Cell-type-specific 3D epigenomes in the developing human cortex

Lineage-specific epigenomic changes during human corticogenesis have been difficult to study owing to challenges with sample availability and tissue heterogeneity. For example, previous studies using single-cell RNA sequencing identified at least 9 major cell types and up to 26 distinct subtypes in the dorsal cortex alone1,2. Here we characterize cell-type-specific cis-regulatory chromatin interactions, open chromatin peaks, and transcriptomes for radial glia, intermediate progenitor cells, excitatory neurons, and interneurons isolated from mid-gestational samples of the human cortex. We show that chromatin interactions underlie several aspects of gene regulation, with transposable elements and disease-associated variants enriched at distal interacting regions in a cell-type-specific manner. In addition, promoters with increased levels of chromatin interactivity—termed super-interactive promoters—are enriched for lineage-specific genes, suggesting that interactions at these loci contribute to the fine-tuning of transcription. Finally, we develop CRISPRview, a technique that integrates immunostaining, CRISPR interference, RNAscope, and image analysis to validate cell-type-specific cis-regulatory elements in heterogeneous populations of primary cells. Our findings provide insights into cell-type-specific gene expression patterns in the developing human cortex and advance our understanding of gene regulation and lineage specification during this crucial developmental window

Shelf life of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) under different storage conditions

The effect of formalin on the organoleptic parameters, biochemical composition and storage quality of iced and frozen stored giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) was investigated. The organoleptic characters such as appearance, textural condition, colour, odour of both formalin added and non-added prawns were evaluated. The quality of non-added prawns was judged good up to first 3 days of iced storage and remained acceptable in terms of commercial standard for processing in the industry up to 6 days. On the other hand, formalin added samples were organoleptically acceptable up to 8 days. The expressible moisture content of both formalin added and non-added prawns continued to increase gradually during 90 days of frozen storage and it was higher in non-added sample. Study of proximate composition at initial storage showed that there were variations in composition between formalin added and non-added samples. At the end of 10 days of iced storage, there was little change in composition in both the cases. To assess the freshness of the prawn samples, TVB-N value and myofibrillar protein solubility were determined. Under iced storage, there was a clear trend of increasing TVB-N value both in formalin added and nonadded samples with higher value in non-added sample. The initial myofibrillar protein solubility of formalin added prawn was 88% and that of non-added sample was 80%. After 10 days of iced storage, the protein solubility of both the samples decreased to 50% of their initial value. The solubility of myofibrillar protein of formalin added prawn was lower than non-added sample. Overall loss of freshness took place much faster in non-added prawn sample than the formalin added sample both under iced and frozen storage conditions

Shelf life of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) under different storage conditions

The effect of formalin on the organoleptic parameters, biochemical composition and storage quality of iced and frozen stored giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) was investigated. The organoleptic characters such as appearance, textural condition, colour, odour of both formalin added and non-added prawns were evaluated. The quality of non-added prawns was judged good up to first 3 days of iced storage and remained acceptable in terms of commercial standard for processing in the industry up to 6 days. On the other hand, formalin added samples were organoleptically acceptable up to 8 days. The expressible moisture content of both formalin added and non-added prawns continued to increase gradually during 90 days of frozen storage and it was higher in non-added sample. Study of proximate composition at initial storage showed that there were variations in composition between formalin added and non-added samples. At the end of 10 days of iced storage, there was little change in composition in both the cases. To assess the freshness of the prawn samples, TVB-N value and myofibrillar protein solubility were determined. Under iced storage, there was a clear trend of increasing TVB-N value both in formalin added and nonadded samples with higher value in non-added sample. The initial myofibrillar protein solubility of formalin added prawn was 88% and that of non-added sample was 80%. After 10 days of iced storage, the protein solubility of both the samples decreased to 50% of their initial value. The solubility of myofibrillar protein of formalin added prawn was lower than non-added sample. Overall loss of freshness took place much faster in non-added prawn sample than the formalin added sample both under iced and frozen storage conditions

Shelf life of giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) under different storage conditions

The effect of formalin on the organoleptic parameters, biochemical composition and storage quality of iced and frozen stored giant freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) was investigated. The organoleptic characters such as appearance, textural condition, colour, odour of both formalin added and non-added prawns were evaluated. The quality of non-added prawns was judged good up to first 3 days of iced storage and remained acceptable in terms of commercial standard for processing in the industry up to 6 days. On the other hand, formalin added samples were organoleptically acceptable up to 8 days. The expressible moisture content of both formalin added and non-added prawns continued to increase gradually during 90 days of frozen storage and it was higher in non-added sample. Study of proximate composition at initial storage showed that there were variations in composition between formalin added and non-added samples. At the end of 10 days of iced storage, there was little change in composition in both the cases. To assess the freshness of the prawn samples, TVB-N value and myofibrillar protein solubility were determined. Under iced storage, there was a clear trend of increasing TVB-N value both in formalin added and nonadded samples with higher value in non-added sample. The initial myofibrillar protein solubility of formalin added prawn was 88% and that of non-added sample was 80%. After 10 days of iced storage, the protein solubility of both the samples decreased to 50% of their initial value. The solubility of myofibrillar protein of formalin added prawn was lower than non-added sample. Overall loss of freshness took place much faster in non-added prawn sample than the formalin added sample both under iced and frozen storage conditions

Human-Specific NOTCH2NL Genes Affect Notch Signaling and Cortical Neurogenesis.

Genetic changes causing brain size expansion in human evolution have remained elusive. Notch signaling is essential for radial glia stem cell proliferation and is a determinant of neuronal number in the mammalian cortex. We find that three paralogs of human-specific NOTCH2NL are highly expressed in radial glia. Functional analysis reveals that different alleles of NOTCH2NL have varying potencies to enhance Notch signaling by interacting directly with NOTCH receptors. Consistent with a role in Notch signaling, NOTCH2NL ectopic expression delays differentiation of neuronal progenitors, while deletion accelerates differentiation into cortical neurons. Furthermore, NOTCH2NL genes provide the breakpoints in 1q21.1 distal deletion/duplication syndrome, where duplications are associated with macrocephaly and autism and deletions with microcephaly and schizophrenia. Thus, the emergence of human-specific NOTCH2NL genes may have contributed to the rapid evolution of the larger human neocortex, accompanied by loss of genomic stability at the 1q21.1 locus and resulting recurrent neurodevelopmental disorders

Higher airborne pollen concentrations correlated with increased SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, as evidenced from 31 countries across the globe

Pollen exposure weakens the immunity against certain seasonal respiratory viruses by diminishing the antiviral interferon response. Here we investigate whether the same applies to the pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is sensitive to antiviral interferons, if infection waves coincide with high airborne pollen concentrations. Our original hypothesis was that more airborne pollen would lead to increases in infection rates. To examine this, we performed a cross-sectional and longitudinal data analysis on SARS-CoV-2 infection, airborne pollen, and meteorological factors. Our dataset is the most comprehensive, largest possible worldwide from 130 stations, across 31 countries and five continents. To explicitly investigate the effects of social contact, we additionally considered population density of each study area, as well as lockdown effects, in all possible combinations: without any lockdown, with mixed lockdown−no lockdown regime, and under complete lockdown. We found that airborne pollen, sometimes in synergy with humidity and temperature, explained, on average, 44% of the infection rate variability. Infection rates increased after higher pollen concentrations most frequently during the four previous days. Without lockdown, an increase of pollen abundance by 100 pollen/m3 resulted in a 4% average increase of infection rates. Lockdown halved infection rates under similar pollen concentrations. As there can be no preventive measures against airborne pollen exposure, we suggest wide dissemination of pollen−virus coexposure dire effect information to encourage high-risk individuals to wear particle filter masks during high springtime pollen concentrations