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

Características morfológicas de cultivares de soja convencionais e Roundup ReadyTM em função da época e densidade de semeadura Morphologic characteristic of the conventional soybean genotype and Roundup ReadyTM according to the sowing season and seed densities

O trabalho tem como objetivo verificar a influência de diferentes densidades e épocas de semeadura em genótipos convencionais e Roundup ReadyTM (RR), nas características morfológicas de plantas de soja. O experimento foi conduzido em Jari, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). A primeira semeadura foi realizada dentro da época indicada para a cultura (novembro), e a segunda, após a época indicada (janeiro), com as cultivares 'CEP/CD 41', 'CD 201', 'Fundacep 39',' Fundacep 44', 'CD 205', 'BRS 133', 'Fundacep 45', 'A 6001 RG', 'Mágica', 'AL72' e 'A 8100 RG', nas densidades de 250, 400 e 550 mil sementes aptas ha-1, na safra 2005/2006. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subsubdivididas e quatro repetições. Foram avaliados o ciclo das cultivares, a altura de plantas, a altura de inserção do primeiro legume, o número de ramos planta-1 e de ramos m-2, o número de nós na haste principal planta-1 e na haste principal m-2, o rendimento biológico (RB) e o índice de colheita (IC). A semeadura em janeiro ocasiona redução no ciclo da cultura, na altura de plantas, na altura de inserção do primeiro legume, no número de nós planta-1 e de RB e no atraso da semeadura. O aumento da densidade de sementes não proporcionou aumento na estatura de plantas e altura de inserção do primeiro legume, nas cultivares RR. O período do ciclo que é mais afetado com atraso da semeadura é o vegetativo. O IC foi menor na semeadura em novembro; no entanto, o RB foi maior.<br>This paper has the objective to evaluate the influence of seed densities and sowing season in conventional soybean genotype and Roundup ReadyTM (RR), in the morphological characteristic of soybean plant. The experiments were conducted in Jari-RS, Brazil. The first seeding was done within the time prescribed for the crop(November), and the second, after the time indicated (January), with the cultivars 'CEP/CD 41', 'CD 201', 'Fundacep 39', 'Fundacep 44', 'CD 205', 'BRS 133', 'Fundacep 45', 'A 6001 RG', 'Mágica, AL72' and A '8100 RG', at densities of 250, 400 and 550 thousand seed seeds suitable ha-1 in the 2005/2006 harvest. The experiment design was randomized blocks with split plots, with four replications. The cultivars cycle, plant height, height of first pod insertion, number of branches plant-1, branches m-2, nodes' number of the main stem plant-1, nodes main stem m-2, biological yield (RB) and harvest index (IC). Sowing in January causes reduction in the crop cycle, plant height, height of first pod insertion, number of nodes plant-1 and RB and the increase in seed density not increased the height of first pod insertion in RR cultivars. The period cycle that is most affected by the delayed sowing is the vegetative. The IC sowing in November was lower, but the RB was larger

Feeding rate and frequency on growth of juvenile pompano

The objective of this work was to evaluate the ideal feeding rate and frequency for juvenile pompano (Trachinotus marginatus). Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design, with three replicates each. In experiment I, 25 fish (4.8±0.6 g and 6.48±0.01 cm) were stocked in 15 tanks (50 L) during 21 days and fed 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20% body weight per day. In experiment II, 20 fish (4.1±0.1 g and 6.6±0.1 cm) were stocked in 15 tanks (40 L) during 28 days and fed 2, 6, 8, and 10 times a day. The tested feeding rates and frequencies did not influence survival. Final weight and length in experiment I were significantly lower in fish fed 4% body weight per day, whereas in experiment II only weight was significantly lower in fish fed 2 and 6 times a day. At the end of both experiments, apparent feed conversion showed significant difference, with the worst value observed for fish fed 20% body weight per day in experiment I and 2 times a day in experiment II. Juvenile pompano show better growth performance when fed 8% body weight per day and 8 times a day.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a taxa e a frequência alimentar ideal para juvenis de pampo (Trachinotus marginatus). Foram conduzidos dois experimentos, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições cada um. No experimento I, 25 peixes (4,8±0,6 g e 6,48±0,01 cm) foram estocados em 15 tanques (50 L) durante 21 dias e alimentados com 4, 8, 12, 16 e 20% da biomassa total por dia. No experimento II, 20 peixes (4,1±0,1 g e 6,6±0,1 cm) foram estocados em 15 tanques (40 L) durante 28 dias e alimentados 2, 6, 8 e 10 vezes por dia. As taxas e as frequências alimentares testadas não influenciaram a sobrevivência. O peso e o comprimento finais no experimento I foram significativamente menores nos peixes alimentados com 4% da biomassa total por dia, enquanto, no experimento II, somente o peso foi significativamente menor nos peixes alimentados 2 e 6 vezes por dia. Ao final dos dois experimentos, a conversão alimentar aparente apresentou diferença significativa, com pior valor observado nos peixes alimentados com 20% da biomassa total por dia, no experimento I, e 2 vezes por dia no experimento II. Juvenis de pampo apresentam melhor desempenho de crescimento quando alimentados com 8% da biomassa total por dia e oito vezes por dia