)