Single-cell multi-omics analysis of the immune response in COVID-19

Funder: Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001255Funder: University College London, Birkbeck MRC Doctoral Training ProgrammeFunder: The Jikei University School of MedicineFunder: Action Medical Research (GN2779)Funder: NIHR Clinical Lectureship (CL-2017-01-004)Funder: NIHR (ACF-2018-01-004) and the BMA FoundationFunder: Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (grant 2017-174169) and from Wellcome (WT211276/Z/18/Z and Sanger core grant WT206194)Funder: UKRI Innovation/Rutherford Fund Fellowship allocated by the MRC and the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform (MR/5005579/1 to M.Z.N.). M.Z.N. and K.B.M. have been funded by the Rosetrees Trust (M944)Funder: Barbour FoundationFunder: ERC Consolidator and EU MRG-Grammar awardsFunder: Versus Arthritis Cure Challenge Research Grant (21777), and an NIHR Research Professorship (RP-2017-08-ST2-002)Funder: European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)Abstract: Analysis of human blood immune cells provides insights into the coordinated response to viral infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We performed single-cell transcriptome, surface proteome and T and B lymphocyte antigen receptor analyses of over 780,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a cross-sectional cohort of 130 patients with varying severities of COVID-19. We identified expansion of nonclassical monocytes expressing complement transcripts (CD16+C1QA/B/C+) that sequester platelets and were predicted to replenish the alveolar macrophage pool in COVID-19. Early, uncommitted CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells were primed toward megakaryopoiesis, accompanied by expanded megakaryocyte-committed progenitors and increased platelet activation. Clonally expanded CD8+ T cells and an increased ratio of CD8+ effector T cells to effector memory T cells characterized severe disease, while circulating follicular helper T cells accompanied mild disease. We observed a relative loss of IgA2 in symptomatic disease despite an overall expansion of plasmablasts and plasma cells. Our study highlights the coordinated immune response that contributes to COVID-19 pathogenesis and reveals discrete cellular components that can be targeted for therapy

Wheat and maize yield variations in the Brod-Posavina area

In general, wheat and maize yields in the Brod-Posavina County (BPC) were about 15% lower (10-year means 1981–1990) in comparison with their yields in the region. Wheat yield variations in the region among the years were higher in comparison with maize yield. For example, the highest yield of wheat and maize were higher than the lowest yield for 61% and 34%, respectively. Analogic comparison for Slav. Brod and N. Gradiska municipalities were 78% and 41% (wheat), as well as 41% and 24% (maize), respectively. In the last 8-year period, mean wheat yields in the region were for 17% lower and maize yield for 4% higher in comparison with mean yields of 80ies. These differences in level of BPC were 10% lower and 12% higher, for wheat and maize, respectively. We presume that low or absence effects of tile drainage because of their inadequate servicing could be expalantion for wheat yield decreasing. The lower yields of wheat are mainly in connection with oversupplies of water. However, low maize yields are in connection with water shortage and the higher air-temperatures. Low supplies of P and K are additional factors of low yields of field crops in the hydromorhic soils of the BPC

13 th Alps-Adria Scientific Workshop Villach

Abstract: The field experiment with increasing rates (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 t ha -1 ) of fertdolomite (24.0 % CaO, 16.0 % MgO, 3.0 % N, 2.5 % P2O5 and 3.0 % K2O) was conducted in the autumn of 2008 in Badljevina (Pozega-Slavonian County). The experiment was conducted in the randomized block design in four replicates and basic plot size was 37.5 m 2 . Acid reaction (pH in 1n KCl 5.08) and low levels of plant available P and K (AL-method: 8.3 mg P2O5 and 13.2 mg K2O 100 g of soil) are main characteristics of the soil. Aim of this study was short review of published the 3-year results of the field crops in rotation and detailed results of unpublished data regarding response of winter barley in the 2012/2013 growing season. Application of the highest rate of fertdolomite resulted in the first year of testing by maize yield reduction for 12%, while in the remaining rates yield were in level of the control. In the next year winter wheat responded by yield increases up to 10%. As affected by the higher rates of ferdolomite (20 and 40 t ha -1 ) grain yields of barley in the 2011 growing season were increased compared to the control for 20% and 51%, respectively. Also, barley considerably responded to grain yield increase in the 2013 growing season because yields were significantly increased for 15% and 44%, for the treatments 20 and 40 t ha -1 , respectively

Impacts of irrigation and genotype on yield, protein, starch and oil contents in grain of maize inbred lines

Four inbred lines of maize (Os 438-95 = C1, Os 30-8 = C2, Os 6 = C3 and Os 1-44 =C4) were grown for 4-year period (2006-2009) in the stationary field experiment on Osijek eutric cambisol. Impact of irrigation, nitrogen fertilization and genotype were tested. Soil moisture was maintained by two irrigation rates from 60-100% and 80-100% of the field water capacity). Two steps of N (0, 100 and 200 kg N ha-1) were applied, while P and K fertilization was equal (500 kg/ha NPK 0:30:20). Eight maize genotypes (four inbred lines and four hybrids) were grown on each basic plot of fertilization. The experiment was duplicated for maize - soybean rotation. The experiment was set by split-split plot method according to randomized block design in three replicates. The basic plot areas were 617.2 m2 (irrigation), 313.6 m2 (fertilization) and 39.2 m2 (genotype). Selection of N non-fertilized treatment and four inbred lines were made for this study with aim of testing year (A) irrigation (B) and genotype (C) effects under natural N-soil conditions. Average grain yield in level 1809 kg ha-1without N fertilization is indication of very high fertility of the soil. Differences of yield among the years were from 823 (2007) to 2450 (2006) kg ha-1. Excessive drought and high air-temperature stress is responsible for the low maize yield in 2007. Irrigation considerable affected on maize yields (4-year averages: 1500, 1809 and 2118 kg ha-1, for B1, B2 and B3, respectively). Differences of the 4-year average yields among the genotypes were from 1259 (C3) to 2765 (C1) kg ha-1. Differences of yield among the genotypes in the different years were also considerable because the lowest yield was for 71% (A1), 23% (A2), 63% (A3) and 40% (A4) lower in comparison to the highest yield. The genotype effects under different water supplies were less influencing factor because the high-yielding C1 had for 128%, 129% and 106% the higher yield compared to the low-yielding C3, for B1, B2 and B3, respectively. Differences of grain -protein, -starch and -oil among the years was from 9.61 to 11.84%, from 68.51% to 70.93% and from 3.50% to 4.17%, respectively. The C2 separated by the higher grain protein contents (10.93%) from the remaining three genotypes (average 9.96%). The genotype effects on starch and oil contents were from 69.83% (C4) to 70.58% (C1) and from 3.56% (C3) to 4.09% (C1), respectively

Influences of irrigation and fertilization on soybean properties and nitrogen leaching

Influences of irrigation rates and N fertilization on soybean grain yield and N leaching were tested under field conditions on Osijek, during the growing seasons 2001, 2003 and 2005 (A). The irrigation started on level of 80% field water capacity, A1 (FWC) and at level of 65% FWC, A2 and irrigate up to FWC, and non-irrigated, A3. Increased rates of N: 0, B1; 100, B2 and 200 kg N ha −1 , B3 were applied. The experiment was conducted by split-plot method. Ebermeier’s lysimeters (open type: 80 × 80 × 10 cm) were conducted for collecting leachate for measuring nitrogen leaching. The soybean grain yield showed statistical very significant differences in growing season, irrigation and interaction of growing season and irrigation. Mean leaching NO 3 -N varied from 0.32 kg N ha −1 to 7.88 kg N ha −1 in year 2001, while were greater in year 2005 and varied form 2.41 kg N ha −1 to 23.71 kg N ha −1

Reduced soil tillage systems for crop rotations improving nutritional value of grain crops

The trial for winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. ) or spring barley ( Hordeum vulgaris L. ) in rotation with maize ( Zea mais L. ) on lessive-pseudogley in semiarid to semihumid climate of Eastern Croatia was set up during years 1996–1999 with five soil tillage systems: PL) Conventional tillage based on ploughing; PD) Conventional tillage after diskharrowing for previous crop in preceding season; DP) Diskharrowing after conventional tillage for previous crop in preceding season; DD) Continuous diskharrowing, and CD) Chiselling and diskharrowing. During first and second season (1996/97 and 1997/98), recorded winter wheat grain yields were not different, with PL having the highest and DD the lowest yield. Maize showed next differences in first season: PL=PD>CH=DD=DP, and in second season PD=PL=DP=CH>DD. In 1999, spring barley replaced winter wheat, and yields were: PL>DP>PD>CD>DD. Maize yields recorded were: PL>PD>DP>CH>DD. The grain yield results, together with hectoliter mass and mass of 1000 grains, supported that PL can be replaced with other tillage systems for winter wheat and spring barley, whereas continuous diskharrowing may have substantially lower yields for maize during unfavourable years