Whole-genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical COVID-19

Critical COVID-19 is caused by immune-mediated inflammatory lung injury. Host genetic variation influences the development of illness requiring critical care1 or hospitalization2,3,4 after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The GenOMICC (Genetics of Mortality in Critical Care) study enables the comparison of genomes from individuals who are critically ill with those of population controls to find underlying disease mechanisms. Here we use whole-genome sequencing in 7,491 critically ill individuals compared with 48,400 controls to discover and replicate 23 independent variants that significantly predispose to critical COVID-19. We identify 16 new independent associations, including variants within genes that are involved in interferon signalling (IL10RB and PLSCR1), leucocyte differentiation (BCL11A) and blood-type antigen secretor status (FUT2). Using transcriptome-wide association and colocalization to infer the effect of gene expression on disease severity, we find evidence that implicates multiple genes—including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased expression of a mucin (MUC1)—in critical disease. Mendelian randomization provides evidence in support of causal roles for myeloid cell adhesion molecules (SELE, ICAM5 and CD209) and the coagulation factor F8, all of which are potentially druggable targets. Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of COVID-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication; or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation. We show that comparison between cases of critical illness and population controls is highly efficient for the detection of therapeutically relevant mechanisms of disease

E-ring modified steroids as novel potent inhibitors of 17?-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1

17?-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17?-HSDs) are an important class of steroidogenic enzymes that regulate the bioavailability of active estrogens and androgens and are as yet a relatively unexploited therapeutic target. Based on our investigations and those of others, E-ring modified steroids were identified as a useful template for the design of inhibitors of 17?-HSD type 1, an enzyme involved in the conversion of estrone into estradiol. The synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of N- and C-substituted 1,3,5(10)-estratrien-[17,16-c]-pyrazoles and the corresponding SAR are discussed. Among the N-alkylated analogues, the most potent inhibitor was the 1'-methoxyethyl derivative, 41, with an IC50 of 530 nM in T47-D human breast cancer cells. The X-ray crystal structure of the 1'-isobutyl derivative, 37, was determined. Further optimization of the template using parallel synthesis resulted in a library of C5'-linked amides from which 73 emerged. This pyridylethyl amide had an IC50 of 300 nM and its activity, with that of 41, suggests the importance of hydrogen bond acceptor groups in the pyrazole side chain. Both 41 and 73 displayed selectivity over 17?-HSD type 2, and preliminary investigations showed 41 to be nonestrogenic in vitro in a luciferase reporter gene assay in contrast to the parent pyrazole 25. Molecular modeling studies, which support these findings, and a QSAR, the predictive power of which was demonstrated, are also presented

PTPN22 is associated with susceptibility to psoriatic arthritis but not psoriasis: evidence for a further PsA-specific risk locus

Objectives: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis; it has a higher estimated genetic component than psoriasis alone, however most genetic susceptibility loci identified for PsA to date are also shared with psoriasis. Here we attempt to validate novel single nucleotide polymorphisms selected from our recent PsA Immunochip study and determine specificity to PsA. Methods: A total of 15 single nucleotide polymorphisms were selected (PImmunochip <1×10−4) for validation genotyping in 1177 cases and 2155 controls using TaqMan. Meta-analysis of Immunochip and validation data sets consisted of 3139 PsA cases and 11 078 controls. Novel PsA susceptibility loci were compared with data from two large psoriasis studies (WTCCC2 and Immunochip) to determine PsA specificity. Results: We found genome-wide significant association to rs2476601, mapping to PTPN22 (p=1.49×10−9, OR=1.32), but no evidence for association in the psoriasis cohort (p=0.34) and the effect estimates were significantly different between PsA and psoriasis (p=3.2×10−4). Additionally, we found genome-wide significant association to the previously reported psoriasis risk loci; NOS2 (rs4795067, p=5.27×10−9). Conclusions: For the first time, we report genome-wide significant association of PTPN22 (rs2476601) to PsA susceptibility, but no evidence for association to psoriasis

Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) for Wastewater Treatment

© 2018 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Flotation system consists of four major components-air supply, pressurizing pump, retention tank, and flotation chamber. The theory of dissolved air flotation (DAF) process is to separate suspended particles from liquids by bringing the particles to the surface of the liquid. In most cases, DAF is an alternative process to sedimentation and offers several advantages, including better final water quality, rapid startup, higher rates of operation, and thicker sludge. Additionally, DAF systems need less space compared with normal clarifiers, and due to their modular components, they allow easy installation and setup. This chapter covers types of flotation, process description of DAF, theory of DAF, advantages of DAF application in wastewater treatment, application of DAF process in wastewater treatment, and application of DAF in landfill leachate treatment