Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three available genomic nomenclature systems for SARS-CoV-2 to all sequence data from the WHO European Region available during the COVID-19 pandemic until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation. We provide a comparison of the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.Peer reviewe

Exercise Training Modulates Gut Microbiota Profile and Improves Endotoxemia

Introduction: Intestinal metabolism and microbiota profiles are impaired in obesity and insulin resistance. Moreover, dysbiotic gut microbiota has been suggested to promote systemic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance through the release of endotoxins particularly lipopolysaccharides. We have previously shown that exercise training improves intestinal metabolism in healthy men. To understand whether changes in intestinal metabolism interact with gut microbiota and its release of inflammatory markers, we studied the effects of sprint interval (SIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on intestinal metabolism and microbiota in subjects with insulin resistance. Methods: Twenty-six, sedentary subjects (prediabetic, n = 9; type 2 diabetes, n = 17; age, 49 [SD, 4] yr; body mass index, 30.5 [SD, 3]) were randomized into SIT or MICT. Intestinal insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (GU) and fatty acid uptake (FAU) from circulation were measured using positron emission tomography. Gut microbiota composition was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and serum inflammatory markers with multiplex assays and enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. Results: V˙O2peak improved only after SIT (P = 0.01). Both training modes reduced systematic and intestinal inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α, lipopolysaccharide binding protein) (time P < 0.05). Training modified microbiota profile by increasing Bacteroidetes phylum (time P = 0.03) and decreasing Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (time P = 0.04). Moreover, there was a decrease in Clostridium genus (time P = 0.04) and Blautia (time P = 0.051). Only MICT decreased jejunal FAU (P = 0.02). Training had no significant effect on intestinal GU. Colonic GU associated positively with Bacteroidetes and inversely with Firmicutes phylum, ratio Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and Blautia genus. Conclusions: Intestinal substrate uptake associates with gut microbiota composition and whole-body insulin sensitivity. Exercise training improves gut microbiota profiles and reduces endotoxemia.This study was conducted within the Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases and supported by the Academy of Finland, the University of Turku, Turku University Hospital, and Åbo Akademi University. The study was financially supported by the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Varsinais-Suomi Regional Fund, Juho Vainio Foundation, Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Hospital District of Southwest Finland, Orion Research Foundation, Finnish Diabetes Foundation, Ministry of Education of the State of Finland, Academy of Finland (grants 251399 and 256470), Paavo Nurmi Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Centre of Excellence funding.Peer reviewe

Let-7i-5p represses brite adipocyte function in mice and humans.

In response to cold or &beta;3-adrenoreceptor stimulation brown adipose tissue (BAT) promotes non-shivering thermogenesis, leading to energy dissipation. BAT has long been thought to be absent or scarce in adult humans. The recent discovery of thermogenic brite/beige adipocytes has opened the way to development of novel innovative strategies to combat overweight/obesity and associated diseases. Thus it is of great interest to identify regulatory factors that govern the brite adipogenic program. Here, we carried out global microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling on human adipocytes to identify miRNAs that are regulated upon the conversion from white to brite adipocytes. Among the miRNAs that were differentially expressed, we found that Let-7i-5p was down regulated in brite adipocytes. A detailed analysis of the Let-7i-5p levels showed an inverse expression of UCP1 in murine and human brite adipocytes both in vivo and in vitro. Functional studies with Let-7i-5p mimic in human brite adipocytes in vitro revealed a decrease in the expression of UCP1 and in the oxygen consumption rate. Moreover, the Let-7i-5p mimic when injected into murine sub-cutaneous white adipose tissue inhibited partially &beta;3-adrenergic activation of the browning process. These results suggest that the miRNAs Let-7i-5p participates in the recruitment and the function of brite adipocytes

Brain substrate metabolism and ß-cell function in humans: A positron emission tomography study.

Aims: Recent clinical studies have shown enhanced brain glucose uptake during clamp and brain fatty acid uptake in insulin-resistant individuals. Preclinical studies suggest that the brain may be involved in the control of insulin secretion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether brain metabolism assessed as brain glucose and fatty acid uptake is associated with the parameters of β-cell function in humans. Materials and methods: We analysed cross-sectional data of 120 subjects across a wide range of BMI and insulin sensitivity. Brain glucose uptake (BGU) was measured during euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;67) and/or during fasting (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;45) using [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). In another group of subjects (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;34), brain fatty acid uptake was measured using [18F]-fluoro-6-thia-heptadecanoic acid (FTHA) PET during fasting. The parameters of β-cell function were derived from OGTT modelling. Statistical analysis was performed with whole-brain voxel-based statistical parametric mapping. Results: In non-diabetics, BGU during euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic&nbsp;clamp correlated positively with basal insulin secretion rate (r&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.51, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;.0008) and total insulin output (r&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.51, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;.0008), whereas no correlation was found in type 2 diabetics. BGU during clamp correlated positively with potentiation in non-diabetics (r&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.33, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;.02) and negatively in type 2 diabetics (r&nbsp;=&nbsp;-0.61, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;.02). The associations in non-diabetics were not explained with whole-body insulin sensitivity or BMI. No correlations were found between baseline (fasting) BGU and basal insulin secretion rate, whereas baseline brain fatty acid uptake correlated directly with basal insulin secretion rate (r&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.39, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;.02) and inversely with potentiation (r&nbsp;=&nbsp;-0.36, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;.04). Conclusions: Our study provides coherent, though correlative, evidence that, in humans, the brain may be involved in the control of insulin secretion independently of insulin sensitivity

From mother to child: Investigation of prenatal and postnatal exposure to persistent bioaccumulating toxicants using breast milk and placenta biomonitoring.

The exposure levels of placenta and paired breast milk samples to selected organochlorine compounds and pesticides from Danish and Finnish samples have been investigated. p,p?-DDE is the dominant pollutant, ?-HCH, hexachlorobenzene, endosulfan-I, dieldrin, oxychlordane, cis-heptachlor epoxide and p,p?-DDT being the other major constituents. Their concentrations are linearly correlated between milk and placenta in similar patterns for Danish and Finnish samples. Milk samples have higher levels of these pollutants than placenta on lipid base. However, the apparently not correlated compounds, such as ?-HCH, pentachlorobenzene, pentachloroanisole and methoxychlor, are generally accumulated more in placenta, which may suggest a tissue specific metabolic activity. Thus, depending on the compound of interest, biomonitoring may be done in placenta only or in both matrices