Identifying Cis-Regulatory Sequences by Word Profile Similarity

Recognizing regulatory sequences in genomes is a continuing challenge, despite a wealth of available genomic data and a growing number of experimentally validated examples.We discuss here a simple approach to search for regulatory sequences based on the compositional similarity of genomic regions and known cis-regulatory sequences. This method, which is not limited to searching for predefined motifs, recovers sequences known to be under similar regulatory control. The words shared by the recovered sequences often correspond to known binding sites. Furthermore, we show that although local word profile clustering is predictive for the regulatory sequences involved in blastoderm segmentation, local dissimilarity is a more universal feature of known regulatory sequences in Drosophila.Our method leverages sequence motifs within a known regulatory sequence to identify co-regulated sequences without explicitly defining binding sites. We also show that regulatory sequences can be distinguished from surrounding sequences by local sequence dissimilarity, a novel feature in identifying regulatory sequences across a genome. Source code for WPH-finder is available for download at http://rana.lbl.gov/downloads/wph.tar.gz

Population parameters of brown hare (Lepus europaeus L.) in regions of the species highest density in Poland

The paper presents the selected indicators of hare populations in Poland. The material consisted of 528 hares acquired during traditional hunts. For each hunted hare we specified its weight, sex and age. All individuals were classified into two age groups: the first comprised juveniles (up to 12 months of age), while the other – adults (over 12 months). The ratio of young individuals in relation adults varies a lot (26−56%). The males to females ratio was approximately 1:1 with a slight advantage in favor of females. Reproductive rate was between 0.36 and 1.26, while reproductive success – 0.7−2.7. Average weight of hunted hares ranged between 3.42 and 4.32 kg. No significant differences in body weight were noticed within gender groups (Z=1.298, p>0.05, Mann−Whitney U test). However, they were found within the age groups (Z=–9.657, p <0.05, Mann−Whitney U test)

Factors underlying COVID-19 booster vaccine uptake among fully vaccinated adults in Belgium

Background To tackle waning protection against severe COVID-19 infection, booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines were recommended among individuals who received their primary course. A first COVID-19 vaccine booster campaign was performed in winter of 2021 (age ≥ 18 years) and a second campaign for (age ≥ 50 years) in autumn of 2022. During these campaigns persons were actively invited to get a booster dose against COVID-19. We aimed to explore (first and second) booster uptake among fully vaccinated adults in Belgium and investigate demographic (age, region of residence and sex) and COVID-19 related (having had a documented COVID-19 infection) factors associated with the first and second booster&nbsp;uptake. Methods We used individually-linked data from the Belgian COVID-19 vaccine registry and the COVID-19 test database to determine booster uptake among the 18+ Belgian population having completed the primary vaccination course (PC). We reported coverage by demographics (age, region of residence and sex) and COVID-19 infection history before or after completion PC (based on PCR tests). We used a quasibinomial logistic regression model to determine influential factors on the booster&nbsp;uptake. Results Among the Belgian adult population (N = 9270186), the coverages reached on the 31st January 2023 were 72.65% and 40.85% for the first and second booster respectively. The highest coverage (number boosted over number PC completed) was observed in the 75-84 age group (96.73%) and 85+ age group (82.30%) for the first and second booster respectively and the lowest for both boosters in the 18-24 age group (69.86% and 17.85%). Individuals who had previous infections were significantly less likely to receive the first booster dose compared to individuals with no infection, especially when the infection occurred after completion of PC and with multiple infections (COVID-naive reference, minimum 1 infection before PC: OR=0.73, 95%CI 0.67-0.79, 1 infection after PC: OR=0.29, 95%CI 0.27–0.31; multiple infections before and after; OR=0.15, 95%CI 0.12–0.18; multiple infections after, none before: OR=0.09, 95%CI 0.03–0.29). Older age and living in Flanders were positively associated with uptake in both&nbsp;boosters. Conclusions We report a high booster uptake among the 18+ Belgian population (72.65% and 40.85%) compared to the European average (first booster: 57.54% ± 21.71%, second booster: 14.61% ± 11.91%). Individuals previously infected were less likely to receive the first booster dose while older individuals were more likely to receive any booster dose. These results offer important insights for future booster campaigns for COVID-19&nbsp;vaccines. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p

Factors underlying COVID-19 booster vaccine uptake among fully vaccinated adults in Belgium

Background To tackle waning protection against severe COVID-19 infection, booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccines were recommended among individuals who received their primary course. A first COVID-19 vaccine booster campaign was performed in winter of 2021 (age ≥ 18 years) and a second campaign for (age ≥ 50 years) in autumn of 2022. During these campaigns persons were actively invited to get a booster dose against COVID-19. We aimed to explore (first and second) booster uptake among fully vaccinated adults in Belgium and investigate demographic (age, region of residence and sex) and COVID-19 related (having had a documented COVID-19 infection) factors associated with the first and second booster&nbsp;uptake. Methods We used individually-linked data from the Belgian COVID-19 vaccine registry and the COVID-19 test database to determine booster uptake among the 18+ Belgian population having completed the primary vaccination course (PC). We reported coverage by demographics (age, region of residence and sex) and COVID-19 infection history before or after completion PC (based on PCR tests). We used a quasibinomial logistic regression model to determine influential factors on the booster&nbsp;uptake. Results Among the Belgian adult population (N = 9270186), the coverages reached on the 31st January 2023 were 72.65% and 40.85% for the first and second booster respectively. The highest coverage (number boosted over number PC completed) was observed in the 75-84 age group (96.73%) and 85+ age group (82.30%) for the first and second booster respectively and the lowest for both boosters in the 18-24 age group (69.86% and 17.85%). Individuals who had previous infections were significantly less likely to receive the first booster dose compared to individuals with no infection, especially when the infection occurred after completion of PC and with multiple infections (COVID-naive reference, minimum 1 infection before PC: OR=0.73, 95%CI 0.67-0.79, 1 infection after PC: OR=0.29, 95%CI 0.27–0.31; multiple infections before and after; OR=0.15, 95%CI 0.12–0.18; multiple infections after, none before: OR=0.09, 95%CI 0.03–0.29). Older age and living in Flanders were positively associated with uptake in both&nbsp;boosters. Conclusions We report a high booster uptake among the 18+ Belgian population (72.65% and 40.85%) compared to the European average (first booster: 57.54% ± 21.71%, second booster: 14.61% ± 11.91%). Individuals previously infected were less likely to receive the first booster dose while older individuals were more likely to receive any booster dose. These results offer important insights for future booster campaigns for COVID-19&nbsp;vaccines.</p

Factors underlying COVID-19 booster vaccine uptake among adults in Belgium

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate factors influencing the uptake of first and second COVID-19 booster vaccines among adults in Belgium, particularly age, sex, region of residence and laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infection&nbsp;history. RESULTS: A binomial regression model was used with having received the first or second booster as outcome and age, sex, region of residence and infection history as fixed variables. Among adults, there was generally a higher uptake to receive the first booster among older age groups compared to younger ones. Females, individuals residing in Flanders and those with no previous COVID-19 infection were more likely to receive the first booster. For the second booster, the same age trend was seen as for the first booster. Males, individuals residing in Flanders and those who tested positive for COVID-19 once after first booster were more likely to receive the second booster. Individuals with multiple positive COVID-19 tests before and after primary course or first booster were less likely to receive the subsequent booster dose compared to COVID-naïve individuals. This information could be used to guide future vaccination campaigns during a pandemic and can provide valuable insights into booster uptake&nbsp;patterns.</p

Vaccine effectiveness of the second and third COVID-19 boosters in Belgium (administered during 2022 autumn campaign)

In early 2021, the primary vaccination campaign against COVID-19 was rolled out to the adult population in Belgium, followed by the first booster campaign towards the end of the year. At the beginning of 2022, booster doses were recommended and offered to people meeting the definition of immunocompromised conditions (from January 24, 2022)&nbsp;and to people who had received the Jcovden vaccine (Johnson&amp;Johnson®) as a primary COVID-19 vaccination schedule (from February 16, 2022)&nbsp;. From May 2022, Flanders offered a second booster vaccination to nursing home (NH) residents and people aged over 80 years. In early July 2022, a second booster vaccination was offered to people working in the healthcare sector and those living in nursing homes in all regions of&nbsp;Belgium. From the 12th of September 2022 onwards, the Interministerial Conference (IMC) organised an autumn vaccination campaign with a systematic invitation for a new booster dose, consecutively for immunocompromised people, people aged over 65 years, healthcare workers and people aged between 50 and 64 years. People aged 18-49 years were allowed to receive a booster dose as well but were not systematically invited. People who had already had a booster dose earlier in the year were also eligible to receive a subsequent (third) booster during this new campaign, with a minimum interval of 3 months between the 2 doses. As such, this autumn campaign included mainly administrations of second, but also third booster&nbsp;doses. Here we assessed the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection and hospital admission among those who received the second and third boosters in Belgium administered during and following the autumn vaccination campaign of 2022, compared to those who did not receive a vaccine during this&nbsp;time.</p