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

Preference of a native beetle for "exoticism", characteristics that contribute to invasive success of Costelytra zealandica (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae)

Widespread replacement of native ecosystems by productive land sometimes results in the outbreak of a native species. In New Zealand, the introduction of exotic pastoral plants has resulted in diet alteration of the native coleopteran species, Costelytra zealandica (White) (Scarabaeidae) such that this insect has reached the status of pest. In contrast, C. brunneum (Broun), a congeneric species, has not developed such a relationship with these ‘novel’ host plants. This study investigated the feeding preferences and fitness performance of these two closely related scarab beetles to increase fundamental knowledge about the mechanisms responsible for the development of invasive characteristics in native insects. To this end, the feeding preference of third instar larvae of both Costelytra species was investigated using an olfactometer device, and the survival and larval growth of the invasive species C. zealandica were compared on native and exotic host plants. Costelytra zealandica, when sampled from exotic pastures, was unable to fully utilise its ancestral native host and showed higher feeding preference and performance on exotic plants. In contrast, C. zealandica sampled from native grasslands did not perform significantly better on either host and showed similar feeding preferences to C. brunneum, which exhibited no feeding preference. This study suggests the possibility of strong intraspecific variation in the ability of C. zealandica to exploit native or exotic plants, supporting the hypothesis that such ability underpins the existence of distinct host-races in this species

Evidence of active or passive downwind dispersal in mark-release-recapture of moths

International audienceModelling moth dispersal in relation to wind direction and strength could greatly enhance the role of pheromone traps in biosecurity and pest management applications. Anemotaxis theory, which describes moth behaviour in the presence of a pheromone plume and is used as a framework for such models. Currently, however, that theory includes only three components: upwind, zigzagging, and sideways casting behaviour. We test anemotaxis theory by analysing the data from a series of mark– release–recapture experiments where the wind direction was known and the insects were trapped using an irregular grid of pheromone traps. The trapping results provide evidence of a downwind component to the flight patterns of the released insects. This active or passive downwind dispersal is likely to be an appetitive behaviour, occurring prior to the elicitation of pheromone-oriented flight patterns (pheromone anemotaxis). Given the potential for significant displacement during down-wind dispersal, this component will have impact on final trap captures and should be considered when constructing moth dispersal models

Predicting the potential global distribution of <i>Pseudomonas syringae</i> pv <i>actinidiae</i> (Psa)

The increasing spread of kiwifruit bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae (Psa) prompted a modelling effort to assess the global and local potential risk of this species The current potential distribution of Psa was modelled with two wellused models (CLIMEX and MaxEnt) based on available presence records and environmental data Most discrepancies in model projections occurred for New Zealand data that was used for validation Model projections can provide information to alert decisionmakers in kiwifruitgrowing regions to prepare for possible incursions of Psa However in this study because model findings did not agree on the New Zealand validation data more research is necessary to achieve greater confidence on projections for novel areas Despite that result this study provides useful information for some kiwifruit growing countries that have not yet been affected by Psa such as USA Iran Greece Belgium Denmark and especially South Africa where commercial kiwifruit orchards have been planted recentl

Potential global and regional geographic distribution of Phomopsis vaccinii on Vaccinium species projected by two species distribution models

Vaccinium twig blight (caused by Phomopsis vaccinii, teleomorph Diaporthe vaccinii) is a major endemic disease on blueberries and cranberries in the Eastern and Northwestern USA and Canada. It has also been found in Europe, Chile and China. Publications on its occurrence in the USA and Canada indicate that the pathogen is limited to cool climates. Published data on worldwide occurrence were inventoried and supplemented with National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) data in the USA. These occurrence and long-term climate data were entered in the niche models MaxEnt and Multi-Model Framework to predict the potential global distribution of the disease. Precipitation in the driest quarter and mean annual temperature contributed most to the prediction. The results indicate that P. vaccinii is not limited to cool climates, although the optimal annual average temperature is 10 °C according to the MaxEnt model. The models correctly predicted that the climate in the central and eastern USA and the west coast of the USA and Canada would be conducive to blueberry twig blight. Large areas in Europe, eastern Australia and New Zealand, and smaller areas in South America and East Asia would be conducive too. For the first time, the NPDN database was shown to be an important source of information for the prediction of the potential global distribution of a plant pathogen