In silico Analyses of Immune System Protein Interactome Network, Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Human Tissues, and Artificial Neural Networks Reveal Potential Therapeutic Targets for Drug Repurposing Against COVID-19

Background: There is pressing urgency to identify therapeutic targets and drugs that allow treating COVID-19 patients effectively.Methods: We performed in silico analyses of immune system protein interactome network, single-cell RNA sequencing of human tissues, and artificial neural networks to reveal potential therapeutic targets for drug repurposing against COVID-19.Results: We screened 1,584 high-confidence immune system proteins in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 co-expressing cells, finding 25 potential therapeutic targets significantly overexpressed in nasal goblet secretory cells, lung type II pneumocytes, and ileal absorptive enterocytes of patients with several immunopathologies. Then, we performed fully connected deep neural networks to find the best multitask classification model to predict the activity of 10,672 drugs, obtaining several approved drugs, compounds under investigation, and experimental compounds with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristics.Conclusion: After being effectively analyzed in clinical trials, these drugs can be considered for treatment of severe COVID-19 patients. Scripts can be downloaded at

Distribution of Meloidogyne spp. in agricultural crops of Ecuador: a literature review (1976–2021)

In Ecuador, as in other Latin American countries, the agricultural sector has a high economic as well as sociocultural importance. Nevertheless, there is a large group of plant-parasitic nematodes that affect the development and longevity of plants, thereby resulting in a reduction in crop yielding. Out of all of these, the root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are particularly noteworthy as they cause severe economic losses with their wide geographical distribution and their potential to infect a wide variety of crops. With the main purpose of updating knowledge on biodiversity, occurrence, and distribution of Meloidogyne spp. in Ecuador crops, an advanced search of information for a period of 45 years in national and international databases was made. The main crops affected by this group of plant-parasitic nematodes were found to be Solanaceae (S. lycopersicum, S. betaceum, S. quitoense and Capsicum annuum), as well as Musa sp., Oryza sativa, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Lactuca sativa. To date, a total of five Meloidogyne species have been identified in Ecuador, being M. incognita the more frequent, followed by M. arenaria, M. graminicola, M. hapla and M. javanica. Furthermore, the identification technique most commonly used in RKN diagnostic was the classical technique, mainly based on females’ perineal pattern and measurements of second-stage juveniles, followed by molecular, cytogenetics, and isoenzyme analysis. This research represents a guideline for future research in crops and Ecuador provinces that have not yet been thoroughly examined in what concerns the presence of root-knot nematodes

Multi‐institutional experience of genetic diagnosis in Ecuador: National registry of chromosome alterations and polymorphisms

Abstract Background Detection of chromosomal abnormalities is crucial in various medical areas; to diagnose birth defects, genetic disorders, and infertility, among other complex phenotypes, in individuals across a wide range of ages. Hence, the present study wants to contribute to the knowledge of type and frequency of chromosomal alterations and polymorphisms in Ecuador. Methods Cytogenetic registers from different Ecuadorian provinces have been merged and analyzed to construct an open‐access national registry of chromosome alterations and polymorphisms. Results Of 28,806 karyotypes analyzed, 6,008 (20.9%) exhibited alterations. Down syndrome was the most frequent autosome alteration (88.28%), followed by Turner syndrome (60.50%), a gonosome aneuploidy. A recurrent high percentage of Down syndrome mosaicism (7.45%) reported here, as well as by previous Ecuadorian preliminary registries, could be associated with geographic location and admixed ancestral composition. Translocations (2.46%) and polymorphisms (7.84%) were not as numerous as autosomopathies (64.33%) and gonosomopathies (25.37%). Complementary to conventional cytogenetics tests, molecular tools have allowed identification of submicroscopic alterations regions or candidate genes which can be possibly implicated in patients' symptoms and phenotypes. Conclusion The Ecuadorian National Registry of Chromosome Alterations and Polymorphisms provides a baseline to better understand chromosomal abnormalities in Ecuador and therefore their clinical management and awareness. This data will guide public policy makers to promote and financially support cytogenetic and genetic testing